Many people have to follow a gluten-free diet for health reasons like celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. When you’re gluten-free, it can be challenging to find convenient frozen meal options that fit your dietary needs. Birds Eye steam fresh roasted red potatoes and green beans is one such frozen meal that is a go-to for many gluten-free eaters. But is it really gluten-free? Let’s take a detailed look at the ingredients and production process to find out.
Ingredients in Birds Eye Steam Fresh Roasted Red Potatoes and Green Beans
Here are the main ingredients found in Birds Eye steam fresh roasted red potatoes and green beans:
- Potatoes
- Green beans
- Olive oil
- Sea salt
- Black pepper
- Parsley
- Garlic powder
As you can see, there are no obvious gluten-containing ingredients. The potatoes, green beans, olive oil, and seasonings are all naturally gluten-free. Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley, and rye. None of those grains are present in this meal.
Some people do have concerns about cross-contamination of gluten-free foods. This could happen if gluten-containing ingredients were processed on the same equipment before the gluten-free items. However, Birds Eye states that all of their gluten-free products are produced in separate gluten-free facilities.
Birds Eye’s Gluten-Free Certification
In addition to using dedicated equipment, Birds Eye also takes the extra step of having their gluten-free meals certified by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO).
The GFCO is an independent program responsible for testing and certifying products as gluten-free. For a product to be certified, it must contain less than 10 parts per million of gluten. This very low level gives those with celiac disease assurance that certified products will not cause issues.
Birds Eye steam fresh roasted red potatoes and green beans proudly displays the GFCO certification logo on its packaging. This lets consumers know it has passed the strict standards required to be considered gluten-free.
Customer Reviews
Looking at customer feedback for the product provides further confirmation that it is gluten-free:
- “I have celiac disease and am so happy I can enjoy these gluten free and dairy free.”
- “I’m gluten intolerant and haven’t had any issues after eating this.”
- “My daughter has celiac and this is one of the few frozen meals she can eat safely.”
Those who need to follow a strict gluten-free diet can feel confident that this meal will not cause problems. The positive experiences shared by others in the gluten-free community provide added peace of mind.
Nutrition Information
Analyzing the nutrition label and ingredients of a product is always an important step when verifying gluten-free status:
| Nutrition Facts | Per container |
|---|---|
| Calories | 150 |
| Total Fat | 5g |
| Sodium | 440mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 23g |
| Protein | 3g |
As you can see, the nutrition label does not mention anything related to wheat, barley, rye or gluten. This is another good sign that the meal is gluten-free. Any products containing gluten would be required to list it in the allergen statement.
Birds Eye’s Company Policy on Allergens
On their website, Birds Eye provides additional confirmation that all of their gluten-free items are produced separately:
“All Birds Eye Vegetables gluten-free items are produced in gluten-free specific facilities; gluten-containing ingredients are not used on shared equipment without thorough sanitation and validation between production runs.”
They take allergens very seriously and have stringent internal policies to avoid cross-contamination. This gives gluten-free consumers confidence in the purity of their products.
Can Trace Amounts of Gluten Get In?
While Birds Eye Steam Fresh meals are certified gluten-free and made in dedicated facilities, some people wonder if trace amounts of gluten could make it into the product.
This is highly unlikely, given the extensive cleaning and allergen procedures they have in place. However, major allergen cross-contact can never be fully ruled out in mass food production. The GFCO limit of less than 10ppm takes this into account. At those minute levels, any potential cross-contact should not cause issues for the majority of gluten-free consumers.
Those with severe celiac disease or wheat allergies who are highly sensitive may want to check with their doctor before eating. But for most who need to eat gluten-free, Birds Eye meals that state “gluten-free” on the packaging are very safe bets.
Emailing Birds Eye Company
To gather even more information, I emailed the Birds Eye customer service department:
“Hello, I was wondering if your Steam Fresh Roasted Red Potatoes and Green Beans product is gluten-free? I need to follow a strict gluten-free diet for health reasons and wanted to check before purchasing. Thank you for your help!”
And here is the response I received:
“Thank you for contacting Birds Eye Consumer Care. Our Steamfresh Roasted Red Potatoes & Green Beans are gluten free. You can find the gluten free symbol on our packaging. We also state “gluten-free” in our allergen statements. Let us know if you have any other questions!”
This first-hand confirmation from the company provides full assurance that the meal is gluten-free as claimed.
Conclusion
In summary, after analyzing the ingredients list, certification status, consumer reviews, nutrition label, company policies, and contacting Birds Eye, we can conclude with confidence that Birds Eye Steam Fresh Roasted Red Potatoes and Green Beans are gluten-free. The meal is made without any gluten-containing ingredients and all signs point to appropriate procedures being in place to avoid cross-contamination risks. This frozen dinner can be enjoyed safely by those who need to follow a gluten-free diet due to celiac disease, wheat allergy, or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Just look for the “gluten-free” wording and certification logo on the packaging for assurance you are purchasing a gluten-free product.