Is Better Than Bouillon Gluten Free? (Find Out Now!)

Written by Kari Rich in Gluten Free,Pantry

Is Better Than Bouillon Gluten Free

You’ve surely heard the name, but what exactly is Better than Bouillon? It is a concentrated broth paste, often used as a bone broth substitute or enhancer for savory meals. This flavor paste is used as a base to enhance everything from stews, pastas, casseroles, BBQ sauces, and soups. Produced by the Summit Hills Brand out of Georgia in the US, this bouillon comes in a jar and is shelf stable until opened. If you follow a gluten-free lifestyle you may be wondering, is Better Than Bouillon gluten-free?

No, Better Than Bouillon is not gluten-free. Better Than Bouillon contains ingredients such as autolyzed yeast, yeast extract, and barley malt extract. All of these are gluten derivatives, making this soup staple not gluten-free. The best gluten-free alternatives to Better Than Bouillon include Kettle & Fire Low Sodium Vegetable Broth and Fody Low FODMAP Chicken Soup Base.

In this article, we will discuss the nutritional value of the Better than Bouillon line, as well as some healthier gluten-free options. Let’s stir this pot and learn more!

Gluten Ingredients in Better than Bouillon

Better than Bouillon states they do not test their bases for gluten levels, leaving it unknown. Use caution and keep an eye out for these sneaky gluten ingredients on labels.

  • Barley Malt Extract
  • Yeast Extract
  • Autolyzed Yeast

What is Barley Malt Extract?

Old school manufacturing of broths regularly used barley malt as an additive. Today, most broths and soup seasonings do not have this gluten adverse ingredient of Barley Malt Extract. Working much like mono sodium glutamate, barley malt hits the umami level on our tongues. The two flavors of the reduced sodium category by Better than Bouillon, Roasted Beef and Seasoned Vegetable both have the addition of Barley Malt Extract in them. In order to reduce the sodium, which is still substantial (between 500-550mg per 1 teaspoon) the barley malt extract is added for missing flavor. This sneaky gluten rich addition is unneeded in the other 18 flavors of bouillon because they have more salt content.

What is Yeast Extract?

Yeast extract is created when a sugar base is added to natural yeast and heated slightly. The formation of the bubbly liquid is then added to foods as yeast extract. Since most yeast is made from a wheat source, only trust labeling that says it is gluten free. When dealing with yeast extract on a label, unless it says it is gluten free, the source of the yeast was most likely from a source of gluten.

What is Autolyzed Yeast Extract?

Autolyzed Yeast is slightly different than yeast extract. When yeast starts to disintegrate an amino acid rich protein base the residual are enzymes that are considered autolyzed yeast. Autolyzed yeast usually looks like a creamy gel or silly putty texture. Autolyzed yeast is used for a “meaty” or umami flavor enhancer for soup and broth bases. Unless a label specifically says it is a gluten free product, we do not know where the yeast was sourced from.

Better than Bouillon Flavors

The Summit Hills Better than Bouillon line of bases has 20 flavors. Within these flavors there are 4 categories; Premium, Organic, Vegetarian, and Reduced Sodium. Let’s take a look at all their options, none of which are gluten free. The Better than Bouillon website states that because they house and prepare many items in their facility that contain gluten, they do not certify any ingredient to be fully gluten free.

Premium Better than Bouillon

  • Roasted Chicken Base
  • Roasted Beef Base
  • Seasoned Vegetable Base
  • Roasted Garlic Base
  • Chili Base
  • Fish Base
  • Ham Base
  • Lobster Base
  • Mushroom Base
  • Turkey Base
  • Sautéed Onion Base

Organic Better than Bouillon

  • Organic Roasted Chicken Base
  • Organic Mushroom Base
  • Organic Turkey Base
  • Organic Seasoned Vegetable Base
  • Organic Roasted Beef Base

Vegetarian Better than Bouillon

  • Vegetarian No Beef Base
  • Vegetarian No Chicken Base

Reduced Sodium Better than Bouillon

  • Roasted Beef Base, Reduced Sodium
  • Roasted Chicken Base, Reduced Sodium
  • Seasoned Vegetable Base, Reduced Sodium

Now, lets take a look at the nutrition facts for Better than Bouillon. We will choose one from each category to break down for you.

Better than Bouillon Premium Roasted Chicken Base

The Better than Bouillon Premium Roasted Chicken Base does not include any of the sneaky gluten ingredients we discussed above. However, given Better than Bouillon’s non-gluten statement, we cannot be assured any of these ingredients are truly gluten free. For instance, what is “food starch”? And what is “flavoring”? Better to be safe and take their word for it, that this chicken base is not gluten free.

The list of ingredients for Better than Bouillon Premium Roasted Chicken Base:

  • Roasted Chicken
  • Salt
  • Sugar
  • Corn Syrup Solids
  • Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
  • Dried Milk Whey
  • Flavoring
  • Food Starch
  • Disodium Inosinate
  • Disodium Guanylate
  • Turmeric

Nutrition Facts (per 1 teaspoon):

  • Calories 10
  • Fat 0g
  • Carbs 2g
  • Sugars 1g
  • Protein 1g
  • Sodium 680mg

Better than Bouillon Organic Mushroom Base

The Organic line of Better than Bouillon uses better, fully organic ingredients than the “premium” category. They did try for a healthier base, but they are still not considered to be gluten free. The ingredients of natural flavor and food starch are questionable gluten holders. Let’s take a look at the Better than Bouillon Organic Mushroom Base nutrition.

Here is the list of ingredients for Better than Bouillon Organic Mushroom Base:

  • Mushrooms
  • Salt
  • Cane Sugar
  • Maltodextrin
  • Onion Powder
  • Soybean oil
  • Garlic powder
  • Natural Butter Flavor
  • Food Starch
  • Natural Flavor
  • Milk

Nutrition Facts (per 1 teaspoon):

  • Calories 10
  • Fat 0g
  • Carbs 2g
  • Sugars 2g
  • Protein 0g
  • Sodium 640mg

Better than Bouillon Vegetarian No Beef Base

Better than Bouillon has 10 vegetarian base options. The No Beef and the No Chicken are neither premium, organic, or reduced sodium placing them solely in the vegetarian category. The vegetarian bases are to be used as substitutes for a meat or seafood base without sacrificing flavor. The Better than Bouillon Vegetarian No Beef Base contains yeast extract as well as natural flavors making this not gluten free.

Here is the ingredient list for Better than Bouillon Vegetarian No Beef Base:

  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Onion
  • Salt
  • Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
  • Corn Syrup Solids
  • Sugar
  • Yeast Extract
  • Canola Oil
  • Natural flavors
  • Maltodextrin
  • Caramel Color

Nutrition Facts (per 1 teaspoon):

  • Calories 15
  • Fat 0g
  • Carbs 2g
  • Sugars 2g
  • Protein 1g
  • Sodium 710mg

Better than Bouillon Roasted Beef Base (Reduced Sodium)

The reduced sodium line of Better than Bouillon has on average 100 to 200 grams less sodium content per serving than the premium, organic, or vegetarian groups. All other nutritional values are extremely similar. Both the Reduced Sodium Beef and Vegetable bases contain malted barley extract and yeast extract, which makes them absolutely not gluten free.

The ingredients for Better than Bouillon Roasted Beef Base (Reduced Sodium):

  • Roasted Beef
  • Concentrated Beef Stock
  • Yeast Extract
  • Salt
  • Sugar
  • Maltodextrin
  • Malted Barley Extract
  • Flavoring
  • Potato Flour

Nutrition Facts (per 1 teaspoon):

  • Calories 15
  • Fat 0g
  • Carbs 2g
  • Sugars 2g
  • Protein 1g
  • Sodium 510mg

Better Gluten Free Choices

Besides the chance of cross-contamination or certainty of a gluten ingredient within the Better than Bouillon products, they are nutritionally not great options to be adding to your food. The high sodium content alone should deter even a teaspoon going into your soup. Other ingredients that should be avoided are corn syrup solids, natural flavors, and hydrolyzed soy protein. Below we have listed the nutritional information for better options that are all certified gluten free as well as loads healthier for you than Better than Bouillon.

Kettle & Fire Low Sodium Vegetable Broth

KETTLE & FIRE Savory Low Sodium Vegetable Broth, 32 OZ Kettle & Fire Low Sodium Vegetable Broth is gluten free, vegan, dairy free, sugar free, paleo, and keto. This broth is also fat free and has 5 times less sodium on average than concentrated broth pastes. When adding to a recipe to substitute for a flavor paste, keep in mind that it will also replace any liquid in the recipe as well such as water or milk.

The ingredients in Kettle & Fire Low Sodium Vegetable Broth are:

  • Filtered Water
  • Organic Tomato Paste
  • Sea Salt
  • Organic Carrots
  • Organic Onions
  • Organic Leeks
  • Organic Butternut Squash
  • Organic Mushrooms
  • Organic Garlic

Nutrition Facts (per 1 cup or 245g):

  • Calories 5
  • Fat 0g
  • Carbs 1g
  • Protein 2g
  • Sodium 135mg

Fody Low FODMAP Chicken Soup Base

Fody Low FODMAP Chicken Soup Base is made without onions, garlic, or any gluten ingredients. This powdered broth base is shelf stable even after opening and it’s a one for one replacement for a bouillon paste. This broth paste substitute is full of savory undertones and made with real chicken and herbs. The Fody Low FODMAP Chicken Soup Base would have made the cut for the best replacement, but it is just as high in sodium as the Better than Bouillon bases. However, it is still an excellent option for a broth base alternative.

The ingredients in Fody Low FODMAP Chicken Soup Base are:

  • Salt
  • Dehydrated Chicken
  • Rice Flour
  • Chicken Fat
  • Rosemary Extract
  • Sugar
  • Celery
  • Sage
  • Turmeric

Nutrition Facts (per ¾ teaspoon or 3.5g):

  • Calories 10
  • Fat 5g
  • Carbs 1g
  • Protein 0g
  • Sodium 660mg

Final Thoughts

There are healthier gluten free alternatives to Better than Bouillon Bases. Fody Low FODMAP Chicken Soup Base is full of nutritious ingredients and is certified gluten free. Our best choice for a gluten free broth alternative is the Kettle & Fire Low Sodium Vegetable Broth. Kettle & Fire also has 10 other flavors of broth to choose from if chicken or beef is preferred. Most bone broths should be gluten free. Broth pastes however have sneaky gluten-laden ingredients so always check the labels for the gluten free stamp of approval.

Related Questions

Is College Inn Bone Broth Gluten Free?

Yes, College Inn Bone Broth is gluten free. However, Kettle & Fire Broths still beat it on nutrition. Learn more about why with our article here.

Is Better Than Bouillon vegetarian?

Not all flavors of Better Than Bouillon are vegetarian, but some are. Better Than Bouillon Seasoned Vegetable Base, Vegetarian No Chicken Base, Vegetarian No Beef Base, Sautéed Onion Base, Roasted Garlic Base, Mushroom Base, and Organic Seasoned Vegetable Base are all vegetarian.

Where can I buy gluten free bone broth?

You can buy gluten free brought on Kettle & Fire or you can purchase Low FODMAP items by Fody here.

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Kari Rich

Chef Kari Rich is an award-winning fine dining chef with over twenty years of experience across the culinary field. Chef Kari enjoys studying and preparing foods for all types of diets and needs. Besides running professional kitchens, she has worked as a restaurant consultant doing business development and innovation, flow of food and menu development, food safety and cooking class instructor, ghost and copywriter for cookbooks and blogs, and research and development for health food companies and magazines. Chef Kari has appeared on a number of Food Network, Travel Channel, and Cooking Channel programs, she prefers the more personal connection that comes from preparing creative and well executed dishes. Chef Kari maintains a focus on the importance of local farms, food waste education, and good nutrition practices.

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