Find out what root beer is made of, if it is safe for a gluten-free diet and what brands to look for when shopping at the store.
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’re a big fan of root beer and just getting started on a gluten-free diet, you may be wondering if this popular drink is gluten-free. After all, gluten can hide just about anywhere in foods and beverages.
Sometimes a product can contain no gluten ingredients at all, but can come into contact with gluten, making that product not safe for folks who are celiac or some who are gluten intolerant.
In this post, we’re going to go over what root beer is, what it’s made of, and if root beer is generally considered to be a gluten-free soda. Plus, we’ll talk about which brands of root beer are safe for a gluten-free diet, as well as a few I wasn’t able to find answers on.
If you love root beer, this post is for you. Let’s find out what root beer we can enjoy while still avoiding gluten.
What is root beer?
Root beer is a type of soda that’s sweet in flavor and has a unique spiciness. This quintessential flavor of soda gets its flavor from a combination of sassafras and sarsaparilla.
According to DrPepperMuseum.com, “In traditional herbal medicine, many root beer ingredients are thought to contain a variety of health benefits. Now obsolete in natural and herbal medicine, sassafras was traditionally used as a diuretic and thought to cleanse the blood and promote skin health. Sarsaparilla, similarly, was typically used to beautify the complexion and as a diuretic.”
Though most manufacturers don’t use sassafras and sarsaparilla any longer, they do use “natural flavor” or “artificial flavor” that mimics these flavors. We can all conclude that root beer isn’t considered a health food any longer.
Root beer is a well known carbonated drink you can find at restaurants or at grocery stores. Many folks enjoy root beer on its own, while others make it into a dessert with a scoop of ice cream for root beer floats. Root beer, and other sodas, can even be used as a leavener in baking and makes for a unique twist on a chocolate cake.
What is root beer made of?
The ingredients in root beer can vary by brand and how it’s made. In traditional recipes, sassafras or sarsaparilla are the main flavors. However, in the United States, “the FDA has eliminated sassafras for commercial use,” according to allrecipes.com.
Most major manufacturers of root beer use very similar ingredients, but they’ll differ from one brand to another. Here are some of the ingredients you’ll find in many popular brands of root beer: carbonated water, sucrose, high fructose corn syrup, cane sugar, caramel color, natural and artificial flavors, sodium benzoate, citrus acid, phosphoric acid, acacia, caffeine, modified food starch, calcium disodium EDTA, quillaia extract, and red #40.
Though most root beer is caffeine-free, some brands like Barq’s add caffeine to their root beer products.
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.
Is root beer gluten-free?
Most soda is gluten-free, and yes, most root beer is too. That said, like any other food or beverage, it’s best to look at the specific brand and product to review ingredients lists for hidden gluten.
Read on: Is soda gluten-free?
Brands of gluten-free root beer
There are so many brands of root beer out there, but if you’re like me, it’s best to have a place to look for specific brands I can trust. I’ve researched these brands and have found either a gluten-free statement from the brand for the product or found other sources online to confirm that they are gluten-free.
You can use this list next time you’re looking for a gluten-free root beer at the store, knowing these will be safe options for you.
A&W Root Beer
- A&W Root Beer
- A&W Zero Sugar Root Beer
Barq’s
- Root Beer
- Diet Root Beer
Bundaberg
- Root Beer
Jones Soda
- Root Beer
Mug Root Beer
- Mug Root Beer
- Mug Cream Root Beer
Shasta
- Diet Shasta Root Beer
- Shasta Root Beer
Sprecher
- Root Beer
- Lo-Cal Root Beer
- Maple Root Beer
- Caffeinated Root Beer
Virgil’s
- Handcrafted Root Beer
- Zero Sugar Root Beer
WBC Goose Island
- Root Beer
- Diet Root Beer
Zevia
- Creamy Root Beer
- Ginger Root Beer
Brands of root beer I wasn’t able to confirm as gluten-free
These brands of root beer I spent time researching, but wasn’t able to come up with a conclusive answer as to whether or not they are gluten-free.
Most of them contain no gluten-containing ingredients, but they also don’t make any gluten statements, so I’m hesitant to include them in a list of gluten-free root beers.
- IBC
- Dad’s
- Hires
- Stewart’s
- Frostie
- Sioux City Root Beer
- Oak Creek Blonde Root Beer
If you’ve been wondering if root beer is gluten-free, I hope this post has helped you get the answers you’re after. Most root beer contains no gluten and many brands offer a gluten-free statement to help us folks avoiding gluten some peace of mind when we’re choosing a soda option.
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 corn gluten-free?
Is corn gluten-free? Find out if corn contains gluten, if different types of corn contain gluten, and if this ingredient is safe for a gluten-free diet.
Is oatmeal gluten-free?
If you love oats and oatmeal for breakfast or adding oats to your baked goods, you might be wondering if these are safe for a gluten-free diet. Find out in this post!
Are Doritos gluten-free?
Do you follow a gluten-free diet and wonder if Doritos are gluten-free? This post will give you all the information you need to know to make an informed decision on whether to enjoy these or not if you’re gluten free.
Is coffee gluten-free?
Do you love coffee and just getting started with a gluten-free diet? This post will give you all the information you need to know about gluten and coffee.
Is Ice Cream Gluten-free?
Are you an ice cream lover? Find out if ice cream is gluten-free, which brands are safe for a gluten-free diet, and how to order ice cream out.
Is Cheese Gluten-free?
If you love cheese and follow a gluten-free diet, you may be wondering which types of cheese are safe for you. Find out in this post if cheese is gluten-free and what to look out for.
Is Cream Cheese Gluten-free?
Wondering if cream cheese is safe for your gluten-free diet? Discover what cream cheese is made of, what brands are gluten-free, and things to be aware of when eating cream cheese on a gluten-free diet.
Adrienne Fehr says
Caramel coloring is often NOT gluten free it depends on the source of the coloring. Coca-Cola itself is not gluten-free due to the caramel coloring so I would be very skeptical of some of those large commercial national brands..
Rachael Roehmholdt says
Hi Adrienne, I used to think the same that all caramel coloring was to be avoided due to a potential for gluten but as I was writing this post, I was researching and found that most caramel coloring made in the United States is gluten free as its derived from corn. I suppose there’s no true way to tell, but it’s generally considered fairly safe among most publications I’ve seen when researching this. Of course, do what’s right for you and your body’s preferences – only you know how you react to different ingredients. Wishing you the best!