Is it possible to eat gluten free at Taco Bell? – Carrying

According to a slogan adopted by Taco Bell among 20-tweens, you can “live mass” at this fast food chain. The question is, does this restaurant allow you to live gluten-free? Well, sort of. Overall, Mexican restaurants have few menu items made with gluten, and Mexican fast food chains are no exception. However, there’s a reason it’s not a big selling point of these gluten-free options, and it can be summed up in two words (or one hyphenated one): cross-contamination.

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As Taco Bell freely admits on its website, it has several gluten-free menu options, and they are cooked in a kitchen that also prepares these allergenic items. Since both flour and corn tortillas swim in the same oil, anything deep-fried is especially apt for exposure to gluten. For this reason, the chain says none of its foods can be considered 100% safe for someone with celiac disease. However, those who can tolerate a little gluten will find plenty to order on Taco Bell’s menu.

Your first step in eating gluten-free (or gluten-lite, in any case) at Taco Bell is to check the menu and see which items are made with flour tortillas and which are made with corn. However, the crispy taco shells are made from gluten-free corn tortillas, so even Doritos locos are okay. (Yes! Those are the best things at Taco Bell, Flamin’ Hot tacos aren’t as inflammatory as advertised.) When the menu used to have regular tostadas, those were okay too, but since Big Cheez-It Cheez-Its are made with wheat flour, they’re gluten-free. Tostada is not great for the intolerant. Nacho may not be an option because the chips are gluten-free, but the nacho cheese sauce doesn’t seem to be. Sadly, this means no nacho fries, either.

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Pots are always a good bet as they consist of meat, cheese and vegetables on a bed of lettuce and rice. With sides, you should be safe with seasoned rice, black or refried beans and guacamole, and all condiments (except that darn nacho sauce) are made gluten-free. However, one meal we advise avoiding is breakfast, as your only gluten-free options are hash browns, orange juice and coffee. If it’s any consolation, you can add flavored creamer to that coffee, since this stuff doesn’t contain gluten.

As anyone with little or no need to avoid gluten for medical reasons knows painfully, many fast food restaurants can’t be trusted as safe dining options. Taco Bell is at least leading the way in acknowledging that cross-contamination is not only possible, but likely. At the same time, it’s no secret that Burger King, Wendy’s and Panera all have their food at risk of gluten exposure.

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Chipotle isn’t such a bad choice for a relatively gluten-safe diner, however, since you can assemble a burrito bowl right before your eyes with minimal risk of contamination, it’s not the only gluten-free chain out there. Eating out but a top choice for allergy-friendly fast food. Here too, the chips are as gluten-free as gluten, but the latter costs extra. However, the true gluten-free champion seems to be Chick-fil-A, as not only does the chain offer gluten-free buns for its gluten-free grilled chicken sandwiches and nougats, but even the waffle fries are cooked a different way. More oil (and vat) than breaded chicken.