Are Goya Products Gluten Free? The Definitive Guide for Safe Eating

October 27, 2025 •

4 min read

According to Goya's own public statements, while many of their products are inherently gluten-free, the company processes numerous items that contain gluten in their facilities. Navigating Goya's extensive product line requires careful attention to labeling to determine if a specific product is safe for a gluten-free diet.

Quick Summary

Goya offers many products that are naturally gluten-free, such as canned beans and rice, but also produces items with gluten like some Sazon and pastries. The company labels products containing wheat or other gluten ingredients, but cross-contamination is a risk. Consumers must check each package's ingredient list and look for explicit gluten-free claims to ensure safety.

Key Points

Not a Fully Gluten-Free Brand: Goya produces both gluten-containing and naturally gluten-free products, so it is not a safe brand to assume is fully gluten-free.
Read All Labels Carefully: Always check the ingredient list for explicit 'gluten free' claims or for any mention of wheat, barley, rye, or related starches.
High-Risk Categories: Be very cautious with Goya's seasoned products, especially Sazon and Adobo, as they often contain gluten like wheat starch.
Safe Products: Many simple, unprocessed items like canned beans (e.g., black beans) and plain rice (e.g., Canilla rice) are naturally gluten-free and often labeled as such.
Cross-Contamination is a Concern: Even if ingredients are naturally gluten-free, products may be processed in facilities that handle wheat, posing a cross-contamination risk for highly sensitive individuals.
Formulations Change: Product ingredients can be updated, so it is vital to check the label for gluten information every time you purchase the product.

Understanding Goya's Approach to Gluten

Goya Foods has a vast catalog of Latin American and Caribbean food products, ranging from canned goods and spices to pre-made meals. The brand’s product line includes many naturally gluten-free items, such as dried beans, rice, and cornmeal. However, Goya is not exclusively a gluten-free brand and does not certify all its products as such. For individuals with celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS), or a wheat allergy, it is critical to go beyond the assumption that a product is safe based on its type.

Goya's Labeling Policy and Cross-Contamination

Goya Foods follows the FDA's labeling requirements for allergens and discloses gluten-containing ingredients like wheat flour in the ingredient statement. They will also use a “May Contain” statement if there is a possibility of cross-contact with other allergens, including gluten. However, this is not a guarantee of a product being completely free from gluten. Different facilities may produce the same item with varying degrees of cross-contamination risk. Relying solely on the ingredient list can be risky, especially for highly sensitive individuals, as traces of gluten can be present from shared processing equipment.

Identifying Safe Goya Products

To confidently identify safe Goya products, follow a systematic approach. The most reliable method is to find products explicitly labeled 'gluten free'. This indicates that the product has been tested to meet FDA standards of less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten. Goya's website also features a searchable list of gluten-free items.

For products without an explicit 'gluten-free' label, you must carefully read the entire ingredient list and look for a 'Contains' statement that lists allergens. Avoid items that list any form of wheat, barley, rye, or derivatives like 'wheat starch'. Be wary of any product made with 'modified food starch' unless the source is specified as gluten-free.

Safe Bets: Plain, unprocessed items are often a safer choice. This includes many of Goya's canned beans (like black, pink, or kidney beans), uncooked rice (like Canilla Extra Long Grain), and certain single-ingredient spices.
High-Risk Products: Be extremely cautious with Goya's seasoned products, sauces, and baked goods. Their Sazon seasoning, for instance, contains wheat starch, and baked goods like their Maria cookies contain gluten. Prepared rice mixes and adobo seasonings are also known to be potential sources of hidden gluten.
Vigilance is Key: Because product formulations can change over time, it's essential to check the label every time you purchase a product, even if you have used it safely in the past.

Goya vs. Other Brands: A Comparison

When seeking gluten-free Sazon, for example, it is crucial to recognize that not all brands are created equal. While Goya's popular Sazon contains wheat starch, certified gluten-free options are available from other manufacturers.


Feature	Goya Sazon	El Rey Sazon	Simply Organic Sazon
Gluten-Free?	No (contains wheat starch)	Yes (Certified)	Yes (Certified Organic)
Key Ingredients	Coriander, turmeric, garlic, wheat starch	Spices, annatto, salt	Organic spices, annatto, sea salt
Sourcing	Multiple facilities with cross-contamination risk	Dedicated gluten-free facilities	Dedicated gluten-free facilities
Certification	No explicit GF certification for Sazon	100% gluten-free certified	Gluten-free certified
Allergen Risk	High for sensitive individuals due to wheat	Low; no gluten ingredients	Low; no gluten ingredients, organic

A Deeper Look into Specific Goya Categories

1. Beans and Legumes Many of Goya's canned and dried beans are naturally gluten-free, including black, pink, and kidney beans. They are often labeled as such on the packaging. However, always check for added ingredients in flavored or seasoned bean products.

2. Rice Plain rice products, like Goya Canilla Extra Long Grain Rice, are gluten-free and often explicitly labeled. But be cautious with their pre-seasoned rice mixes, such as the Goya Yellow Rice, as some variants may contain ingredients or be processed in facilities with cross-contamination risks.

3. Spices and Seasonings This is a category where extreme caution is needed. As previously mentioned, Goya's Sazon contains wheat starch. The same applies to some of their Adobo seasonings. To avoid gluten, it is best to check every spice blend, or better yet, create your own seasoning mixes using individual, naturally gluten-free spices.

4. Corn Products Some corn-based items, like Goya Fine Yellow Cornmeal, are marketed as gluten-free. However, this does not apply universally to all corn-based products. For example, their empanada discs are not gluten-free. Always confirm the gluten-free status on the packaging.

Conclusion: The Bottom Line on Goya and Gluten

So, are Goya products gluten free? The answer is not a simple yes or no. The brand has a wide range of offerings, some of which are naturally gluten-free, while others explicitly contain gluten. The key takeaway for anyone with a gluten intolerance or celiac disease is to be a diligent label-reader and avoid relying on assumptions. For the safest approach, stick to single-ingredient items like plain rice or beans that are explicitly marked as gluten-free on the packaging. When in doubt, opt for a certified gluten-free alternative from another brand to minimize any health risks.

For more information on safe labeling practices and certifications, visit the official website for the Gluten-Free Certification Organization.

Frequently Asked Questions

Some variants of Goya's yellow rice are explicitly labeled as gluten-free, such as the Goya Yellow Rice Spanish Style box. However, other rice mixes or seasoned rice products may contain hidden gluten or be at risk of cross-contamination, so you must always check the specific product label.

Yes, many standard Goya Sazon products contain wheat starch and are not gluten-free. Always check the ingredient list, and for a safe alternative, look for certified gluten-free seasoning brands.

Many of Goya's plain canned beans, such as black beans, red kidney beans, and pink beans, are naturally gluten-free and labeled as such. Be careful with seasoned or flavored bean products, as they may contain gluten ingredients. Always check the label.

Goya follows FDA guidelines for labeling and discloses gluten-containing ingredients like wheat. They also use a 'May Contain' statement for potential cross-contact. However, this does not mean every product is certified gluten-free, and cross-contamination is still a possibility.

Goya's official website provides a filterable list of their gluten-free products. You can also consult third-party resources like Gluten-Free Watchdog, which have documented test results for specific Goya items.

Yes, when a Goya product explicitly carries a 'gluten-free' label, it has been verified to meet the FDA's standard of less than 20 ppm of gluten and should be safe. Do not assume a product is gluten-free if the claim is absent.

Products known to contain gluten include Goya Sazon (some varieties), Goya Maria cookies, and Goya empanada discs. Adobo seasonings and some rice mixes are also high-risk. Always read labels.