Who are these options for?

Holidaymakers avoiding gluten

For tacos, look for a base that is explicitly labelled ‘gluten-free’. Check the toppings and sauces you plan to add, too.

Groups avoiding a specific allergen

Identify the allergen to avoid before you shop, then read the ingredients and ‘may contain’ warnings on every product. A product labelled ‘gluten-free’ won’t, by itself, meet this need.

Holidaymakers preparing a meal at their accommodation

A kit brings several parts of the meal together, while buying tortillas on their own lets you choose the sauce, spices and toppings separately. This can make a difference when your holiday rental has a poorly equipped kitchen.

What should you check before buying?

First decide whether you’re preparing a meal or a snack, then check the information that matches your group’s dietary needs.

Consideration What to check Who is it for?
Avoiding gluten Look for a ‘gluten-free’ label on the pack you choose, and check the toppings too. When I’m making tacos for someone who avoids gluten, a corn-based recipe isn’t enough: I look for an explicit claim on the product. Around 33% of consumers put this need first.
Specific allergen Read the highlighted ingredients and ‘may contain’ warnings on every part of the meal. If my group needs to avoid soya or another specific allergen, I still need to check products advertised as gluten-free. For around 33% of consumers, this particular allergen is their main concern.
Easy meal preparation Compare what’s included in a kit with the toppings you’d need to buy separately. In a holiday rental kitchen, I might prefer a kit that brings together tortillas, sauce and spices, as long as every item is suitable for the group. Around 20% of consumers prioritise an easy meal above other considerations.
A snack to share Choose a snack format and read its ingredients and any warnings about traces. For a snack rather than dinner, I look for tortilla chips to share, without mistaking them for tortillas to fill. Around 14% of consumers prioritise a snack for this occasion.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Confusing ‘gluten-free’ with ‘allergen-free’

    Carrefour France’s product listing for the Old El Paso gluten-free fajita kit mentions soya in the spice mix. Other products carry warnings about potential allergens.

    Start with the allergen you need to avoid, then check the ingredients and trace warnings on the product you choose. Don’t rely on a ‘gluten-free’ label alone.

  • Reading only the tortilla label

    A kit contains separate components, and the ingredients in the tortillas don’t necessarily tell you what’s in the sauce or spices.

    Check each item in the kit separately, then check any toppings and sauces you add to the meal.

  • Relying solely on an online listing

    Auchan notes on an Old El Paso wraps listing that the information shown may not reflect the current recipe.

    Check the ingredients and allergen information on the packaging of the product you buy.

  • Planning to serve chips as the only dinner option

    Tortilla chips are great for a snack. For a meal you can fill, consider soft tortillas or a kit.

    Plan your menu before you shop, and remember to buy toppings if you choose tortillas on their own.

Brands to know for this choice

Old El Paso

The products reviewed include soft tortillas, a gluten-free fajita kit and tortilla snacks.

  • Carrefour France describes the soft tortillas and fajita kit reviewed as gluten-free.
  • The kit contains soya. Listings for some of the snacks reviewed also mention potential allergens, so these products should not all be grouped under an ‘allergen-free’ claim.

Jardin BiO étic

The products reviewed are plain and paprika tortilla chips, marketed as snacks.

  • According to Auchan, the plain gluten-free product contains corn flour, sunflower oil and sea salt.
  • The listings for the plain and paprika varieties state that they may contain soya.

Schär

The product reviewed is a wrap to fill, described by Carrefour France as gluten-free, wheat-free and lactose-free.

  • This format lets you choose the filling ingredients separately.
  • The recipe contains soya protein and may contain traces of milk protein: ‘lactose-free’ does not mean ‘milk protein-free’.

A tortilla option on Joybuy

These corn tortillas make a base you can fill for a meal in your holiday rental. If you need to avoid gluten or another allergen, check the packaging information before choosing them.

NAGUAL wholegrain corn tortillas, 200 g pack

NAGUAL Whole Grain Corn Tortillas 200 g

Fill them to make tacos in your holiday rental, with accompaniments chosen separately. The listing describes these tortillas as gluten-free. If you need to avoid a specific allergen, check the ingredients and any trace warnings on the pack you buy.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Is a gluten-free product also free from other allergens?

No. ‘Gluten-free’ doesn’t guarantee that a product is free from soya, milk or other allergens. For example, Carrefour France’s listing for the Old El Paso gluten-free fajita kit mentions soya in the spices. Check the ingredients for every product.

What should you read on the packaging before buying?

Read the ingredients list, any highlighted allergens and any ‘may contain’ warnings that are relevant to your group. The DGCCRF reminds shoppers that allergenic ingredients must be highlighted on pre-packed food labels. Check the actual pack you buy.

A kit or tortillas on their own for dinner in a holiday rental?

A kit means fewer items to bring together, while tortillas on their own let you choose the sauce, spices and toppings separately. The Old El Paso gluten-free fajita kit listed by Carrefour France includes sauce and spices, among other things, but its spice mix contains soya.

Can you rely on Lidl to have gluten-free products while you’re on holiday?

It’s best to check with the store before making a special trip. Lidl France says that gluten-free products aren’t part of its permanent range and may only be available from time to time.