Is High Noon Gluten Free?

High Noon hard seltzers are gluten free. The brand states on its packaging that the product is made with gluten free ingredients. The brand’s vodkas are distilled from corn, which does not contain gluten. This makes High Noon a suitable choice for people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, though you should always check the label for any changes.

What Is High Noon Made From?

High Noon is a hard seltzer, but it is not made like most others. Many hard seltzers use fermented cane sugar as their alcohol base. High Noon instead uses vodka distilled from corn.

The brand’s core lineup uses real fruit juice for flavor, not artificial flavors. The combination of corn-based vodka and fruit juice means the base ingredients are naturally gluten free.

This matters because gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Corn is not one of these grains. Vodka made from corn starts with a gluten free ingredient, which is different from vodka made from wheat.

Does Distillation Remove Gluten?

Distillation is a process that heats a liquid to create vapor, then cools that vapor back into liquid. This process is very effective at separating alcohol from other compounds, including proteins like gluten.

Most distilled spirits are considered gluten free by regulatory standards, even if they start from wheat or barley. The distillation process removes the gluten protein. However, there is a catch. Some products add flavorings or other ingredients after distillation. Those additives could contain gluten.

High Noon does not rely on distillation alone. The brand uses corn as the base grain, so gluten is not present in the starting material. This removes the concern entirely.

That said, the FDA allows products distilled from gluten containing grains to be labeled gluten free if distillation removes the gluten. High Noon goes a step further by using a gluten free grain from the start.

Is High Noon Certified Gluten Free?

High Noon is not certified by the Gluten Free Certification Organization (GFCO) as of the most recent information available. Certification is a voluntary process where a third party tests products and audits facilities.

The lack of certification does not mean the product contains gluten. It means the brand has not pursued that specific certification. Many gluten free products on the market are not certified but still meet the FDA’s legal standard for gluten free labeling.

The FDA standard requires that a product labeled gluten free contains less than 20 parts per million of gluten. This is the threshold that is widely accepted as safe for people with celiac disease.

High Noon labels its products as gluten free. This is a legal claim under FDA rules, not a marketing suggestion. If the product did not meet the standard, the brand could face regulatory action.

Which High Noon Flavors Are Gluten Free?

All standard High Noon flavors are made with the same corn vodka base. The flavorings come from real fruit juice. None of the standard flavors contain gluten ingredients.

This includes the core flavors like watermelon, pineapple, black cherry, and lime. It also includes seasonal and limited release flavors that use the same base.

There is one exception to note. High Noon also makes a line of spirits, including a bourbon. Bourbon is made from grains that typically include wheat, rye, or barley. While distilled spirits are generally considered gluten free, the bourbon is a different product from the hard seltzer.

If you are buying High Noon hard seltzers, the gluten free label applies. If you are considering the brand’s other alcohol products, check each label individually.

Can People With Celiac Disease Drink High Noon?

Most people with celiac disease can safely drink High Noon hard seltzers. The product meets the FDA standard for gluten free labeling, which is the same standard that guides medical recommendations.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition where ingesting gluten damages the small intestine. Even small amounts of gluten can trigger symptoms and cause intestinal damage. The 20 parts per million threshold is considered safe for the vast majority of people with this condition.

That said, individual responses vary. Some people with celiac disease are extremely sensitive and react to trace amounts of gluten even below the legal threshold. If you are one of these people, you should be cautious with any processed beverage.

It is also worth noting that hard seltzers are alcohol. Alcohol is not recommended for everyone. People with certain medical conditions, those taking certain medications, and people who are pregnant should not drink alcohol. Gluten free status does not change these considerations.

What About Cross Contamination?

Cross contamination happens when a gluten free product comes into contact with gluten during manufacturing. This can occur if a facility also processes wheat, barley, or rye products.

High Noon does not publicly disclose whether its production facilities process gluten containing ingredients. The brand states that its products are made with gluten free ingredients and are labeled gluten free.

The FDA labeling standard does not require facilities to be dedicated gluten free facilities. A product can be labeled gluten free even if it is made in a facility that also handles gluten, as long as the finished product tests below 20 parts per million.

For most people with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, this level of assurance is sufficient. For people who are extremely sensitive, the lack of a dedicated facility disclosure may be a reason for extra caution.

How Does High Noon Compare to Other Hard Seltzers?

Most hard seltzers on the market are gluten free. The category is largely built on gluten free bases like cane sugar, corn, or other gluten free grains.

White Claw and Truly, the two largest hard seltzer brands, both use fermented cane sugar as their base. Cane sugar is naturally gluten free. Both brands label their products as gluten free.

High Noon’s difference is the vodka base. This gives it a different mouthfeel and a stronger alcohol taste compared to cane sugar seltzers. For gluten free purposes, both approaches are safe.

One area where seltzers differ is the flavoring. Most brands use natural flavors, which are generally gluten free. Some brands may use barley malt or other gluten containing ingredients in certain products, especially malt beverages that look like seltzers but are not actually seltzers.

Always check the label. A product that looks like a seltzer may actually be a malt beverage made with barley. This is why reading the label matters more than trusting the appearance of the can.

Is There Any Gluten in the Flavors or Additives?

The flavors in High Noon come from real fruit juice. Fruit juice does not contain gluten. The brand also uses natural flavors, which are typically gluten free but are not always guaranteed to be.

Natural flavors can be derived from almost any food source, including barley. However, if a natural flavor contained gluten, the finished product would need to list barley or wheat as an allergen, or it would fail the FDA gluten free labeling standard.

High Noon does not list wheat, barley, or rye as ingredients or allergens on its seltzer products. This is consistent with the gluten free claim.

If you have concerns about a specific flavor or a limited edition product, contact the brand directly. Manufacturers can provide the most current information about ingredients and production practices.

What Do Gluten Free Labels Actually Mean?

The FDA regulates gluten free labeling on packaged foods and beverages sold in the United States. The rule has been in effect since 2014.

For a product to bear a gluten free label, it must meet three requirements. It must not contain any gluten containing grains like wheat, barley, or rye. It must not contain an ingredient derived from these grains that has not been processed to remove gluten. And it must not contain any ingredient derived from these grains that has been processed to remove gluten, if the processing results in the finished product containing 20 parts per million or more of gluten.

In plain language, the label means the product is safe for most people with celiac disease. It does not mean the product is certified, tested by a third party, or made in a dedicated facility. It means the manufacturer is legally responsible for ensuring the product meets the standard.