How to Navigate Ice Cream Shops With Celiac Disease
Enjoy your favorite summer treat without getting sick.
Before my celiac diagnosis, I wouldn't think twice about walking into any ice cream shop and ordering a cup or cone of my favorite flavor (which, ironically, just so happens to be cookies and cream). But over the past four years of living with this condition, I’ve learned that ordering celiac-safe ice cream can be a tricky process.
Some ice cream flavors (like my beloved cookies and cream) obviously contain gluten—but merely avoiding those flavors when ordering doesn’t equate to a celiac-safe treat. That’s because the risk of cross-contact at an ice cream shop is incredibly high—so there are a few additional steps you need to take when ordering to ensure your safety.
Even buying ice cream at the grocery store isn’t without its issues. While plain ol’ vanilla and chocolate are usually gluten-free, there are quite a few sneaky sources of gluten that could be lurking inside a pint. So, you have to be really diligent about reading labels before buying a tub of ice cream and digging in at home.
Ahead, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about ice cream so you can enjoy your favorite frozen treat this summer and beyond.
Table of contents:
Is ice cream gluten-free?
According to Beyond Celiac, most of the common, single-flavor ice creams (like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry) are gluten-free. However, if an ice cream contains cookie dough, cookies, cake pieces, or brownie bites, then it’s not going to be gluten-free (unless those mix-ins are specifically made with gluten-free ingredients).
When buying ice cream at the grocery store, the easiest thing to do is choose one that has a gluten-free certification or the words “gluten-free” on the label. If an ice cream pint isn’t labeled gluten-free, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s off-limits—but you’ll have to do a really thorough job of reading the ingredient list to spot any hidden sources of gluten.
Consider the following potential sources of gluten:
Malt
Ice cream flavors that are malted are a huge red flag. Malted barley is typically used in this case—and barley contains gluten. The problem is, because only wheat is considered a top allergen in the US (and not gluten more broadly), the barley won’t be called out as an allergen on the label. You might see this listed as malted barley, malted syrup, or malted milk on the ingredient list.
Natural flavors
Natural flavors are another red flag. If an ice cream is labeled gluten-free and contains natural flavors, then you can assume the natural flavors are derived from a gluten-free source and that the ice cream contains less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten, the limit a product can contain and still be labeled gluten-free, per the Food and Drug Administration’s regulations.
But if there are natural flavors on the ingredient list and the ice cream isn’t labeled gluten-free, then there’s the possibility that those natural flavors are derived from a gluten-containing source. In this case, you can call the manufacturer to ask what ingredients the natural flavors are derived from—or you can just avoid that ice cream altogether if you prefer to not go through the hassle.
Oat milk
Another issue is with dairy-free frozen desserts. There are quite a few on the market these days made with an oat milk base. For oat milk to be celiac-safe, it needs to either be made with gluten-free oats or have a certified gluten-free label. If an oat milk frozen dessert is labeled gluten-free but is made with regular oats, then it’s not considered celiac-safe.
Cones and toppings
Cones, of course, contain gluten—so you’ll specifically want to look for a gluten-free version when shopping. Even some toppings, including sprinkles and chocolate syrup, could potentially contain gluten—so thoroughly read the ingredient list and check the label before buying.
Best gluten-free ice cream brands
I typically buy ice cream that either has a certified gluten-free logo or is labeled as gluten-free to take any guesswork out of the process. I’ve rounded up my favorites below, as well as options for gluten-free cones and toppings too.
Ben & Jerry’s has a variety of certified gluten-free ice creams, including classics like Cherry Garcia, Chunky Monkey, and Phish Food.
Jeni’s offers a slew of gluten-free ice cream flavors, including Gooey Butter Cake, Green Mint Chip, and Salted Peanut Butter With Chocolate Flecks.
So Delicious sells dairy-free, vegan pints that are certified gluten-free. Their bases include cashew milk, almond milk, coconut milk, and soy milk. (Just a heads up: Their oat milk-based frozen desserts aren’t certified gluten-free or made with gluten-free oats, so avoid them if you have celiac disease!)
NadaMoo! makes certified gluten-free, dairy-free frozen desserts, including Cookies & Creme, Strawberry Cheesecake, and Pistachio Pine Nut. They use a coconut milk base.
Jolly Llama has certified gluten-free ice cream bars, sandwiches, and sundae cones that will remind you of your go-to childhood sweets. Many of their products are dairy-free as well.
Joy makes gluten-free ice cream sugar cones and ice cream cups.
ColorKitchen Rainbow Sprinkles are labeled gluten-free.
Hollander Dutched Chocolate Cafe Sauce is labeled gluten-free, soy-free, vegan, and free of artificial flavors.
How to navigate ice cream shops with celiac disease
Now you know how to determine whether an ice cream flavor is gluten-free. But if you’re headed to an ice cream shop, there are still a few additional precautions you’ll want to take when placing your order.
Here’s what works for me. I encourage you to ask your own questions and do your own research before ordering as everyone’s comfort level is different!
1. Confirm whether the flavor you want is gluten-free
Your first step is making sure the flavor you’re interested in ordering is actually gluten-free. Some ice cream shops will have ingredients and allergens listed (either right by the container or in an allergen binder) to make this easy—but in other cases, the server may need to check for you.
Keep in mind that most ice cream parlors manufacture all of their flavors in the same facility. They should be following proper cleaning protocols of equipment and utensils for hygiene reasons (which should cut down on the gluten cross-contact risks)—but you’ll need to decide whether this is a dealbreaker for you.
2. Request a fresh bin of ice cream and a clean scooper
Even if the flavor you’re ordering is naturally gluten-free, that’s not enough to guarantee your safety because of the high cross-contact risks. Here’s the deal: Gluten-free flavors can easily come into contact with gluten somewhere along the way.
Oftentimes, the same scooper is used for multiple orders—and it may only be rinsed off with plain water between orders. This isn’t enough to remove the gluten from any gluten-containing flavors the scooper has been used to scoop previously (you need to wash utensils thoroughly with dish soap and water).
Let’s say the person ahead of you orders cookies and cream on a cone. Then, the server quickly rinses off the scooper with water and places it in the tub of vanilla for your order. The vanilla has now potentially been contaminated with gluten from any bits of cookies and cream remaining on the scooper, rendering it unsafe for someone with celiac to eat.
The solution: Tell the server you have celiac disease (or a “gluten allergy,” which is often more easily understood by food servers) and request they open a new container of ice cream and use a fresh (read: thoroughly cleaned) scooper for your order.
3. Be careful with cones and toppings
When it comes to gluten-free cones, if they’re unwrapped and stored right next to the regular cones, then the risk of cross-contact is too high. If an ice cream shop has separate gluten-free cones, ask the server to wash their hands and change gloves before touching the gluten-free cone to minimize cross-contact.
As for toppings, the bins are usually so close to each other that it’s easy for gluten-free toppings to get contaminated by cookie pieces and other gluten-filled toppings.
For this reason, I usually avoid toppings to make my life easier. But if you’ve confirmed that the topping you want is gluten-free, then ask the server if they can grab it from a new container and use a fresh utensil to sprinkle it on top of your ice cream.
4. Consider soft-serve ice cream or frozen yogurt
In my opinion, soft-serve ice cream and frozen yogurt are usually easier to order than traditional hard ice cream. Because it comes directly out of an individual dispenser on a machine, there isn’t quite as big a risk of cross-contact.
Of course, you should still confirm with the staff that the soft serve is gluten-free before ordering to be safe. Again, simple soft-serve flavors (like vanilla and chocolate) tend to be gluten-free—but once you get into more complicated flavors (I’ve seen cookie dough and brownie-flavored froyo), the chances that it could contain gluten increase.
Additionally, you should be mindful when selecting toppings. At frozen yogurt parlors, in particular, you’ll usually find a topping bar where customers can serve themselves and put as many toppings as they want onto their yogurt.
This is a huge cross-contact risk because it’s easy for gluten-containing toppings to fall into the gluten-free toppings. I usually stick to plain soft serve or frozen yogurt for this reason—but you can always ask the server if they can grab your toppings from new bins.
5. Steer clear of milkshakes
One of the biggest cross-contact risks at an ice cream parlor is the milkshakes, so it’s best to stay away. While a vanilla or chocolate milkshake might be made with gluten-free ingredients, the risk of cross-contact is high due to the shared equipment.
The same blenders and machines are usually used to make all milkshakes—and the mixer cup may only be rinsed with water between orders. If an ice cream shop offers milkshakes with gluten-containing ingredients (like cookies or brownies), then there’s a good chance the mixer cup will be contaminated with gluten.
Ice cream shops with gluten-free options
Here are a few ice cream shops with gluten-free options in the US that I've successfully ordered from since my celiac diagnosis. Disclaimer: Except for one business on this list, these establishments aren’t dedicated gluten-free.
Please use your best judgment when ordering, take the necessary steps to avoid cross-contact, and do what works best for you. While I feel comfortable ordering ice cream at the following places, everyone’s comfort level is different.
Glace: This dedicated gluten-free ice cream shop in New York City is a celiac paradise. Yep, everything here is gluten-free, from the ice cream to the cones to the frozen hot chocolates. They have a permanent storefront on the Upper East Side as well as a summer ice cream truck in Rockefeller Center.
Smusht: I’m a big fan of this ice cream shop, located in Port Washington, Long Island. They have a separate allergen case containing their gluten-free and gluten-free/dairy-free flavors and use a separate scoop when you order one of these flavors. They even have gluten-free cookies and cream!
Snowflake Ice Cream Shoppe: Located out in Riverhead, Long Island, Snowflake Ice Cream Shoppe is an old-fashioned ice cream stand with gluten-free options. If you have celiac disease, stick to the soft serve to minimize your cross-contact risk. They offer individually wrapped gluten-free cones and will get you sprinkles from a fresh bin if you ask.
Jeni’s: This nationwide chain has many gluten-free flavors and takes allergies seriously. I’ve been to a few locations, and each time I’ve told them I have a “gluten allergy,” the staff has gone out of their way to serve me, opening up a fresh tub of my preferred flavor and using a clean scooper.
Salt & Straw: This primarily West Coast-based chain also has good allergy protocols, in my experience. Tell them you have a gluten allergy and they’ll get your ice cream from a new tub and use a fresh scooper.
Check out my picks for gluten-free gelato in Italy here.
What’s your favorite gluten-free ice cream brand? How about local ice cream shops that are accommodating to celiacs? Drop a comment to let me know so I can share it with my readers!
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Sources:
Beyond Celiac. Is Ice Cream Gluten-Free? https://www.beyondceliac.org/gluten-free-diet/is-it-gluten-free/ice-cream/
Beyond Celiac. Is Barely Gluten-Free? https://www.beyondceliac.org/gluten-free-diet/is-it-gluten-free/barley/
National Celiac Association. Are natural flavorings gluten-free? https://nationalceliac.org/celiac-disease-questions/do-natural-flavorings-contain-gluten/
US Food & Drug Administration. ‘Gluten-Free’ Means What It Says. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/gluten-free-means-what-it-says
Beyond Celiac. Cross-Contact. https://www.beyondceliac.org/gluten-free-diet/cross-contact/Good for You Gluten-Free. Is Frozen Yogurt and Soft Serve Ice Cream Gluten-Free? https://www.goodforyouglutenfree.com/gluten-free-frozen-yogurt/
I didn't know that about natural flavors. Thanks@
Is there a more perfect summer story for celiacs than this? Love it!