I just received an email from B&G Foods, Inc. regarding the gluten-free and dairy-free status of Ortega Taco Seasoning:
Dear Ms. Kelly,
Yes, Ortega Taco Seasoning is gluten/dairy and casein free.
Margaret (Marge) M. Broncaccio
B&G Foods, Inc,
Corporate Consumer Affairs & Relations
margareb@bgfoods.com
Woo! This is exciting! Someone asked me about this the other day…
Thanks, this is good news since I love tacos!
cool and no soy either, but it does have hidden MSG in the autolyzed yeast extract which is a problem for some people.
Thanks for that info Jennifer! I did not know that Autolyzed Yeast Extract was a hidden source of MSG! Good to know!
I have a large container of Ortega Taco Seasoning from Costco and it states on the container, "No MSG". I believe that is true for the single packets too.
According to their new packaging it is MSG free even though it says autolyzed yeast extract.
I just sent Ortega an email asking the same thing. My 3 year old girl was just diagnosed with Celiac. I was leary of the caramel color. Not sure if I will use the seasoning or not, LOL!
taco seasoning as well as the fajita seasoning has modified corn starch and i just learned that that is gluten. is this true?
*and modified food starch.
Modified food starch could have gluten but modified "corn" starch does not.
if modified food starch is from USA, then it is gluten free; from other countries, not guaranteed gluten free.
This is true. Have eaten both and was glutened by filipino banana ketchup cause of modified food starch but any US product I have eaten has not got me.
I just bought Ortega taco seasoning mix today and they are now labeling the caramel coloring as containing wheat and dairy. I guess they have changed their gluten free status? Very concerning.
so, is it gluten/casein/dairy free or not? !! the maltodextrin and caramel color have me wondering
Hi VB,
When I published this post in March of 2010, the Ortega representative stated that the taco seasoning was gluten and dairy/casein-free. I would certainly recommend following up with them to verify that the ingredients haven't changed (I no longer use Ortega so I haven't kept up with its' gluten free status).
Heidi
As to the Carmel Color…
1) If this ingredient is made in North America it is likely to be gluten-free.
3) The problem with caramel color is it may or may not contain gluten depending on how it is manufactured. In the USA caramel color must conform with the FDA standard of identity from 21CFR CH.1. This statute says: the color additive caramel is the
dark-brown liquid or solid material resulting from the carefully controlled heat treatment of the following food-grade carbohydrates: Dextrose (corn sugar), invert sugar, lactose (milk sugar), malt syrup (usually from barley malt), molasses (from cane), starch hydrolysates and fractions thereof (can include wheat), sucrose (cane or beet). Also, acids, alkalis and salts are
listed as additives which may be employed to assist the caramelization process.
Hopefully Ortega can put a definitive answer on whether their Carmel Coloring is gluten free or not.
What are you using in the place of Ortega?
Hi Marlene!
I just shared the information on the homemade taco seasoning recipe I use in this post (look under "Build-Your-Own-Taco-Bar").
The taco seasoning is still listed under B&Gs webpage under Faq/ gluten free. 9-11-2011