Chicken stock made from chicken, vegetables, herbs, water and salt is naturally gluten free. Packaged stock is different: some cubes, powders and liquids carry wheat flour or barley malt. So the honest answer is, it depends on the label.
Key takeaways
- Homemade chicken stock is naturally gluten free; packaged stock varies by brand.
- Read the bold “Contains” line first. “Contains: Gluten” means it isn’t suitable.
- Wheat-derived glucose syrup is considered suitable for a gluten free diet.
- About 1 in 70 Australians have coeliac disease, according to Coeliac Australia.
Why some chicken stock contains gluten
Chicken has no gluten. It gets into stock through fillers and flavourings added to cut costs or thicken the product. That matters for a lot of households: Coeliac Australia estimates around 1 in 70 Australians have coeliac disease, and only 20% of them are diagnosed.
Most supermarket stocks we checked when we started out listed fillers like wheat flour or cornstarch. These are the label terms worth knowing:
| Label term | Gluten? | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Wheat flour | Yes | Avoid |
| Barley malt extract | Yes | Avoid |
| Yeast extract | Depends on the source | Check the “Contains” line |
| Glucose syrup (from wheat) | Suitable for a gluten free diet | Fine to eat |
How to read a stock label for gluten
Australian labels make this easier than most. Under FSANZ allergen labelling rules, if wheat, barley, oats or rye containing gluten is present, the bold summary statement near the ingredients must use the word “gluten”. That one line answers most questions.
- “Contains: Gluten” means the stock isn’t suitable.
- “Contains: Wheat” alone means the wheat ingredient has no gluten, so it’s suitable, according to Coeliac Australia’s label guide.
- A “gluten free” claim means no detectable gluten, and no oats or malted gluten cereals.
What about glucose syrup and yeast extract?
These two cause the most confusion. The FSANZ exemption for wheat glucose syrup means it doesn’t have to declare wheat, provided it has no more than 20 mg/kg of detectable gluten. Coeliac Australia considers it suitable for a gluten free diet.
Yeast extract is trickier. It’s used in stock to add a savoury, meaty depth, and it can be grown on different bases. Some is made from spent brewer’s yeast left over from beer making, and that brewing process starts with barley. Most yeast extract won’t carry gluten, but you can’t tell the source from the word alone.
That’s where the allergen statement earns its keep. If the yeast extract carries gluten from barley or wheat, the summary statement has to say “Contains: Gluten”. No gluten in the statement and a gluten free claim on the front means you’re fine. If neither is there, contact the supplier; FSANZ requires their name and address on the label.
Our view is simple. Glucose syrup and yeast extract may be safe, but neither belongs in stock, so we leave them out.
How to make gluten free chicken stock at home
Homemade stock is the easiest gluten free option, because every core ingredient is naturally gluten free. Coeliac Australia’s gluten-free diet guide lists raw, unprocessed poultry, fresh vegetables, legumes and eggs among the single-ingredient foods that are naturally free of gluten.
Simmer a chicken carcass or wings with onion, carrot, celery, garlic, herbs and water for a few hours, then strain and season. Gluten tends to sneak in through the extras:
- A stock cube or powder added “for flavour”. Check its label first.
- Regular soy sauce. Swap in a gluten free soy sauce or tamari.
- Cornflour for thickening. Some cornflour is made from wheat starch, so buy one labelled gluten free.
- Shared boards, ladles and strainers. Coeliac Australia’s advice on managing cross contact at home is to clean them well before you start.
Is our chicken stock gluten free?
Yes. Our natural chicken stock concentrate is gluten free and made in Fremantle, WA, in a facility that doesn’t process gluten or products containing it. One 160g jar makes 6.5 litres of stock, and the ingredient list is short enough to read at a glance.
It’s made from vegetables, chicken, WA lake salt, apple cider vinegar and spices, with no sugar or filler. Our vegetable, beef and mushroom stock concentrates are gluten free too. Try it in our lunchbox meatballs or zesty salad dressing.
Is chicken stock gluten free? FAQs
Are stock cubes gluten free?
Some are, many aren’t. Cubes and powders often rely on fillers, flavour enhancers and thickeners, so check the bold “Contains” line on every pack, even a brand you’ve bought before, because recipes change. A gluten free claim on an Australian label means the product has no detectable gluten.
Is chicken broth gluten free?
The same rules apply as for stock. Broth made at home from chicken, vegetables, herbs and water is naturally gluten free. Packaged broth can contain wheat-based thickeners or barley-derived flavourings, so read the allergen statement and look for a gluten free claim before you buy.
Does chicken stock have gluten if it says “Contains: Wheat”?
Not necessarily. If the summary statement lists wheat but not gluten, the wheat ingredient has been processed so it carries no gluten. Coeliac Australia treats these products as suitable for a gluten free diet, and some of them are labelled gluten free on the front.
Is your stock concentrate suitable for coeliacs?
All four of our stock concentrates are gluten free, and they’re made in Fremantle in a facility that doesn’t process gluten or products containing it. If you manage coeliac disease, talk to your GP or dietitian about your own diet.
Ready for a cleaner stock?
Want a stock you don’t have to second-guess? Browse our gluten free stock concentrates or visit the shop. Allergen questions? Read our FAQs or get in touch with our team.
