Allergies, Anaphylaxis, Eczema, Topical Steroid Withdrawal & Asthma

Top 10 Health Blogs 2022 Top 10 Health Blogs 2021 Free From Hero 2021 Top 10 Health Blogs 2020 Best Blogs Award 2020 20th in the Top 60 UK Health Blogs Best Free From Blog 2014
  • Home
  • About
    • In the news!
    • Advocate
    • Testimonials
  • Books
    • Anaphylaxis – The Essential Guide.
    • The Shape of Skin
  • TSW
  • Advertise
  • Discounts
  • Links
  • Contact
  • Subscribe

Which gravy and stock cubes are allergen free?

16/03/2011 by Ruth Holroyd 32 Comments

Sauces, gravy, stock cubes, they can all make or break a meal if you have allergies. If you have an allergy to dairy, wheat, gluten, celery, tomatoes or MSG then gravy and stock cubes are a minefield. When you’re eating out you never quite know what’s gone into the stock and gravy on a meal, and a roast dinner without gravy just isn’t quite the same.

I was prompted to write this long planned blog post today when I noticed Michelle Berriedale-Johnson’s post, “Easy Gravy” which just appeared in my inbox. Michelle cooked a roast this week with her very own ‘free from everything’ gravy. No stock cubes required. Check it out for an interesting read; you will need a rack, an aubergine, water and wine!

Boxes of various different stock cubes have lain languishing on my desk now for some weeks just waiting for their chance to appear on my blog. So here goes. I’ll begin with my favourite. The only celery free gravy mix I’ve found.

  1. Free & Easy Gluten Free vegetable gravy sauce mix – This one is yeast, gluten, GM, celery and dairy free. Ingredients: Brown rice flour, cornstarch, (non GMO), hydrolysed vegetable protein (non GMO), extract of roasted barley malt (gluten free), powdered onion, sea salt, ground pepper. You simply mix a few teaspoons of this in cold water, like you would with corn flour, and add to your meal to make gravy. I use this one regularly and it’s great in cottage pie, chilli (if like me you can’t eat tomatoes) or as gravy. I usually add other herbs and spices as it’s not that exciting!
  2. Marigold Organic Swiss Vegetable Bouillon – These stock cubes are yeast and gluten free and once again, the only stock cubes I’ve found that are free from celery. Ingredients: Sea salt, Palm oil (organically grown), vegetables 13.5% (onion, carrot, parsley), Maltodextrin, Spices (Mace, lovage, turmeric, bayleaf, pepper). Again, I use these stock cubes regularly, in anything from soup to gravy. I find I need two as they are not quite a strong as normal stock cubes but they give a nice flavour and are not too salty.
  3. Kallo Organic vegetable stock cubes – These stock cubes are gluten and dairy free but do contain celery. Ingredients: Sea salt, maize starch, vegetable fat, yeast extract, carrot (3.5%), onion (2.5%), leek (1%), cane sugar, herbs (parsley, celery, lovage, thyme, rosemary) red pepper, turmeric. Celery is listed here as a herb. Is celery a herb? or a vegetable? Some of the stock cubes include it as a vegetable and others as a herb. These stock cubes also do contain yeast so no good if you’re allergic.
  4. Antony Worrall Thompson’s yeast free organic stock cubes – These ones are gluten, dairy and yeast free but they to contain celery so I haven’t tried them. Anthony Worral Thompson has an interest in cooking for those with allergies and is presenting some of the Awards at the FreeFrom Food Awards 2011 this year on 6th April. Ingredients: Rock salt, starch (potato and corn), non-hydrogenated palm fat (organically grown), Mixed vegetables 11% (onions, celery, leeks, carrots), sugar, lovage, parsley, nutmeg, turmeric, garlic, pepper.
  5. Tesco beef stock cubes – Again, I haven’t tried these stock cubes either but they seem to be wheat and gluten free. Anyone tried them? I’m not sure why any stock cubes need any colouring added, or preservatives, since the others don’t have that, but I thought I’d include for comparison. It might be cheaper and therefore suitable for someone on a gluten free diet but shopping on a budget. Ingredients: Salt, sugar, vegetable fat, potato starch, yeast extract, natural flavouring, beef extract (2%), colour (plain caramel), celery powder, carrot, parsley, preservative (Sulphur dioxide).
  6. Oxo beef stock cubes – I don’t have much to say about these ones either. Never tried them, and not really liking the list of flavour enhancers and colours necessary here. They contain wheat, yeast and corn, but they were the cheapest of the lot to buy. They also contact lactic acid, which I recently wrote about; I’m never sure whether it’s dairy free or not as it can be naturally occurring in some foods and nothing to do with dairy at all. Ingredients: Wheat flour, salt, yeast extract, maize starch, flavour enhancers (monosodium glutamate, disodium guanylate), colour (Ammonia Caramel), Beef fat, Flavourings, Dried beef bonestock, sugar and lactic acid. Allergy advice: Contains wheat, gluten.

This is just a tiny sample of the range that’s available, and I may have missed some out. These were the ones I was able to buy last time I went on a big shop, except my special ones which are celery free and have to bought specially on Goodness Direct or from a health food store. I think Bisto are pretty good but again, none in the house and I think buying four brands you can’t eat in one go is enough. I’m pretty sure the ingredients are pretty basic and I’ve had gravy made from Bisto at the mother in laws with no adverse effects.

For roast dinners, I find that a delicious gravy can be made from simply saving some of the vegetable water, adding a bit of the meat juices, a few Marigold free-from stock cubes and any herbs and spices I feel like mixing in. A little corn flour will help thicken if you’re not allergic to corn.

Has anyone got a favourite brand of free-from gravy mix of stock cubes? Or a great free-from recipe for gravy?

And finally, if anyone would like to take the Kallo, Anthony Worral Thompson’s, Tesco or Oxo stock cubes off my hands, first come first served. Be the first to leave a comment and I’ll post them to you. It has to be a constructive comment though please and I’m only posting in the UK (sorry overseas readers).

Finally I have also shared a blog about How to make easy peasy free from gravy from scratch.

Related posts:

Celery Hellery from People for the Awareness of Celery Allergy (PACA) Facebook pageWhat is celery allergy? Home made gluten, dairy, celery free gravyMake your own allergen free gravy Green People irritated scalp shampooTop 10 Irritant and SLS free shampoos for eczema skin – an update

Filed Under: Allergies Tagged With: allergen free gravy, celery free stock cubes, dairy free stock cubes, free from stock cubes, gluten free stock cubes

About Ruth Holroyd

Author of 'Anaphylaxis: The Essential Guide: An Action Plan For Living With Life-Threatening Allergies' and 'The Shape of Skin, both available as paperback or Kindle on Amazon. Ruth is a Writer, Blogger and Patient Expert in allergies, asthma, anaphylaxis, eczema and topical steroid withdrawal.

Comments

  1. Michelle BJ says

    18/03/2011 at 11:05 am

    Hi Ruth – What a useful blog……. Thanks for doing the leg work!!

    Reply
    • Ruth says

      18/03/2011 at 7:00 pm

      Hi Michelle. I enjoyed that one actually. Years of trawling. Micki asked if any of them were corn free. The Marigold one says it has Maltodextrin. I will have to ask them if this is made with Corn or Barley. It says it’s gluten free so would that rule out barley? And the Kallo has maize starch so that’s corn. If you find a corn free gravy or stock cube on your travels point me in the right direction! Thanks again for the kind words. Ruth

      Reply
    • Ruth says

      18/03/2011 at 7:01 pm

      Oh and you were the first to comment! Which of them would you like? I could even hand deliver at the awards ceremony! Should probably be the AWT ones since he’ll be there ;o)

      Reply
      • Candy says

        19/03/2011 at 9:29 pm

        Thanks for the info. I had been trying to find out what suitable gravies and stock cubes were out there and you had all the answers.

        Reply
    • Julie says

      07/10/2015 at 2:13 pm

      Hi
      I have a yeast intollerance and also the lily family, so no onions or garlic. I am trying to find a gravy browning, and thought i was Ok with Tesco, but it has maltodextrin and barleymalt, which seems to cause me gut problems. Are you aware of any product without these ingredients, please?
      Many thanks
      Julie

      Reply
      • Ruth says

        09/10/2015 at 1:13 pm

        Off the top my head most have either onion, garlic or maltodextrin in them. One really amazing way I have of making a gravy/stock is to keep the carcasses of chicken or other meat and freeze it. Then when you have two or three pop them in a slow cooker for 4 hours with whatever veggies and herbs/spices you can tolerate to make your own stock. Then this has a multitude of uses. Simply freeze into ice blocks of freezer bags/tubs for instant stock. The other thing I do is to just put some corn flour or arrowroot powder with cold water or oil into a paste, add to hot vegetable water and add whatever you can have. ie. wine, worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, meat juices and make your own quick and easy gravy/sauce. That you know exactly what’s in it. I hope this helps. I’ve just a few of my fave gravies (Isabels and ilumi) and they both have onion so no good for you. Alternatively if you are cooking a joint, buy a rack and you can add all sorts to the juices below the meat to make a simple gravy.

        Reply
  2. lea sharman says

    21/03/2011 at 12:31 pm

    Hi Ruth, I use Tesco beef and chicken stock cubes. They both seem to be gluten free and I haven’t had any bad reactions to them.I usually make up some cornflour with water and make up the stock cube with hot water. Just for added flavour, I stick a knife into a pot of bovril and whatever comes out I add to the gravy. I find the Tesco cubes are already very salty.
    When I go out for a meal, I take a small flask of gravy with me. Lea.

    Reply
    • Ruth says

      21/03/2011 at 1:35 pm

      Hi Lea. I think Tesco are gluten free yes. And I like the flask of gravy idea. Inspired! Never thought of that. I’ve got a really cool little stainless steel thermos which would do just the ticket. No more plain roast dinners with no gravy… oh joy! Can’t wait to try that out. Will probably get some funny looks but who cares.

      Reply
      • lea sharman says

        21/03/2011 at 4:39 pm

        Ruth, I usually ask the waiters if it’s all right for me to use my own gray and they always say it’s O’K’ Some restaurants will offer to make g/f gravy for you but it’s best if you take your own.
        Also, I sometimes go out for a breakfast and take my own bread and butter.Again, I have never been refused, If you explain. I’ve even found they are very helpfull when I go on Holiday to Greece. I carry a card with me that you can download from the internet in all languanges explaining all about coeliac disease.

        Reply
        • Ruth says

          21/03/2011 at 5:24 pm

          Yes I’ve taken my own milk and marg often to bfast and meals and always when I go on holiday. Thanks for the reminder re allergy cards. Going to portugal so must remember to get some before we go. It’s a really good idea. I’m going to update my eating out safely blog post to include this idea. Thanks again for the comment.

          Reply
  3. Ruth says

    24/03/2011 at 5:18 pm

    Planning to update blog post soon since I discovered Knorr liquid stock which appears to be gluten free, dairy free and corn free. Sounds delicious. Look out for Knorr Simply stock. Ingredients: water, vegetable juice (leek, celeriac, carrot) salt, mushroom juice, garlic paste, spices (lovage, white pepper, nutmeg). WOW!

    Reply
  4. Micki says

    09/04/2011 at 10:43 am

    Hi there, just done a summary of the stock cubes found to be grain free: check it out: http://trulyglutenfree.co.uk/2011/04/09/gravy-and-stock/. Thanks for your help with this!

    Reply
  5. dairyfreebabyandme says

    24/04/2012 at 12:12 pm

    Hi!
    We have used Anthony Worrall Thompson’s and I thought it was OK flavour-wise but stopped using it because it was upsetting my stomach. We’ve also used a Heinz baby gravy. No wheat/gluten, may contain mustard, ‘may contain’ milk (but Baby can cope with that). Does contain Celery, celeriac. However, it does contain cornflour and maize flour causes me probs, so it might explain why I’m not so stuck on this one either. May well give the Marigold one a try, if I can find it. If you don’t mind me asking, where did you get it from?

    Reply
    • Ruth says

      24/04/2012 at 12:36 pm

      Hi there. They are good. Perhaps not as strong as normal stock cubes so I tend to chuck in two instead of just one. I have found them in Waitrose before but can’t always rely on them having any in. The Free&Easy quick gravy is good too.

      Reply
  6. Nicky says

    24/04/2012 at 7:46 pm

    I recall Marigold put peanut protein into some of their bouillons so I am cautious of all because of cross contamination – BUT maybe no longer the case, does anybody know?I know I could just take a look in the supermarket but lazily asking here!

    Reply
    • Ruth says

      26/04/2012 at 9:34 am

      Hi Nicky, I haven’t heard or found anything about peanuts protein in Marigold stock cubes. I’ve got some in the cupboard though so will try to contact them to ask. I’d be very surprised if they did, being an allergy product and all that, but you never can be too careful. However on the plus side, I’ve been using these stock cubes for years with no ill effect.

      Reply
  7. Ruth says

    26/04/2012 at 9:32 am

    Apparently, according to Delia Smith’s website you can also find it in Polish shops where it has the brand name Vegeta, but is more or less the same thing.

    Reply
  8. Juz says

    09/06/2012 at 5:48 am

    Thanks Ruth, was getting fed up trawling through health food shops looking for an onion free stock now that Massel have started adding onion and garlic to theirs… just have to figure out if the Tesco can be bought here (Australia), the others you mentioned can…

    Reply
    • Carol says

      21/06/2013 at 12:28 pm

      I’m UK based and I’ve recently started a gluten free diet as I’m pretty sure I have an intolerance at least, currently being tested for celiac and my brother (In Austraila) is celiac so you never know.
      Feel better already and its only been a couple of weeks, however I also have an onion/leek/chive allergy so stock cubes are difficult at the best of times.
      I will definitely be trying the tesco ones now though. Hope you found some in Australia

      Reply
      • Ruth says

        23/06/2013 at 9:31 am

        Have you checked out ilumi chicken gravy? And Sainsbury’s stock in the pouch?

        Reply
  9. Kirsty Cook says

    31/07/2013 at 4:51 pm

    Hi, I’m kinda new to the gluten free diet since being told I’m intolerant to gluten. I found this blog while I was googling for gluten free stock cubes so I can make some gravy and I have found it useful, thank you. I didn’t know Tesco has gluten free stock cubes and there are others other than Antony Worrall Thompson’s so I think I will try all of them to see which I prefer. Thanks once again, you have been an angel!

    Reply
    • Ruth says

      31/07/2013 at 5:01 pm

      Check out Sainsbury’s too, they do some really nice very simple stocks in a pouch. They do vegetable, beef and chicken I think. I’ve tried the chicken one and it’s pretty good. Good luck with the gravy! And also, when you eat out, heat some and take it in a flask! Inspired don’t you think?

      Reply
  10. Linz says

    09/08/2014 at 10:15 am

    Hi, I’ve recently discovered I’m allergic to paprika and turmeric so even the Marigold range is now off limits for me sadly. These two ingredients can hide behind the term “contains spices” in so many products so I think I’m going to have to resort to making my own stock cubes and freezing them.

    Reply
    • Ruth says

      09/08/2014 at 9:51 pm

      Yes I actually make my own, save up chicken carcasses and do in bulk. I do mine in the slow cooker, just with some leeks, onion, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Works a treat.

      Reply
      • Linz says

        09/08/2014 at 10:35 pm

        Sounds tasty, I’ll definitely give it a go and then maybe freeze in ice cube trays. Thanks for the recipe Ruth.

        Reply
  11. Paul Jacques says

    17/02/2015 at 5:41 pm

    I note that ‘Free and Easy Vegetable Gravy Mix’ is said to be free of yeast extract, but does contain hydrolysed vegetable protein, which in itself can contribute up to 30% of MSG. It could still be a problem for people who can’t take the ‘natural’ MSG that is present in yeast extract. I suffer salicylate intolerance and obviously read all the small print on the package labels, and do suffer with ‘gravies’

    Reply
    • Ruth says

      18/02/2015 at 5:41 pm

      Thanks Paul, yes the word ‘hydrolysed’ doesn’t really appeal either. It’s not natural for starters. Gravies are not easy, I tend to make my own. ilumi do a chicken gravy which is pretty basic. Have you tried that one?

      Reply
  12. Pearl Martin says

    28/05/2018 at 10:34 pm

    Thanks for all your work! I make my gravy from my own chicken bones and thicken with cornflour but I never have enough stock to make soups for my husbands Fodmap diet!!
    I have used Knorr Touch of Taste bottles of chicken and beef stock which were wonderful , but am gutted to find them discontinued and I can’t find them anywhere.
    I need something with no flour onion or garlic.
    Can anyone help??

    Reply
    • Ruth Holroyd says

      31/05/2018 at 8:58 pm

      Gosh no, I can’t think of one off the top of my head. You’ll have to start making your own. I am pretty sure I’ve blogged about this. Do it in a pressure cooker or slow cooker to avoid having to stand over it watching and stiring. Pressure cooking is quick – slow cooker is slow obviously but both make great stock and you can then add what you want.

      Reply
  13. K says

    23/12/2019 at 10:20 pm

    What a brilliant post! Thank you for all your effort! I was actually looking for an alternative to bovril which I have found but yet to try. Happy Christmas to you and your team x

    Reply
    • Ruth Holroyd says

      25/12/2019 at 8:12 am

      No problem! Thanks for the comment. Yes you could make your own by boiling up beef bones etc! Happy Christmas to you too

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Top ten tips for cooking meals; 1 allergen free and 1 normal | what allergy? says:
    26/04/2012 at 5:04 pm

    […] One pan gets the evil tomato and I make mine with Free&Easy freefrom gravy. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Welcome to my blog!

https://whatallergy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/IMG_2853.mp4

Hello, I’m Ruth, author and blogger

Ruth

 

Hi I'm Ruth. I've grown up with eczema and multiple life-threatening allergies and collected more as I've got older.  It started with a peanut allergy and now I'm allergic to milk, wheat, soya and many more. In this blog I share tips, advice and things I've learnt living with allergies, asthma and eczema with a focus on topical steroid withdrawal. You can buy my books, which are brilliant by the way! The first is Anaphylaxis: The essential guide and the second, The Shape of Skin, healing poems for eczema and sensitive skin. The reviews speak for themselves. If you want to chat you can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn (links below). Do get in touch. And please comment on blogs, it makes a humble blogger do a little happy dance!

Subscribe today for Free Resources

Share and Connect

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

Allergies Anaphylaxis Asthma Awards Coeliac Cold Sores Cooking Digestion Eating Out Eczema FreeFrom Awards Hay Fever Indoor Allergies Industry News Mental Health Natural remedies Nutrition Poetry Product Review Rant Recipes Restaurant Review Skin care Topical Steroid Withdrawal Travelling Vegan

The Shape of Skin – poetry for eczema

The Shape of Skin poetry for eczemaThe Shape of Skin

Strange, striking and sensitive poems for people with eczema, psoriasis, topical steroid withdrawal and troubled skin.

Readers comments include: "Powerful, relatable, Absolutely bloody fantastic (pun intended)..."

Buy it now on Amazon

Buy ‘The Anaphylaxis Guide’ Now

Anaphylaxis - the essential guideAnaphylaxis - The Essential Guide. An action plan for living with life threatening allergies.

"This book is such a great wealth of information and a delight to read! A must read for anyone with allergies or connected to an allergy sufferer. Congratulations!" Tanya Ednan-Laperouse, Natasha Foundation

Find out more

get help - in distress?

Pollen Free Flowers and Plants

Read my blog, "Allergen and pollen free, artificial plants for your home"Faux la fleur artificial pollen free plants

Please Review my book on Goodreads

Ruth Holroyd's books on Goodreads
The Reluctant Allergy Expert: How to kill the fear that anaphylaxis could kill you The Reluctant Allergy Expert: How to kill the fear that anaphylaxis could kill you
reviews: 3
ratings: 3 (avg rating 5.00)

Get Free Resources

Get Free Resources

  • Food, Mood and Symptoms Diary
  • Topical Steroid Withdrawal handout for doctors
  • Anaphylaxis Action Plan
  • 50 x Food Real Challenge
  • Eat the Rainbow Food Challenge
  • More coming soon!

Click here to Subscribe and you'll receive a link to download!

Follow What Allergy on TikTok

For even more hilarious content, check out my new TikTok account

tiktok logo

Chocolate, cake mixes & more – Top14 Free

Read my product review for Gnawbles, like Maltesers and Ferrero Rocher rolled into one.

Gnawbles freefrom top 14 allergens

Use Coupon Code WHATALLERGY10 FOR 10% OFF everything you buy!

Natural skincare for Eczema / TSW

Balmonds Natural SkincareBalmonds Natural Skincare - Use code: WHATALLERGY for 20% off

Testimonials

Find out why people love this blog!

“I think your blog is fab – I send it to everyone who has skin problems and allergies.” 
Sarah

Read more testimonials here.

Archives – Find old blog posts

Mental Health

Set intentions not resolutions for 2024

Why do we think eczema is ugly?

OMG! Me in a film on eczema and mental health

Eating Out

My coffee shop allergy – reacting to milk vapour?

Coeliacs and Vegans have it easy

Milk and wheat allergen free fish and chips

Asthma

Do you need Health Insurance for Allergies & Asthma?

Did Covid cause asthma and eczema flare?

What if you couldn’t have your Ventolin inhaler?

Copyright © 2025 · Terms Of Use · Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 · [footer_Privacy_Policy #"privacy policy"] Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in