Cheez Whiz is a processed cheese product made by the Kraft-Heinz company. This popular cheese sauce is used for many things from casseroles to Philadelphia cheesesteaks, but is Cheez Whiz gluten-free? Find out here!
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What is Cheez Whiz?
Cheez Whiz Original Cheese Dip is a rich and flavorful cheese sauce with a mild cheddar taste. Similar to Velveeta cheese, Cheez Whiz is commonly used for nachos, cheesesteaks, homemade mac & cheese, casseroles, and more.
Although Cheez Whiz seems about as American as you can get, most notably for its use on Philly Cheesesteaks, it was originally developed for the British market as a shortcut for making the much beloved dish, Welsh rarebit.
Ingredients in Cheez Whiz
The ingredients in Kraft Cheez Whiz are as follows.
Whey, Milk, Canola Oil, Maltodextrin, Milk Protein Concentrate, Sodium Phosphate, Contains Less than 2% of Whey Protein Concentrate, Modified Food Starch, Salt Lactic Acid, Mustard Flour, Sodium Alginate, Worcestershire Sauce (Vinegar, Molasses, Corn Syrup, Water, Salt, Caramel Color, Garlic Powder, Sugar, Spices [Contains Celery], Tamarind, Natural Flavor), Sorbic Acid as a Preservative, Milkfat, Cheese Culture, Annatto and Oleoresin Paprika (Color), Enzymes, Natural Flavor.
Cheez Whiz primarily consists of milk, oil, and thickening agents. At first glance, there are a few possible ingredients that some might be wary of, like modified food starch, maltodextrin, or caramel color, but generally speaking, none of these ingredients are derived from or likely to contain gluten.
Is Cheez Whiz Gluten-Free?
While Kraft does not label this product with a gluten-free claim, Cheez Whiz is considered by most to be gluten-free. It does not contain gluten ingredients, nor does it have a source of gluten listed in the ingredient statement. It is considered safe to consume for those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
As far as gluten-free labeling, Cheez Whiz is not specifically labeled gluten-free nor is it certified gluten-free. The Kraft-Heinz company is not currently validating this product through their own internal testing, nor through external validation methods.
Is Cheez Whiz Safe for Celiacs?
Yes, considering there is no gluten or gluten-containing ingredients found in Cheez Whiz, this product is considered safe to consume for someone with Celiac Disease.
Persons with Celiac Disease have an autoimmune reaction to the gluten protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Currently, the label does not indicate any of these ingredients are in Cheez Whiz.
Does Kraft Label for Gluten?
Yes. According to Kraft's FAQ page:
- Kraft advises that they label their products in accordance with the FDA.
- They will label for all sources of gluten.
- If gluten is added to the product, it will be listed in the Ingredient Statement.
Kraft elaborates on their gluten policies to add:
- Food starch and modified food starch listed in the ingredient statements of Kraft Heinz’s products often refer to corn starch.
- If a Kraft Heinz’s product uses food starches from a gluten-containing source, such as wheat starch, the source is always identified in the ingredient statement.
- A gluten-containing grain as a direct ingredient will list the grain using commonly known terms such as “wheat, barley, rye and/or oats.”
- A source of gluten as a component of another ingredient, such as flavors or modified food starch, will list the grain in parentheses after the ingredient in the ingredient line. For example, “natural flavor (contains rye).”
- Only certain Kraft Heinz products are labeled with a gluten-free claim on the front of the package. These products have been tested and validated to contain less than 20 ppm gluten. Other products do not have gluten ingredients, but unless the product has been validated through testing, Kraft does not label the finished product as gluten-free.
Please note: The Kraft-Heinz company advises those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance to carefully read labels each time you purchase an item to obtain the most up to date and accurate ingredient information.
If you'd like to read more in-depth information about Kraft's labeling processes, you can read this article about Philadelphia cream cheese where I cover everything I could find out how Kraft labels their products.
Gluten-Free Cheez Whiz Substitutes
While Cheez Whiz is considered gluten-free and safe to consume, you may be seeking other alternatives for various reasons, like availability or cost. Here are some more gluten-free cheese whiz alternatives. In any case, check the labels for gluten ingredients or a gluten-free claim.
- Walmart's Great Value Brand Cheese Dip Original Cheddar Flavor has virtually the same ingredients as Kraft Cheez Whiz.
- Aldi's Clancy's Brand Cheese Dip also has a similar list of ingredients.
- Most grocery stores carry their own private label version of Cheez Whiz.
The Answer and Bottom Line
While Cheez Whiz cheese is not specifically labeled gluten-free, it is considered to be gluten-free and safe to consume for someone with Celiac disease or gluten intolerances.
Granted, there are people who will only trust products labeled gluten-free or whom do not trust processed foods or large companies. Even still, Kraft appears to take its labeling practices seriously and does label for any source of gluten in a product.
The responsibility is ultimately up to the consumer to read labels every time and make a determination for themselves about whether or not to consume Cheez Whiz.
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Disclaimer: The information in this article is the personal opinion of the author and for educational purposes only. This is not medical or nutritional advice. Please consult a doctor or medical professional before making changes to your diet or regarding any health related decisions. Ingredient information was accurate at the time of posting but should always be verified by the consumer by checking the product ingredient label for the most up to date information.
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