If you have gluten intolerance, you may wonder if Corona beer is gluten-free and safe for you to drink. The answer is…it depends! In this blog post, we will explore everything you need to know about the gluten content in Corona beer. We will also look at some of the other available gluten-free beer options. So whether you’re looking for a new brew to enjoy or just want to make sure that your favorite brand is safe for you, keep reading!
The topic of Corona being gluten-free is an interesting topic in many gluten-free online groups and topics of gluten-free blogs. All of us gluten-freebies (those of us with Celiac Disease and gluten sensitivities) remember the feeling of cracking open a cold one on a warm summer day before we embarked on our gluten-free lifestyle, but the question is… is Corona safe for gluten-free people to drink? Let’s dive into the different myths around Corona being gluten-free and get down to the facts.
Is Corona gluten-free?
This simple answer is that Corona beer is NOT technically 100% gluten-free. Corona is not a gluten-free beer and is not labeled as a safe gluten-free beer option from Corona for people with Celiac Disease and gluten sensitivity.
According to Corona’s website, “Corona Extra, Corona Light, Corona Familiar, and Corona Premier are made from malted barley which naturally contains gluten. The fermentation process significantly lowers its content, however, there are traces of gluten in Corona Extra, Corona Light, Corona Familiar, and Corona Premier. We recommend that you consult your physician regarding consumption.” You can find this statement on Corona’s FAQ page.
Though Corona beer is not considered 100% gluten-free, Corona offers hard seltzers that are considered gluten-free and safe for those with Celiac to consume. Corona says, “Corona Hard Seltzer, Corona Seltzerita, and Corona Hard Seltzer Limonada are fermented from sugar, and are gluten-free” which is great news for people with Celiac disease or who have gluten sensitivity!
Is there wheat in Corona?
No, there is no wheat in Corona. Corona is brewed with malted barley and rice. The brewing process uses a starch conversion fermentation technique that breaks down the gluten proteins into smaller peptides.
Corona is not made out of wheat; the main ingredient in Corona beer is main primarily barley, which is a gluten-containing grain, unfortunately. Barley can sneak up on people with celiac disease and gluten sensitivities when they first switch to a gluten-free diet if they do not know that barley contains gluten.
Barley is a sneaky grain containing gluten since many people might think wheat is the only ingredient that contains gluten. Other grains that contain gluten include wheat (spelt, kamut, triticale, and all varieties of wheat), and rye.
How much gluten is in a Corona?
The gluten content in Corona is significatively lowered during the fermentation process, however, there are still traces of gluten. The level of gluten present in Corona beer is under 20 ppm, which is where the controversy comes in over considering if Corona is a gluten-free beer or not.
Some people consider Corona safe for people with Celiac Disease and people with gluten sensitivities due to the amount of gluten present being under 20 ppm, but I do not agree with this assumption. Corona is NOT a gluten-free beer option due to the sheer presence of gluten alone.
Corona Gluten PPM
Some people consider Corona a “gluten-free” beer or “low gluten” because there are claims that Corona contains less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten. However, Corona is NOT a gluten-free beer and is not a safe choice for people with Celiac Disease and gluten sensitivity.
Why is Corona low in gluten?
Corona is brewed with malted barley, rice, and water. The brewing process uses a starch conversion fermentation technique that breaks down the gluten proteins into smaller peptides.
While this process does lower the overall gluten content in Corona, it does not make Corona a gluten-free beer and it is still not safe for people with Celiac Disease or gluten sensitivities.
Is Corona OK for gluten intolerance?
No, Corona is not a safe choice for people with Celiac Disease or gluten sensitivities. Corona contains gluten and even though the level of gluten might be lower than other beers on the market, there is still gluten present.
I would recommend avoiding Corona altogether if you have Celiac Disease or are sensitive to gluten and instead choose a gluten-free beer option that is 100% gluten-free.
If you only have gluten intolerance (not Celiac Disease) and feel like you MUST try Corona, by all means, you are free to try a Corona if you want one, but be aware that they are NOT certified as gluten-free and you may have negative side effects.
Keep in mind though you may not have any side effects right away, gluten does still impact your body if you have a sensitivity and some gluten reaction symptoms may not show up in your body for weeks. Just food for thought.
Corona is Not Labeled Gluten-Free
Corona is not labeled gluten-free because it’s made with ingredients that contain gluten and the brewing process does not remove all of the gluten.
Even though Corona might have a lower level of gluten than other beers on the market, there is still gluten present and it’s not safe for people with Celiac Disease or gluten sensitivities.
How to Test if a Beer Contains Gluten
Corona admits that there is currently not accepted methodology for testing gluten content in fermented beverages, so they can’t confirm that their beer is gluten-free, thus why Corona does not have a gluten-free label.
There are many people online that have done at-home gluten trace tests, and though some of those tests do come back negative, we can’t rely on gluten trace tests when dealing with fermented beverages due to how the fermentation changes the gluten composition.
Distilled Products Can Be Labeled Gluten-Free
The US Food and Drug Administration (the FDA) ruled that distilled products made from gluten-containing grains can still be labeled as “gluten-free” in 2020. Soon after, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) updated their ruling to allow advertising of wine, distilled spirits, and malt beverage producers to be labeled as “gluten-free” even if they are made from gluten-containing grains due to the distillation process.
Distilleries must comply with the rules of the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) to consider their alcohol products certified as “gluten-free” if they pass all of the steps in the GFCO certification process.
Since beer and wine are not distilled and are instead fermented, beer and wine can’t currently be labeled as “gluten-free” by the GFCO due to the differences distilling and fermenting have on gluten.
What is a gluten-removed beer?
Gluten-removed beer is NOT the same as gluten-free beer. Gluten-removed beer is made with gluten-containing grains and then an enzyme is used during the brewing process that breaks down the gluten proteins into smaller peptides.
The FDA has not approved any enzymes to be used in brewing that can completely remove all of the gluten from beer, so even “gluten-removed” beers still contain gluten and are not safe for people with Celiac Disease or gluten sensitivities.
Are all of Corona’s beers gluten-free?
No, Corona’s beers are not gluten-free. Corona’s Light, Premier, and Extra do contain gluten according to Corona’s website. In better news, Corona’s hard seltzers are gluten-free according to their website!
Corona’s Light, Premier, and Extra all contain gluten because they are made with ingredients that contain gluten and the brewing process does not remove all of the gluten. Corona’s hard seltzers are gluten-free because they are made with distilled alcohol which removes the gluten proteins.
Is Corona Light gluten-free?
No, Corona Light is not gluten-free. Corona Light is made from barley which is a grain that contains gluten. Corona Light’s fermentation process does not remove all of the gluten.
Is Corona Premier gluten-free?
No, Corona Premier is not a gluten-free beer. Corona Premier contains gluten because it’s made with ingredients that contain gluten and the brewing process does not remove all of the gluten.
Is Corona Extra gluten-free?
No, Corona Extra is not considered a gluten-free beer according to Corona’s website. Corona Extra is made from barley which is a gluten-containing grain. The fermentation process does not remove all of the gluten which leaves a small amount of gluten remaining in the final product.
What major beers are gluten-free?
There are many beers that are gluten-free, but some of the more popular brands are Redbridge, Estrella Damm Daura, New Grist, Green’s Discovery Amber Ale, and Stone Delicious IPA.
These beers are all gluten-free because they’re made with gluten-free ingredients and/or they go through a gluten-removal process. If you have Celiac Disease, I suggest sticking to beers that are made with gluten-free ingredients just to be safe.
Gluten-free Alcohol Choices
While not all alcohols are gluten-free, there are still many options available for people with Celiac Disease or gluten sensitivities. Here is a list of some popular gluten-free alcoholic beverages:
– Distilled spirits like vodka, rum, tequila, and whiskey
– Hard seltzers like White Claw and Truly
– Gluten-free beer like Redbridge, Estrella Damm Daura, New Grist, Green’s Discovery Amber Ale, and Stone Delicious IPA
– Most wine
If you have Celiac Disease or are gluten sensitive, I would recommend sticking to distilled spirits or wine to be on the safe side. However, all of the gluten-free beers on this list are safe for people with Celiac Disease according to their websites.
Long Story Short: Can People with Celiac Disease Drink Corona?
No, people with Celiac Disease cannot drink Corona because it is not a gluten-free beer. If you have Celiac Disease, I would recommend sticking to distilled spirits or wine. However, there are many gluten-free beers available that are safe for people with Celiac Disease.
What’s the bottom line of Corona being gluten-free?
The bottom line is that if you have Celiac Disease or are gluten sensitive, you should avoid Corona’s Light, Premier, and Extra versions of their beer. However, you may choose to opt for one of Corona’s hard seltzers as a great gluten-free option.
There are also many other gluten-free beers available on the market, so you’re sure to find one that suits your taste! Cheers!
Do you have any questions about Corona or gluten-free beer in general? Let me know in the comments below and I’ll be happy to answer them!
Resources:
https://www.coronausa.com/pages/faqs
https://saramoulton.com/2013/01/grains-which-grains-contain-gluten/
https://www.ttb.gov/rulings/r2020-2
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, nutritionist, or dietician. The information in this post is a personal opinion based on my findings on the topic. Please consult your doctor or medical professional regarding any health or diet-related questions and decisions.
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I am the recipe creator, curator, cook, and baker behind Gluten Free Daily Bread. Here is where I share my favorite gluten-free recipes with you. Everyone deserves the chance to have delicious, gluten-free indulgence!
