Campbell’s cream of chicken soup is a popular canned soup product that can be used as a base for many recipes. However, for people with food allergies, it’s important to know what allergens this soup contains before consuming it. The most common food allergens are wheat, soy, milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish. This article will provide a detailed overview of the allergens present in Campbell’s cream of chicken soup by examining the ingredient list and nutrition facts label. Quick answers to key questions will be provided in the opening paragraphs.
The major allergens contained in Campbell’s cream of chicken soup are wheat, soy, and milk. The wheat and soy come from ingredients like wheat flour and soybean oil, while the milk is from ingredients like cream and whey. People with allergies or sensitivities to these foods need to avoid this soup.
What are the major allergens in Campbell’s cream of chicken soup?
The major allergens contained in Campbell’s cream of chicken soup are wheat, soy, and milk.
What ingredients contain wheat?
The ingredients that contain wheat are wheat flour, modified food starch, and dextrose. Wheat flour is the main ingredient in the soup.
What ingredients contain soy?
The ingredients that contain soy are soybean oil, soy protein concentrate, and soy protein isolate. Soybean oil is used for the fat component.
What ingredients contain milk?
The ingredients that contain milk are cream, whey, and nonfat dry milk. Cream and whey provide dairy flavor and richness.
Ingredient List Analysis
To fully understand what allergens are present, we need to analyze the complete ingredient list for Campbell’s cream of chicken soup:
| Ingredients: | Chicken stock, wheat flour, water, contains less than 2% of: cream, modified food starch, chicken meat, soy protein concentrate, whey, chicken fat, yeast extract, sodium phosphates, soy protein isolate, salt, dextrose, cooked white meat chicken (chicken, water, salt, sodium phosphates), nonfat dry milk, onion powder, extractives of turmeric and extractives of annatto. |
Going through each ingredient, we can identify the major allergen-containing ingredients:
| Wheat | wheat flour, modified food starch, dextrose |
| Soy | soy protein concentrate, soy protein isolate |
| Milk | cream, whey, nonfat dry milk |
As you can see, wheat in the form of wheat flour is the main ingredient. Soy and milk ingredients are also present in smaller amounts.
Nutrition Facts Label Analysis
Analyzing the nutrition facts label provides further confirmation of the allergens contained in Campbell’s cream of chicken soup:
| Nutrition Facts | Serving Size 1/2 cup (125g) Calories 80 Total Fat 2.5g 4% Saturated Fat 1.5g 8% Cholesterol 15mg 5% Sodium 470mg 20% Total Carbohydrate 11g 4% Dietary Fiber 0g 0% Total Sugars 1g Includes 0g Added Sugars 0% Protein 5g Vitamin D 0mcg 0% Calcium 55mg 4% Iron 0.6mg 4% Potassium 235mg 6% |
Under the “Contains” statement, the label lists:
– Wheat
– Soy
– Milk
This confirms that wheat, soy, and milk allergens are present in the soup.
Severity of Allergens in Campbell’s Cream of Chicken Soup
Now that we’ve established the main allergens present, it’s also important to consider the amounts and severity.
Wheat
Since wheat flour is the first ingredient, there is a significant amount of wheat in this soup. Anybody with a wheat allergy or gluten intolerance like celiac disease should avoid this product. Even small amounts of wheat could trigger a reaction.
Soy
The amount of soy is much less compared to wheat. However, those with a soy allergy still need to avoid this soup due to the soy protein concentrate and isolate. These purified forms of soy protein have highly concentrated amounts of the allergenic soy proteins.
Milk
Similarly, the amount of milk ingredients is relatively low but still present. The cream, whey, and nonfat dry milk contribute allergenic milk proteins. Those with a milk allergy need to avoid this soup altogether.
Alternative Soup Options
For those with food allergies who still want to enjoy a creamy chicken soup, there are some allergen-friendly alternatives:
Make Homemade
Making a homemade chicken soup from scratch allows total control over the ingredients. Substitute the wheat flour with a gluten-free flour blend. Use olive oil instead of soybean oil. And replace the dairy with non-dairy milk or broth.
Try an Allergy-Friendly Brand
Some companies like Pacific Foods make canned chicken soups that are free of major allergens like wheat, dairy, soy, nuts, and shellfish. Always check the labels carefully for your specific allergen concerns.
Use a Different Soup Base
Other non-dairy cream soup bases like rice cream soup, potato soup, or vegetable purees can provide a similar creamy texture and base for recipes calling for cream soups.
Other Considerations
When dealing with food allergies, always read packaging labels carefully every time, even for products you have purchased previously. Ingredient formulations can change over time. Some additional pointers:
– Check labels for advisory statements (“May contain [allergen],” “Made in a facility that also processes [allergen]”)
– Look for any cross-contamination warnings
– Contact the manufacturer directly if you have any questions
– When in doubt, avoid the product
Conclusion
Campbell’s cream of chicken soup contains the major food allergens wheat, soy, and milk. Wheat flour is the main ingredient, while soy and milk proteins are also present in lower amounts. People with allergies or sensitivities to these foods need to avoid this product. Reading labels carefully and choosing alternative soup options can help those with food allergies still enjoy a creamy chicken soup. Being aware of the allergens present provides the knowledge to make informed, safe choices.