Is Jello Pudding Gluten-free?

Find out if Jell-O pudding is gluten-free, what types of Jello pudding contain no gluten, and if the instant pudding and cups are dairy-free.

Note: I am a proud Amazon, Chomps, MunkPack, and Thrive Market affiliate and am happy to recommend their service and products to you. Please know that as an affiliate, I may receive a small commission on the products you purchase after clicking through my links. For more info, please see my disclosure policy here.

If you love pudding for dessert, you’re probably no stranger to pudding. While I’d argue that chocolate pudding is the most popular, there are plenty of others who might love vanilla or butterscotch more.

Whether you like to make pudding from scratch or get some help from the store, you’ve probably found yourself enjoying Jello pudding at one point or another in your life.

Jello is a popular brand of gelatin desserts, pudding mixes, and pie fillings. It’s produced by the Kraft-Heinz company and comes in both mixes and ready-to-eat options that you can find at the grocery store.

If you’re just getting started with a gluten-free diet or have been at it for a while, I hope this post helps answer some questions you may have had about Jell-O pudding and how it can fit into your gluten-free diet.

Find out what Jello pudding is, what the ingredients are, and if it’s gluten-free. Also find out what flavors of Jello pudding contain no gluten, if some of Jello’s specific products are gluten-free, and also how this brand of pudding fits into a dairy-free diet.

If you love pudding, you won’t want to miss this post!

What is Jello pudding?

Jello is a brand name of desserts, both pre-made in individual cups and packages for making your own at home. Their most popular dessert options are their fruit gelatins, pudding, and no bake cream pie fillings.

Jello pudding is a type of pudding that’s made from the Kraft Heinz company under the Jell-O brand. It comes in a variety of flavors like vanilla, chocolate, banana, tapioca, lemon, pistachio, butterscotch, and more.

What are the Jello pudding ingredients?

Though the ingredients will vary from product to product based on the type of pudding (instant vs cook & serve) as well as the flavor, most of the ingredients are similar across the different pudding products.

The ingredients in Jell-O chocolate instant pudding are:

“Sugar, modified cornstarch, cocoa processed with alkali, sodium phosphate, contains less than 2% of tetrasodium pyrophosphate, natural and artificial flavor, salt, artificial color, mono- and diglycerides, red 40, yellow 5, blue 1.”

The ingredients in Jell-O vanilla instant pudding are:

“Sugar, dextrose, cornstarch, modified cornstarch, contains less than 2% of natural and artificial flavor, salt, polysorbate 60, calcium carrageenan, yellow 5, yellow 6.”

What is gluten?

Gluten is a protein found in most wheat products, and acts as the “glue” that helps to hold wheat, barley, kamut, spelt, farro, durum, bulgur, rye, and semolina together to maintain their shape.

Gluten is naturally occurring, and therefore is impossible to strip away from the grain. If a grain naturally has gluten in it, there’s no way to make that food gluten-free.

Gluten can be found in some cereal products in the form of wheat, wheat flour, malt flavor, or malt barley. You can also find gluten hidden in flavorings in some cereal.

Is pudding gluten-free?

Many pudding recipes and brands are gluten-free, as they use cornstarch as a thickening agent to gel the pudding together and create the proper texture.

We’ll review brands later on in the post, but if you’re making pudding at home, the best way to know your pudding recipe is gluten-free is to use gluten-free ingredients.

Read on: Is pudding gluten-free?

Jello pudding is considered to be gluten-free, because there are no gluten-containing names in the ingredient list. As of right now, Kraft, the maker of Jello, is known for being good about placing notes on products that contain gluten.

I’ve also done a bit of research on this, and found although the normal Jello pudding is gluten-free and uses cornstarch as the main thickening agent, the Jello “cook & serve” pudding contains dextrose, which CAN be a hidden source of gluten (it is often made with corn, but can be made from rice or wheat).

According to a few other bloggers (here and here) who have done research into this, the Jello brand of Cook & Serve pudding is gluten-free, despite the dextrose found in the ingredient list.

With as much confidence as we can have without a gluten-free label, we can consider Jell-O pudding a gluten-free product. It never hurts to read ingredient lists and look for hidden sources of gluten.

Read on: Is Jello gluten-free?

Is Jello Cook & Serve pudding gluten-free?

Jell-O Cook & Serve puddings do not contain any gluten ingredients. That said, Kraft does not make any specific gluten-free statements about their pudding products, because they do not test their products for gluten.

If you are comfortable with eating foods that may or may not have come into contact with gluten during the manufacturing process, then this might be an option for you. If you know that even the potential of trace amounts of gluten will give you a reaction, then it’s best to avoid Kraft and Jello pudding products.

Here are the flavors of Jell-O Cook & Serve pudding that contains no gluten ingredients:

Jell-O Cook & Serve Banana Cream Pudding & Pie Filling
Jell-O Cook & Serve Banana Cream Pudding & Pie Filling
Jell-O Cook & Serve Butterscotch Pudding & Pie
Jell-O Cook & Serve Chocolate Fudge Pudding
Jell-O Cook & Serve Chocolate Pudding & Pie
Jell-O Cook & Serve Coconut Cream Pudding & Pie Filling
Jell-O Cook & Serve Lemon Pudding & Pie Filling
Jell-O Cook & Serve Vanilla Pudding & Pie Filling
Jell-O Cook and Serve Chocolate Pudding
Jell-O Cook and Serve Sugar Free Vanilla Pudding

Is Jello instant pudding gluten-free?

Jell-O instant pudding may or may not contain gluten. Some flavors will definitely contain gluten, like their Oreo Cookies ‘n Creme instant pudding. Others do not contain any gluten ingredients, but do not have a gluten-free label.

Here are the flavors of Jell-O pudding that contain no gluten that you may consider eating on a gluten-free diet if you know that the possibility of trace amounts of gluten will not give you a reaction.

Jell-O Banana Cream Instant Pudding
Jell-O Butterscotch Instant Pudding
Jell-O Caramel Instant Pudding
Jell-O Cheesecake Instant Pudding
Jell-O Chocolate Instant Pudding
Jell-O Chocolate Fudge Instant Pudding
Jell-O Coconut Cream Instant Pudding
Jell-O Devil’s Food Instant Pudding
Jell-O French Vanilla Instant Pudding
Jell-O Lemon Instant Pudding
Jell-O Pistachio Instant Pudding
Jell-O Pumpkin Spice Instant Pudding
Jell-O Red Velvet Instant Pudding
Jell-O Vanilla Instant Pudding
Jell-O White Chocolate Instant Pudding

These are the sugar-free fat-free instant puddings from Jell-O that also contain no gluten ingredients:

Jell-O Sugar-Free Fat-Free Instant Banana Pudding
Jell-O Sugar-Free Fat-Free Instant Butterscotch
Jell-O Sugar-Free Cheesecake Instant Pudding
Jell-O Sugar-Free Fat-Free Instant Chocolate
Jell-O Sugar-Free Fat-Free Instant Chocolate Fudge
Jell-O Sugar-Free Fat-Free Instant Pistachio Pudding
Jell-O Sugar-Free Fat-Free Instant Vanilla Pudding
Jell-O Sugar-Free Lemon Instant Pudding

Is Jello tapioca pudding gluten-free?

The ingredients on the package of Jell-O tapioca pudding are:

“Sugar, tapioca, cornstarch, modified cornstarch, contains less than 2% of artificial flavor, soy lecithin, carrageenan, salt, polysorbate 60, mono- and diglycerides, artificial color, yellow 5, yellow 6.”

From this list, we can see that there are no gluten-containing ingredients. Tapioca is a naturally gluten-free food, and this pudding also has no gluten. As with all Jell-O pudding products, there is no official gluten-free statement.

Jell-O original tapioca pudding snacks also contain no gluten ingredients, but again there is no gluten-free label on this packaging.

Use your best judgement based on what you know about how your body reacts to gluten, and know that there could be trace amounts of gluten in this product. The Kraft-Heinz company does not test for gluten in their pudding products, so it’s up to you to know what’s best for your body.

Is sugar-free Jello pudding gluten-free?

Some flavors of sugar-free Jell-O pudding contain no gluten ingredients. Though they are not labeled as gluten-free, these may or may not contain traces of gluten.

Here are the sugar-free flavors of Jell-O with no gluten in the ingredients list:

Jell-O Sugar-Free Fat-Free Instant Banana Pudding
Jell-O Sugar-Free Fat-Free Instant Butterscotch
Jell-O Sugar-Free Fat-Free Instant Chocolate
Jell-O Sugar-Free Fat-Free Instant Chocolate Fudge
Jell-O Sugar-Free Fat-Free Instant Pistachio Pudding
Jell-O Sugar-Free Fat-Free Instant Vanilla Pudding
Jell-O Sugar-Free Lemon Instant Pudding

Here are the sugar-free pudding cup flavors that have no gluten ingredients:

Jell-O Chocolate Vanilla Swirls Sugar-Free Pudding Snacks
Jell-O Chocolate Sugar-Free Pudding Snacks
Jell-O Vanilla Sugar-Free Pudding Snacks
Jell-O Dulce De Leche Sugar-Free Pudding Snacks

Are Jello pudding cups gluten-free?

Most flavors of Jell-O snack pudding cups you can buy pre-made from the grocery store do not contain gluten ingredients, though they are not labeled as gluten-free. The Kraft-Heinz company does not test for gluten in their pudding, so it’s not guaranteed that even without gluten in the ingredients that it’s truly a gluten-free product.

These are the flavors of Jell-O snack pudding cups that have no gluten ingredients:

Jell-O Chocolate Pudding Snacks
Jell-O Chocolate Vanilla Swirls Pudding Snacks
Jell-O Creme Brulee Pudding Snacks
Jell-O Monkey Around Banana Pudding Snacks
Jell-O Strawberry Cheesecake Pudding Snacks
Jell-O Original Tapioca Pudding Snacks
Jell-O Fat Free Tapioca Pudding Snacks
Jell-O Unicorn Magic Cupcake Pudding Snacks
Jell-O Chocolate Sugar-Free Pudding Snacks
Jell-O Chocolate Vanilla Swirls Sugar-Free Pudding Snacks
Jell-O Dark Chocolate Sugar-Free Pudding Snacks
Jell-O Dulce De Leche Sugar-Free Pudding Snacks
Jell-O Vanilla Sugar-Free Pudding Snacks

Is Jello chocolate pudding gluten-free?

Though none of the flavors of Jell-O pudding are considered gluten-free by the Kraft-Heinz company (they don’t test for gluten), most of their chocolate pudding contains no gluten ingredients.

Depending on your level of sensitivity to gluten and how you react to gluten when you ingest it, you may decide that the possibility of trace amounts of gluten in Jell-O chocolate pudding may not affect you. Use your best judgment based on what you know about your body to determine if this is a good choice for you.

Is Jello vanilla pudding gluten-free?

There is no guarantee that Jell-O vanilla pudding is considered gluten-free by the manufacturer. There is no gluten-free label on any Jell-O pudding products, including their vanilla flavor. This means that there may or may not be gluten in these products, but since Kraft-Heinz doesn’t test for gluten, we don’t really know.

Your best option is to use your best judgement based on what you know about your level of sensitivity to gluten and how your body reacts to trace levels of gluten. You know your body best and know the risks involved with eating gluten either by accident or intentionally.

Is Jello pudding dairy-free?

Jell-O pudding mixes most often do not contain dairy, however they call for milk in the directions on how to prepare it. If you are also following a dairy-free diet, don’t worry, Jell-O has a recipe on their website for how to make their pudding mix with non-dairy milk to help us out.

Jell-O pudding cups do contain dairy and should be avoided if you’re following a dairy-free diet.

If you love Jell-O pudding, I hope this post has helped you get the information you’ve been looking for. Though Jello pudding most often doesn’t contain any gluten, there are no guarantees that this product is gluten-free. Without testing, there can be no gluten-free label to indicate to consumers that there is less than 20ppm of gluten in the products.

As with any prepared and packaged food, use your best judgement based on what you know about your body and how it reacts to gluten.

If you loved this post, I hope that you’ll share it with your friends on Facebook and pin it for future reference on Pinterest.

Love this post? You might also want to check out these!

Find out if your favorite foods and ingredients contain gluten with these posts!

Which whole grains are gluten-free?

Find out which whole grains are gluten-free and safe to eat on a gluten-free diet. Learn the 12 whole grains to stock your gluten-free pantry with in this article.

Is Jello gluten-free?

Jello is the wiggly, jiggly, transparent treat that most of us enjoyed as kids. If you eat a gluten-free diet, you might be wondering if it’s gluten-free. Find out the details and the answer to that question in this post.

Are marshmallows gluten-free?

If you’re on a gluten-free diet, you may be wondering: are marshmallows gluten-free? Find out if there is gluten in marshmallows and 5 brands of marshmallows are that are gluten-free in this post.

Are Rice Krispies gluten-free?

Are you a fan of Rice Krispies? If so, you may have wondered if rice krispies are gluten-free, especially if you follow a gluten-free diet. Find out the details and the answer to that question in this post.

Is soy sauce gluten-free?

Is soy sauce gluten-free? Find out in this article where I share what your options for soy sauce are on a gluten-free diet.

Is Quinoa Gluten-free?

Is quinoa gluten-free? If you follow a gluten-free diet, you may have been wondering if this food is safe for you to eat. In this post, you’ll learn what quinoa is, how to enjoy it, and if it’s good for a gluten-free diet.

Is Rice Gluten-free?

If you’re following a gluten-free diet, you may be wondering if rice is gluten-free and safe to eat. In this post, we’ll discuss the different types of rice and whether or not you should add them to your regular rotation on a gluten-free diet.

Is Cornstarch Gluten-free?

Find out if cornstarch is safe for a gluten-free diet, the health benefits, and discover some gluten-free cornstarch brands.

Is Honey Gluten-free?

Find out if honey is safe for a gluten-free diet, the health benefits, and discover some gluten-free honey brands.

Are Oreos gluten-free? Are Oreos dairy-free?

If you love Oreos and avoid gluten or dairy for health reasons, you may be wondering if these favorite cookies are gluten-free or dairy-free. In this post, we’ll go through everything you need to know about Oreos and if you’ll want to include them in your diet if you have allergies or food intolerances.

Is Jello Pudding Gluten-free?

What is Jello pudding?

What are the Jello pudding ingredients?

What is gluten?

Is pudding gluten-free?