Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley and rye. For people with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, consuming gluten can cause reactions like abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea and fatigue.
Many people following a gluten-free diet want to know if popular foods like Campbell’s broccoli cheese soup contain gluten. This article will examine Campbell’s broccoli cheese soup ingredients, manufacturing processes and labeling to determine if this canned soup is gluten-free.
Gluten-Free Diet Overview
A gluten-free diet involves avoiding all foods and drinks containing gluten. This includes bread, pasta, baked goods, cereals, beer and other products made with wheat, barley, rye and related grains.
People with celiac disease must follow a strict lifelong gluten-free diet to manage this autoimmune disorder. Going gluten-free allows the small intestine to heal and prevents complications like malnutrition, osteoporosis and infertility.
Those with non-celiac gluten sensitivity may also benefit from removing gluten from their diet to alleviate gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms. A gluten-free diet is also followed by some people to manage autism, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease and more.
Additionally, a gluten-free diet has gained popularity among the general population for perceived health benefits, like increased energy, weight loss and improved gastrointestinal function. However, there is limited evidence that gluten-free diets provide benefits for those without celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
Sources of Gluten
Gluten is found in the grains below and any foods or ingredients derived from them:
- Wheat – including wheat berries, durum, semolina, spelt, farina, farro, graham, einkorn, emmer and more
- Barley
- Rye
- Triticale – a hybrid of wheat and rye
Many common grains and starches contain gluten, such as:
- Bread
- Pasta
- Cereals
- Baked goods – cakes, cookies, pie crusts, etc.
- Beer
- Malt vinegar
- Soy sauce
- Gravy
- Soup bases/bouillon
- Breading and coatings
- Croutons
- Stuffing
Gluten may also be found in many processed foods, such as canned soups, sauces, salad dressings and seasonings. Checking ingredient lists carefully is important when following a gluten-free diet.
Ingredients in Campbell’s Broccoli Cheese Soup
To determine if a product contains gluten, examining the ingredient list is key. Here are the ingredients in Campbell’s Healthy Request Broccoli Cheese Soup:
- Skim Milk
- Water
- Broccoli Florets
- Modified Food Starch
- Wheat Flour
- Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil
- Contains Less Than 2% of: Salt, Cheese Culture, Modified Tapioca Starch, Monosodium Glutamate, Romano Cheese (Part-Skim Cow’s Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Cheddar Cheese (Milk, Cheese Cultures, Salt, Enzymes), Whey Protein Concentrate, Cream, Sodium Phosphate, Butter (Cream, Salt), Onion Powder, Ascorbic Acid.
The key ingredient to note is wheat flour. Wheat flour contains gluten, which means Campbell’s broccoli cheese soup is not gluten-free.
Some varieties of Campbell’s soup do not contain wheat flour, but this classic broccoli cheese variety does include it as an ingredient.
How Campbell’s Makes Broccoli Cheese Soup
Understanding how Campbell’s produces their broccoli cheese soup also provides information on potential sources of gluten.
Here is an overview of how Campbell’s makes this soup:
- Broccoli florets and diced onions are blanched in hot water.
- A soup base is made by cooking wheat flour, partially hydrogenated oil and seasonings in water. This forms a roux.
- Milk, cheese and other dairy ingredients are added and the soup is simmered.
- The broccoli and onions are added back to the soup.
- The soup is packaged into cans.
Key points relating to gluten content:
- Wheat flour is used to make the soup base, adding gluten.
- Milk, cheese and other dairy ingredients are gluten-free.
- Onions and broccoli are gluten-free vegetables.
So Campbell’s broccoli cheese soup contains gluten due to wheat flour used in manufacturing.
Campbell’s Soup Labeling
Reading the label on packaged foods helps identify allergen and nutritional content.
Campbell’s provides the following information on their broccoli cheese soup:
- The front label states “Made with Organic Broccoli.”
- An ingredient list is provided on the back of the can.
- Allergens contained in the product are declared below the ingredient list.
For Campbell’s broccoli cheese soup, the listed allergens are:
- Milk
- Wheat
- Soy
The presence of wheat confirms this soup contains gluten. Campbell’s voluntarily declares common allergens like wheat on their labels, even when not required by law.
Some varieties of Campbell’s soup are labeled as “gluten-free.” However, the broccoli cheese variety is not labeled gluten-free.
Testing for Gluten Content
In addition to reading the ingredients and labeling, soup can be tested for the presence of gluten.
The R5 Competitive ELISA test can accurately detect the presence of gluten down to 5-10 parts per million (ppm). Foods considered gluten-free must test below 20 ppm of gluten.
Consumer Reports tested 10 cans of Campbell’s Healthy Request Broccoli Cheese Soup from different manufacturing facilities on different dates. They found gluten levels between 55-79 ppm, confirming gluten content in this product.
Is Campbell’s Broccoli Cheese Soup Gluten-Free?
Based on the ingredients, manufacturing process, labeling and testing results, Campbell’s Healthy Request Broccoli Cheese Soup clearly contains gluten.
While some Campbell’s soups are labeled gluten-free, the broccoli cheese variety contains wheat flour as an ingredient. It cannot be considered safe for a gluten-free diet.
Individuals following a gluten-free diet for medical reasons like celiac disease should avoid this soup due to gluten content. There are many other canned soup options that are gluten-free and would be a better choice.
Gluten-Free Soups from Campbell’s
While Campbell’s broccoli cheese soup contains gluten, the company does offer some gluten-free soup varieties.
Examples* of Campbell’s gluten-free soups include:
- Creamy Tomato Soup
- Chicken Noodle Soup
- Chicken and Mini Stars Soup
- Vegetable Beef Soup
- Vegetable Soup
- Chicken and Rice Soup
- Cream of Mushroom Soup
*Always check the labels to confirm gluten-free status before consuming. Product formulations may change over time.
These soups are made without wheat, barley, rye or ingredients derived from them. The cans are clearly labeled “gluten-free” beneath the product name.
Campbell’s also indicates major allergens contained in their soups below the ingredient list. The gluten-free varieties do not list wheat as an allergen.
Other Gluten-Free Soup Brands
In addition to Campbell’s, there are many other brands of canned soup that are gluten-free:
- Amy’s Kitchen
- Pacific Foods
- Progresso
- Wolfgang Puck Organic Soups
- Imagine Foods
- Hain Celestial Group Canned Soups
- Muir Glen Organic
- Trader Joe’s
When buying any packaged food, it’s important to check the ingredients and labeling to confirm gluten content. Also look for a “gluten-free” statement on the packaging when available.
Following a gluten-free diet provides important health benefits to those with celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity or other medical conditions. Having delicious soup options from brands like Campbell’s makes sticking to a gluten-free diet easier.
Conclusion
Campbell’s Healthy Request Broccoli Cheese Soup contains wheat flour and is not gluten-free. Individuals following a gluten-free diet should avoid this product.
However, Campbell’s does offer many canned soup varieties that are labeled gluten-free and safe to consume on a gluten-free diet when double checked against allergens. There are also numerous other soup brands that produce gluten-free options.
Carefully reading ingredient lists and labels is necessary when purchasing any processed food item on a gluten-free diet. This helps ensure the elimination of all hidden sources of gluten for optimal health.