News

Chick-fil-A delivers 'true' gluten-free sandwich

June 19, 2017

Chick-fil-A has added a gluten-free bun, now available for all of its sandwiches, in response to the estimated 18 million Americans who want bread free of the substance for either medical reasons or dietary preferences.

Instead of traditional gluten-loaded wheat flour, a news release said, the buns contain ancient grains along with molasses and raisins for sweetness. 

A 2016 test of the sandwich bread offering in three U.S. cities indicated that it would be successful as a permanent Chick-fil-A menu item.

"We heard positive feedback in test markets that the bun tastes better than some other gluten-free breads," Chick-fil-A Senior Consultant of Menu Development Leslie Neslage said in the release. "That's because instead of rice flower, we've made the bun with more premium ingredients like quinoa and amaranth. Our hope is that the gluten-free bun addition opens up options for gluten-sensitive customers to enjoy more of our menu."

The 150-calorie bun adds $1.15 to the cost of any sandwich at the chain. Additionally, guests who go gluten-free will have to assemble their own sandwich, as the buns are individually packaged to avoid cross-contamination from other gluten-containing products.