Granola seems like it should be gluten-free by default. It's oats, nuts, seeds, and maple syrup, right? Not quite. Whether a bag of granola is safe for someone with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity comes down to two questions: what's in it, and where was it made?
Why oats alone aren't the whole answer
Oats are naturally gluten-free. The problem is cross-contamination. Conventionally grown oats are often rotated with wheat, transported in shared equipment, and processed in facilities that handle gluten-containing grains. The result: oats that started gluten-free can end up with gluten in them by the time they reach a bakery.
What "certified gluten-free" actually certifies
A certification isn't just a claim on a label. For Hudson Henry, it means:
- Testing: ingredients and finished batches are tested against a strict gluten threshold (under 20 parts per million, the FDA standard for gluten-free, with GFCO's stricter 10 ppm standard)
- Dedicated handling: sourcing and processes designed to prevent cross-contact from gluten-containing grains
- Ongoing audits: the certification is maintained over time, not earned once
Every Hudson Henry flavor, from Maple Pecan Coconut to Chocolate Pecan, is certified gluten-free.
Granola ingredients that can hide gluten
Beyond the oats themselves, watch for these in granola labels:
- Wheat germ or barley malt as a sweetener or binder
- Fillers and crisps made from wheat flour
- Flavorings processed on shared equipment
Our recipes contain none of these: rolled oats, nuts, seeds, coconut, pure maple syrup, olive oil, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, sea salt. In Chocolate Pecan, dairy-free dark chocolate chips.
The vegan bonus
For people juggling multiple dietary needs: all of our flavors are also vegan and certified non-GMO. Chocolate Pecan uses dairy-free chocolate chips, so the whole line works for gluten-free, dairy-free, and plant-based eaters alike.
Where to start
If you're new to us, the Classic Trio bundles three certified gluten-free flavors in one gift-ready set, or browse every individual bag.
Short answer for the skimmers: yes, Hudson Henry granola is gluten-free, and it's certified, not just claimed.