Last Updated on January 8, 2023
Today, we’re going to be answering the question: are Sun Chips gluten free? And taking a look at which chips we can enjoy when following a gluten free diet.
As chips are usually made from vegetables like potatoes, you may think they’d always be gluten free; but unfortunately, that’s not always the case. This is because additives and flavorings of chips can contain gluten, and therefore the product would no longer be safe for gluten free consumption. But are Sun Chips gluten free? Let’s take a closer look.
What Are Sun Chips?
Sun Chips are a brand of chips produced by Frito-Lay. This particular brand of chips have been around for over 30 years. They’re also available in the UK, but their name is slightly different; Sun Bites.
They’re famous for their ripples and that they’re made from a variety of grains. They have a selection of permanent flavors, including:
- Original
- Harvest Cheddar
- French Onion
- Chili Lime
- Garden Salsa
- Tomato, Basil and Cheese
- Farmhouse Ranch
- Cinnamon Crunch (seasonal)
Take Out Time to Also Read:
Sun Chip Ingredients – Are Sun Chips Gluten Free?
You may be wondering what the ingredients are when it comes to Sun Chips. The Original Sun Chips contain the following:
- whole corn
- sunflower and/or canola oil
- whole wheat
- brown rice flour
- whole oat flour
- sugar
- salt
- natural flavor
- maltodextrin
Nutritional Information Of Sun Chips
You may be curious as to the nutritional value of a bag of Sun Chips. Each bag contains the following:
- Calories: 140
- Fat: 6g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 110mg
- Carbohydrate: 19g
- Dietary Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 2g
- Protein: 2g
You can find out more about Sun Chips and their flavors here.
Are Sun Chips Healthy?
In comparison to other chips on the market, Sun Chips are definitely one of the healthiest options. This is for a number of reasons. For one, they’re made from 100% whole grain and contain no artificial flavors or preservatives. As they’re made from whole grain, this means they’re lower in saturated fat and cholesterol, meaning this helps to keep your heart healthy. Another reason is that Sun Chips contain 30% less fat than regular chips of a similar size.
Do Sun Chips Have Gluten?
As you can probably tell from the list of ingredients, Sun Chips do contain gluten. Wheat and oats are two of the main ingredients; both of which are generally not suitable for those following a gluten free diet.
Are Sun Chips Gluten Free?
As Sun Chips contain gluten-containing grains, such as wheat and oats, this product is most definitely not gluten free. This is the case for all of the Sun Chip flavors. Unfortunately, none of the varieties are suitable for those following a gluten free lifestyle.
Gluten Free Alternative To Sun Chips
While there are many gluten free chips available, one of the closest alternatives to Sun Chips that are suitable for a gluten free diet, is Sun Puffs. They’re currently only available in one flavor: Four Cheese and contain the following ingredients:
- whole corn meal
- vegetable oil
- whole buckwheat flour
- brown rice flour
- whole oat flour
- maltodextrin
- sugar
- whey
- buttermilk
- salt
- natural flavors
- onion powder
- garlic powder
- sour cream
- Monterey Jack cheese
- whey protein concentrate
- cheddar cheese
- gouda cheese
- skim milk
- mozzarella cheese
- butter
- yeast
- paprika extracts
- annatto extracts
- turmeric extracts
The only allergen listed on this product is “milk”.
Chips That Are Gluten Free
When it comes to chips, it’s relatively easy to find brands that are gluten free, or do not contain any gluten ingredients. However, here’s a round-up of some of my favorite brands that are either entirely gluten free, or offer gluten free varieties.
Kettle Chips
Kettle Chips are without a doubt my go-to choice for chips. All of their flavors are gluten free, and there are plenty! Some of my top picks include:
- smoked sea salt
- classic bbq krinkle cut potato chips
- dill pickle potato chips
- bourbon bbq potato chips
- sour cream and onion organic potato chips
- sea salt sweet potato chips
- cheddar beer potato chips
- pepperoncini potato chips
- maple bacon potato chips
- sea salt and vinegar potato chips
- cheddar and roasted tomato real sliced potato chips
- uprooted vegetable chips
- sea salt potatoes, beets, and parsnips
Kettle Brand Potato Chips, Sea Salt Kettle Chips, 5 Oz
They also offer a selection of gluten free popcorn too, including the following flavors:
- jalapeno popcorn
- maple bacon popcorn
- salt and pepper popcorn
- sea salt popcorn
- sriracha popcorn
- white cheddar popcorn
The reason I love Kettle Chips so much is that they’re so accessible, and reasonably priced too.
Utz Chips – Are Sun Chips Gluten Free?
While Utz is not a solely gluten free brand, they have a few options when it comes to gluten free chips. They don’t have a huge selection of flavors, but they are delicious. The flavors include:
- thin cut 40% reduced-fat potato chips – kettle style
- thin cut gourmet medley potato chips – kettle style
- thin cut lightly salted potato chips – kettle style
- natural thin-cut kettle style reduced fat
- kettle style lightly salted natural thin cut
- kettle style gourmet medley natural thin cut
Saratoga Chips
Saratoga chips are another favorite of mine and are widely accessible. Their gluten free flavors include:
- honey BBQ
- balsamic vinegar
- dark russets
- old glories
- cinnamon sweet potato
- cracked pepper
- rosemary garlic
- original
- original Himalayan
- salted sweet potato
- Thai sweet chili
- wavy kettle chip
365 Everyday Value Chips
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly version, these gluten free chips are ideal. The flavors include:
- classic potato chips
- rippled sea salt potato chips
- organic sea salt potato chips
- organic black pepper and sea salt potato chips
Conclusion – Are Sun Chips Gluten Free?
I hope this post has helped to answer the question: are Sun Chips gluten free? And gives you an idea of which chips you can enjoy when following a gluten free diet. Chips are relatively easy to find gluten free. As long as you’re checking the ingredient labels before purchasing, you can easily enjoy chips.
Did your favorite chip brand make the list? If not, let us know your favorite in the comments below. Sharing is caring!
Hi, my name’s Zoë. I’m 28 years old and live in London, UK. I work full time as a freelance writer and critic for West End theatre. Writing has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. I spend most of my free time at the theatre, or at conventions. I’m married to the love of my life, and live in a small apartment with my fur baby, Lillie. I run two of my own blogs: No Safer Place and Stage to Page: both of which have won awards. I also have a YouTube channel where I talk about all things stagey.
