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| Get a list of safe brands of corn meal for your favorite gluten-free cornbread recipe! |
Corn products, such as corn meal or cornstarch are heavily used in gluten-free cooking and baking. These corn products are thought to be naturally gluten free.
However, this is not true for those who are super sensitive to gluten, due to cross contamination.
I haven't purchased corn meal since the new FDA gluten-free labeling law went into effect, so I don't know how many brands still have "gluten free" written on the label any more.
A lot of manufacturers pulled their gluten-free status as soon as the gluten-free law defining what "gluten free" means went into effect.
Like cornstarch, corn meal tends to be processed on the same equipment as a company's gluten products, so you need to be careful about which brand of corn meal you choose to buy.
The average celiac or gluten intolerant individual can handle products made in the same facility or even on shared equipment, provided the company has a solid allergen policy in place.
This means they thoroughly clean the machinery in between runs and toss out (or maybe sell to store brands or off-brands, more likely) the first two batches of the product.
However, this isn't true for a large number of us.
In fact, the average celiac or non-celiac gluten sensitive person might not even exist anymore.
More people have been coming forward over the past few years to share how easily they react to trace amounts of gluten found in many gluten-free products due to shared equipment or facilities.
For those who are super sensitive, calling the company and asking about their allergen policy can offer essential information, but don't depend on company representatives knowing more than you do.
What to Expect from Company Representatives
Ordinarily, company representatives are just telemarketers that have a printed sheet of information in front of them, with specific instructions on what to say or not to say to you. They will simply repeat what they have been told to tell you.
And nothing more.
At least, that's how it was for me when I worked as a phone representative several years ago for a telemarketing company.
For example, "We don't add gluten to that product," doesn't mean the product wasn't run on shared equipment or that all of the ingredients in the product are gluten free and safe.
It just means the product doesn't have any gluten ingredients that the company personally added to the recipe.
Keep in mind that most companies cannot verify that the ingredients they purchase from other companies to use in their products are gluten free, so most of what they say is easy to misinterpret.
How Does Corn Meal Get Contaminated?
Corn meal is a grain.
Corn is not a vegetable.
So, like all other grains, it can be contaminated in the fields, or during:
- harvesting
- storage
- transport
- processing at the factory
Certification companies do not require products to be run on dedicated lines or in dedicated facilities at all.
Companies also do not have to print that information on the label. Nor, do they have to tell you that when you contact them.
Which Brands of Cornmeal are Gluten Free?
The following brands are gluten free:
- Albers Yellow Corn Meal
- Arrowhead Mills Blue Corn Meal Organic
- Arrowhead Mills Organic Yellow Corn Meal
- Hodgson's Mill Organic Yellow Corn Meal
- Kinnikinnic Gluten Free Wheat Free Corn Meal
- Shurfine Yellow Corn Meal
Stick to brands that you know are gluten free.
Personally, we only use corn meal processed by Arrowhead Mills. I just haven't run out yet. However, I might try Albers when I run out and see how well I do, since it is easily available at most grocery stores.
The blue corn meal from Arrowhead Mills that I still have is certified to be 10 ppm, or less, and we have never had a problem with it, so I might just order some online when I start to run low.
I'm not sure which way I'm going to go just yet.
I find it easier to stick to just one brand. I'm less likely to make a mistake that way. Plus, there's less to memorize.
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