Wondering if Ruffles Potato Chips are gluten free, and if so, which flavours?? You’re in the right place! Read on to find out more.
The short answer: it depends on the flavour! In both Canada and the U.S., some flavours of Ruffles Potato Chips are labelled as gluten free, while others are not. But if you’re a purist, don’t worry, Ruffles Regular Potato Chips (Canada) and Ruffles Original Potato Chip (U.S.) are both gluten free!
When you first start a gluten-free diet, it can be overwhelming to stand in the aisle of your local grocery store, looking at all the brands of potato chips, wondering what's safe for you to eat.
The good news is that Ruffles, a popular brand of potato chip, has several gluten-free options. Let’s take a look at which flavours are labelled gluten free, which aren’t labelled gluten free, but don’t contain any gluten-containing ingredients, which are both gluten and dairy free, and which ones to stay clear of.
This information is up to date at the time of publication; however, ingredients, formulas and manufacturing processes can change at any time. Please always read product labels carefully, and when in doubt, verify with the manufacturer directly.
Jump to:
- Gluten-Free Flavours: Canada
- Gluten-Free Flavours: U.S.
- Which Flavours are both Gluten and Dairy Free?
- What Does a Gluten-Free Label Mean?
- Gluten Free vs. Not Containing Gluten Ingredients
- Flavours Not Containing Gluten Ingredients: Canada
- Flavours Not Containing Gluten Ingredients: U.S.
- Why Aren’t All Potato Chips Gluten Free?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Gluten-Free Flavours: Canada
In Canada, based on the Canadian Gluten Free Products listing on Frito Lay Canada’s official website, the following products are gluten free:
- Ruffles All Dressed Flavoured Potato Chips
- Ruffles Au Gratin Flavoured Potato Chips
- Ruffles Bar-B-Q Flavoured Potato Chips
- Ruffles Lightly Salted Potato Chips
- Ruffles Regular Potato Chips
- Ruffles Salt & Vinegar Flavoured Potato Chips
- Ruffles Simply Sea Salted Potato Chips
- Ruffles Smokehouse Barbecue Flavoured Potato Chips
- Ruffles Sour Cream ‘N Bacon Flavoured Potato Chips
- Ruffles Sour Cream & Onion Flavoured Potato Chips
- Ruffles Sweet & Spicy Flavoured Potato Chips
Please note, this only pertains to products made and distributed in Canada.
Gluten-Free Flavours: U.S.
In the U.S., based on the U.S. Gluten Free Products listing on Frito Lay’s official website, the following products are gluten free:
- Ruffles Baked Cheddar & Sour Cream Flavored Potato Crisps
- Ruffles Baked Original Potato Crisps
- Ruffles Original Potato Chips
- Ruffles Simply Sea Salted Potato Chips
Please note, this only pertains to products made and distributed in the U.S.
Which Flavours are both Gluten and Dairy Free?
Gluten & Dairy Free Flavours: Canada
In Canada, based on the Canadian Products Not Containing Milk Ingredients listing on Frito Lay Canada’s official website, the following products are also dairy free:
- Ruffles All Dressed Flavoured Potato Chips
- Ruffles Bar-B-Q Flavoured Potato Chips
- Ruffles Lightly Salted Potato Chips
- Ruffles Regular Potato Chips
- Ruffles Simply Sea Salted Potato Chips
- Ruffles Smokehouse Barbecue Flavoured Potato Chips
- Ruffles Sweet & Spicy Flavoured Potato Chips
Please note, this only pertains to products made and distributed in Canada.
Gluten & Dairy Free Flavours: U.S.
Based on the U.S. Products Not Containing Gluten and Milk Ingredients listing on Frito Lay’s official website, the following products are also dairy free:
- Ruffles Baked Original Potato Crisps
- Ruffles Original Potato Chips
- Ruffles Simply Sea Salted Potato Chips
Please note, this only pertains to products made and distributed in the U.S.
What Does a Gluten-Free Label Mean?
While not certified gluten-free, the above Ruffles flavours are labelled gluten free – so what does that really mean?
In both Canada and the U.S., in order for a food product to be labelled gluten free, it must meet specific federal guidelines, including containing less than 20 ppm of gluten. This is consistent with the position of both Health Canada and the FDA that levels of gluten protein below 20 ppm generally do not represent health risks to consumers with celiac disease. Both Celiac Canada and the Celiac Disease Foundation (U.S.), consider foods labelled with a “gluten-free” claim safe for individuals with celiac disease.
For more information on gluten-free labelling in Canada, please refer to B.24.018 of the Food and Drug Regulations and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s position on the Compliance and enforcement of gluten-free claims.
For more information on gluten-free labelling in the U.S., please refer to Gluten and Food Labeling, on the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s official website.
Gluten Free vs. Not Containing Gluten Ingredients
There are also several flavours of Ruffles that do not contain gluten ingredients but are not labelled as gluten free.
This means that while the products do not contain wheat, rye, barley or oat ingredients, they are not tested for gluten content and may have come into contact with gluten-containing products. This can occur during manufacturing if manufactured on the same line as products that contain gluten, or if the ingredients in the product came into contact with gluten-containing products prior to manufacturing.
So, if you’re on a gluten-free diet, is it safe for you to eat flavours that don’t contain gluten ingredients but aren’t labelled/certified as gluten free? It really depends on your level of gluten sensitivity and your own personal risk assessment.
If you have celiac disease (or other gluten-related disorders) and are struggling to understand gluten-free food labelling, and in particular how to navigate "may contain" warnings, check out Celiac Canada’s great Gluten-Free Labelling Guide for food labelling in Canada, and in the U.S., get the Celiac Disease Foundation’s Gluten-Free Diet and FDA Labeling Guide.
Flavours Not Containing Gluten Ingredients: Canada
Based on the Canadian Products Not Containing Gluten Ingredients listing on Frito Lay Canada’s official website, the following products do not contain wheat, rye, barley or oat ingredients:
“However, some of the products listed below may be manufactured on the same lines as products that contain gluten. Although our lines are cleaned between production runs, Frito Lay Canada has not tested these products for gluten content and the ingredients in these products may have come into contact with gluten-containing products prior to manufacturing. Individuals who are sensitive to gluten should take these factors into consideration in consuming these products.”
- Ruffles Cheeseburger Flavoured Potato Chips
- Ruffles Double Crunch Jalapeno Cheddar Flavoured Potato Chips
- Ruffles Double Crunch Ketchup Flavoured Potato Chips
- Ruffles Double Crunch Original Potato Chips
- Ruffles Flamin’ Hot BBQ Flavoured Potato Chips
- Ruffles Flamin’ Hot Cheddar Flavoured Potato Chips
- Ruffles Hot Wings Flavoured Potato Chips
- Ruffles Oven Baked Cheddar & Sour Cream Flavoured Potato Crisps
Please note, this only pertains to products made and distributed in Canada.
Flavours Not Containing Gluten Ingredients: U.S.
In the U.S., Frito Lay does not provide a “Products Not Containing Gluten Ingredients” listing on its official website.
Why Aren’t All Potato Chips Gluten Free?
There can be several reasons why a brand or flavour of potato chips isn’t gluten free. Some of the most common are:
- Ingredients used to flavour the chips contain gluten;
- To achieve a specific texture, they use gluten-containing ingredients such as wheat starch (e.g., Pringles); or
- Even though the chips contain no gluten-containing ingredients themselves, they get contaminated with traces of gluten during the manufacturing process through cross-contact with other gluten-containing foods.
Reading Ingredients Label: Ingredients Derived from Barley
When reading potato chip ingredient labels in the U.S., it is especially important to be aware of ingredients that may be derived from barley. Barley is not considered a major food allergen, and unlike Canada, the FDA standard does not require enhanced declaration of gluten sources on labels. Two common ingredients in potato chips that may be derived from barley are yeast extract and malt flavour. In Canada, if an ingredient is derived from barley, it needs to be clearly stated. For example, you may see “yeast extract [barley]” or “malt vinegar solids [barley]” on ingredient lists. However, in the U.S. it is not required. So, if you’re on a strict gluten-free diet and see yeast extract or malt on an ingredient list in the U.S., and there is no “gluten-free” label/certification, you should stay clear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Ruffles Original Potato Chips (U.S.) and Ruffles Regular Potato Chips (Canada) are labelled gluten free by the manufacturer. They are made from potatoes, vegetable oil (canola, corn, soybean, and/or sunflower oil) and salt.
In the U.S., both Ruffles Baked Cheddar & Sour Cream and Ruffles Baked Original Potato Crisps are labelled gluten free by the manufacturer.
In Canada, Ruffles Baked Cheddar & Sour Cream Potato Crisps do not contain any gluten-containing ingredients, but may contain gluten through cross contamination during manufacturing. Per Frito Lay Canada, they may be manufactured on the same lines as products that contain gluten, and although their lines are cleaned between production runs, Frito Lay Canada has not tested these products for gluten content and the ingredients in these products may have come into contact with gluten-containing products prior to manufacturing.
In Canada, Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream potato chips are labelled gluten free by the manufacturer!
In the U.S. Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream potato chips are not listed as gluten free. Per their ingredient list, they contain yeast extract, which may or may not be derived from barley. However, if you're looking for a good gluten-free alternative, Ruffles Baked Cheddar & Sour Cream Potato Crisps are labelled gluten free.
In Canada, Ruffles Sour Cream & Onion potato chips are labelled gluten free!
In the U.S., Ruffles Sour Cream & Onion potato chips are not labelled gluten free. Per their ingredient list, they contain yeast extract, which may or may not be derived from barley. If you’re looking for gluten-free alternatives, LAY’S Baked Sour Cream & Onion Flavored Potato Crisps and LAY’S STAX Sour Cream & Onion Flavored Potato Crisps are both labelled gluten free, making them both a great option.
Yes! In Canada, Ruffles All Dressed potato chips are labelled gluten free.
Per the Frito Lay official website, it does not appear that Ruffles All Dressed chips are currently available in the U.S.
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