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Ortega Taco Seasoning Mix

BeckyW
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BeckyW Contributor
BeckyW
Posted

Does anyone know if the Ortega Taco Seasoning Mix is alright? I don't see any wheat listed in the ingredients which are: yellow corn flour, salt, maltodextrin, paprika, spices, modified corn starch, sugar, garlic powder, citric acid, autolyzed yeast extract, natural flavor and carmel color. It does not have a statement saying it contains any of the top 8 common allergens. We had this last night for dinner and my daughter and I are both feeling nausous today.

There is no phone number to contact the company (which I think is just ridiculous) but there is an email address so I did email them.

Thanks for any help you can provide on this.

Becky

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CarlaB Enthusiast
CarlaB
Posted

The ingredients look fine to me, but there are a lot of them and it might have MSG or something else that's bothering you.

I usually just use cumin, garlic, onion, and pepper (either chipolte or cayenne) to season my taco meat and avoid the packets.

Hope you feel better soon!

BeckyW Contributor
BeckyW
Posted
  • Author

Thanks Carla. I'll let you know if I hear from the company. I thought the ingredients look fine but wasn't sure about the carmel.

Can you give me the exact measurements for the taco seasoning you make? It sounds great!

Becky

CarlaB Enthusiast
CarlaB
Posted
Can you give me the exact measurements for the taco seasoning you make? It sounds great!

I'm one of those cooks that never measures! LOL

Just brown the ground beef with onions and garlic if you're using fresh, then I sprinkle the other spices (and garlic powder if you didn't use fresh), to taste. I'm VERY generous when I use spices. The chili peppers come in a spice bottle at the grocery.

Sorry I can't be more exact ... I cook everything by taste and what I feel like that day!

happygirl Collaborator
happygirl
Posted

McCormick's taco seasonings are gluten free, and they state that they will clearly list any and all gluten ingredients, so you can feel comfortable interpreting their labels.

Laura

LisaJ Apprentice
LisaJ
Posted

I found this on their website:

Q. Do you have a gluten free list for Ortega products?

A. Ortega has been following a strict labeling policy with regard to any allergens in our foods and incoming ingredients.

We have insisted that our suppliers notify us if gluten is used in any of their ingredients and yet is not declared on their labeling. Thus, we believe we have uncovered any potential use of gluten containing ingredients.

Therefore, any Ortega product is fully labeled for any presence of gluten or gluten containing ingredients. We find that this statement is much easier than our trying to maintain a gluten free product list.

hez Enthusiast
hez
Posted

I use Oretga all the time with no issue. Could you be reacting to something else? Hope you feel better soon.

Hez

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Guhlia Rising Star
Guhlia
Posted
Does anyone know if the Ortega Taco Seasoning Mix is alright? I don't see any wheat listed in the ingredients which are: yellow corn flour, salt, maltodextrin, paprika, spices, modified corn starch, sugar, garlic powder, citric acid, autolyzed yeast extract, natural flavor and carmel color. It does not have a statement saying it contains any of the top 8 common allergens. We had this last night for dinner and my daughter and I are both feeling nausous today.

There is no phone number to contact the company (which I think is just ridiculous) but there is an email address so I did email them.

Thanks for any help you can provide on this.

Becky

Was your beef freshly ground at the butchers? If it was, there's a chance for CC there. Many butchers have bread crumbs that they use to season roasts and stuff.

PeggyV Apprentice
PeggyV
Posted

Sorry I don

  • 10 years later...
Iowastatejake Newbie
Iowastatejake
Posted

No Ortega taco seasoning is not gluten free. I found out the hard way. It doesn't specify that there are wheat ingredients but you have to be very careful with "modified food starch."

 

Pionner brand makes a good gluten-free seasoning.

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted
(edited)
1 hour ago, Iowastatejake said:

No Ortega taco seasoning is not gluten free. I found out the hard way. It doesn't specify that there are wheat ingredients but you have to be very careful with "modified food starch."

 

Pionner brand makes a good gluten-free seasoning.

.  Ingredients & information  from 10 years ago may have changed.  IN the US and Canada, modified food starch is almost never  made from wheat.  the laws of both countries require that, if it is made from wheat, that it be specified.  I have seen it , maybe two or three times.  It was labeled either modified wheat starch or modified starch ( wheat).

 

 

 

i just went to their web site site and The ingredients are "Yellow Corn Flour, Salt, Maltodextrin, Paprika, Spices, Modified Corn Starch, Sugar, Garlic Powder, Citric Acid, Autolyzed Yeast Extract, Caramel Color (sulfites)."

 

it states CORN starch

Edited by kareng
ejk Rookie
ejk
Posted

Hi All. I'm brand new to this forum and the gluten-free lifestyle.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought I read on one of the celiac websites that we were supposed to avoid maltodextrin, as it was made from barley.

Am I crazy?

kareng Grand Master
kareng
Posted
(edited)
3 minutes ago, ejk said:

Hi All. I'm brand new to this forum and the gluten-free lifestyle.

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought I read on one of the celiac websites that we were supposed to avoid maltodextrin, as it was made from barley.

Am I crazy?

Yeah...you're crazy!  lol   NO , you probably read that misinformation somewhere. It is everywhere.  

Actually - barley is a new one for me!  :D

 

https://www.glutenfreeliving.com/gluten-free-foods/ingredients/top-10-ingredients-you-really-dont-need-to-worry-about/

 

Edited by kareng
  • 4 years later...
VGala Newbie
VGala
Posted

Hi All, Nee to Celiac and gluten free diet. Read that yeast extract is made from barley and manufactures are not required to list it. Is this true? If so, Taco seasoning contains it and may not be gluten free. 

Scott Adams Grand Master
Scott Adams
Posted

Welcome to the forum @VGala!

In the USA (and likely North America) yeast extract is gluten-free, and this article has more info:

 

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