Unfortunately, Kellogg’s Rice Krispie cereal and Rice Krispie Treats are not gluten-free. There are alternatives though that are safe for a gluten-free diet.
Navigating a gluten free diet can be tough. Sometimes it seems like something should be gluten free, but a sneaky ingredient makes it not so. Rice Krispie Cereal and Rice Krispie Treats are rice based and therefore, you would think that they would be gluten free. The cereal is made from rice, which itself does not contain gluten. However, it contains malt flavoring derived from barley, which contains gluten.
The good news is that there are alternatives! The safest bet is to choose a product that is labeled gluten-free and I have some suggestions. For cereal, I recommend Malt O’ Meal Rice Crispy Rice Cereal which is widely available at Walmart and many other grocery stores. We don’t have an Aldi here in Las Vegas (bummer), but I do know that their store-brand Crispy Rice Cereal is also labeled gluten-free. Nature’s Path Crispy Rice Cereal is a great certified gluten-free option.
Many store-brand rice crispy cereals do appear to have safe ingredients but are not labeled gluten-free. These cereals may be safe, but also could be subject to cross-contamination. If you feel comfortable with a non-gluten-free labeled cereal just make sure that the ingredients don’t have any malt or malt flavoring listed.
For a safe rice crispy treat you could of course make your own with a safe cereal, but there are also safe premade treats available. Walmart’s Great Value brand has a gluten-free rice crispy treat that is certified gluten-free. Just make sure that it is the labeled gluten-free box because they also sell some that contain malt. Starbucks offers a premade Marshmallow Dream Bar in most of their stores that is labeled gluten-free and delicious. Annie’s Homegrown has an organic crispy snack bar that bears a gluten-free label.
Starbucks Marshmallow Dream Bar, labeled gluten free
Whether you are new to a gluten-free diet or an seasoned pro, it is always important to look for a gluten free label or check ingredients carefully to ensure that the food you are eating is safe. Happy Eating!
