Anyone planning a gluten-free meal
They’re looking for a taco base labelled gluten-free, without assuming that the sauces and toppings are gluten-free too.
Who are these options for?
Anyone catering for a specific allergy
They need to check for the relevant allergen in every product. Carrefour’s product listing for an Old El Paso gluten-free fajita kit mentions soya; Auchan’s listing for gluten-free strips says they may contain milk.
Anyone preparing an Asian-inspired spread
They can choose a snack to serve alongside the tacos, while checking its ingredients and allergen information separately from those of the rest of the meal.
What should you check before shopping?
Start with your guests’ dietary needs, then choose a base, toppings and snacks, checking each separately.
| What matters | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Specific allergen | Identify the allergen to avoid, then check the ingredients and any ‘may contain’ warnings on every pack you buy. | If a guest needs to avoid milk, soya or another specific allergen, a ‘gluten-free’ label alone won’t meet their needs. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise avoiding a specific allergen. |
| Gluten-free base | Check that the tortillas or chosen kit are labelled ‘gluten-free’, then check sauces and toppings separately. | If I’m making tacos for someone who avoids gluten, I look for a clearly labelled base first. This would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Asian-inspired flavour | Decide whether the product will be a snack, sauce or topping, then check its ingredients and allergen information. | If I want to add an Asian-inspired flavour to the spread, I can serve a separate snack alongside the tacos without assuming it shares the same characteristics as the rest of the food. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise this Asian-inspired flavour. |
| Serving a group | Compare what’s included in a kit, the stated quantities and the storage instructions after opening. | If I’m serving several guests and want to keep preparation to a minimum, I can choose ready-to-fill components, as long as I check each one. Ease of preparation and sharing would be the top priority for around 14% of consumers. |
Common mix-ups to avoid
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Assuming ‘gluten-free’ means ‘allergen-free’
The gluten-free fajita kit featured by Carrefour contains hydrolysed soya protein. Auchan’s product listing for gluten-free strips, meanwhile, says ‘may contain milk’.
Ask which allergen needs to be avoided, then check each product accordingly.
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Relying on an online product listing alone
Old El Paso says its recipes, ingredients and allergen information may change.
Check the label on the pack you buy, even if you’re already familiar with the product.
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Checking the tortillas but not the rest of the kit
Components in a kit may have different ingredients. The seasoning mix in the gluten-free kit featured by Carrefour contains soya.
Read the information on each sachet, then check any sauces and toppings you add.
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Assuming a gluten-free range is always available
Lidl France says it offers gluten-free products from time to time, rather than as part of its permanent range.
Check local availability before planning your menu around a particular product.
Brands and retailers to look at
Old El Paso
The range includes tortillas and a fajita kit described as gluten-free, but you’ll still need to check for other allergens.
- The brand offers gluten-free tortillas to use as a taco base.
- Old El Paso recommends checking the allergen information on the product itself, as the recipe may change.
Carrefour
Its product listings for tortillas and the Old El Paso kit let you check the ingredients before choosing a particular product.
- The listing for the gluten-free fajita kit shows that the seasoning mix contains soya.
- Check the label on the pack and availability at your chosen store.
Auchan
Its product listings for corn tortillas and strips offer useful information to help you distinguish between bases and snacks.
- The listing for gluten-free corn tortillas includes storage instructions for after opening.
- The listing for gluten-free strips warns that they may contain milk, so check the product before serving it.
Lidl
Worth considering if a suitable gluten-free product is included in its limited-time offers.
- Lidl France says it offers gluten-free products from time to time.
- These products aren’t part of its permanent range, so check the product and its labelling in store.
An Asian-inspired snack available on Joybuy
This selection is a seaweed snack to serve alongside tacos as part of an apéritif, not a tortilla or a kit. To decide whether it’s suitable for someone with a specific allergy, check the pack you buy.
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DELIEF Original Seasoned Laver HALAL, 4,5 g × 3
A seaweed snack to serve separately from the tacos for an Asian-inspired touch at your apéritif. The product name indicates three 4,5 g portions. Check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you receive before offering it to someone with dietary requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Are gluten-free tortillas or crisps also allergen-free?
No. Carrefour’s product listing for an Old El Paso gluten-free fajita kit mentions soya, while Auchan’s listing for gluten-free strips warns that they may contain milk. Check every pack for the allergens your guests need to avoid.
Where can you find allergen information on a pre-packed snack sold in France?
According to the DGCCRF, allergenic ingredients must be highlighted in the ingredients list of pre-packed foods. Also read any other relevant information on the packaging, including warnings that the product may contain the allergen to be avoided.
How should you serve food when a guest has an allergy?
Ask which allergen needs to be avoided, keep the packaging to hand and check tortillas, sauces, spices, toppings and snacks separately. Don’t mix the items you’ve checked with anything whose ingredients you haven’t verified.
How should you store corn tortillas after opening?
For the 208 g Old El Paso gluten-free white corn tortillas listed by Auchan, the product information says to reseal the pack, store it in the fridge and eat the tortillas within three days of opening. For other products, follow the storage instructions on the packaging.