Morning Kick by Roundhouse Provisions is not gluten free. The product contains multiple ingredients derived from gluten-containing grains, including wheatgrass powder, barley grass powder, and oat grass powder. It does not carry a gluten-free certification or label, and anyone with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity should avoid it.
Which Ingredients Contain Gluten
The most obvious culprit is wheatgrass powder, sourced from Triticum aestivum, the common wheat plant. While some manufacturers argue that young wheatgrass harvested before the grain forms contains negligible gluten, the plant itself is a wheat species. For regulatory and safety purposes, it’s considered a wheat-derived ingredient.
Morning Kick also contains barley grass powder (from Hordeum vulgare) and organic oat grass powder (from Avena sativa). Barley is one of the three primary gluten-containing grains alongside wheat and rye. Oats are naturally gluten free but are frequently cross-contaminated with wheat or barley during growing and processing. Unless oats are certified gluten free, they’re treated as a risk ingredient, and Morning Kick’s label gives no indication of certified gluten-free sourcing for its oat grass.
An ingredient analysis by Spoonful, a food allergen database, flagged the product as containing one confirmed gluten ingredient and four additional ingredients that could contain gluten depending on sourcing. It also flagged the product as not wheat free, identifying two confirmed wheat-containing ingredients.
The Grass vs. Grain Debate
You’ll sometimes see claims that wheatgrass and barley grass are safe for people avoiding gluten because the grass is harvested before the seed head develops. The idea is that gluten proteins are concentrated in the grain kernel, not the leaves. There’s some truth to this in theory, but the practical reality is messier. Harvesting timing varies between batches, and even small amounts of seed contamination during processing can introduce gluten. The FDA does not exempt wheatgrass or barley grass from gluten-containing ingredient lists, and most celiac disease organizations recommend caution with these ingredients unless the final product has been tested and certified gluten free.
Morning Kick has no such certification. Without third-party testing confirming the gluten content falls below 20 parts per million (the FDA threshold for a “gluten-free” label), there’s no way to verify safety for someone with celiac disease.
What’s Actually in Morning Kick
The full ingredient list gives a clearer picture of the product. The base is organic Jerusalem artichoke inulin, a prebiotic fiber from the root of the Jerusalem artichoke plant. This ingredient is naturally gluten free. The formula also includes bovine collagen peptides, spirulina, kale powder, chlorella, alfalfa powder, lemon juice powder, and ashwagandha extract. None of these are gluten concerns on their own.
The product contains a probiotic blend with six bacterial strains at 5 billion colony-forming units per serving. Probiotics themselves don’t contain gluten, though the growing medium used during fermentation sometimes can. The label doesn’t specify the fermentation substrate, which adds another layer of uncertainty for highly sensitive individuals. The formula is rounded out with a branded absorption-enhancing blend, citric acid, natural flavors, and a stevia-derived sweetener.
Alternatives if You Need Gluten Free
If you’re looking for a greens powder with similar benefits but without gluten risk, look specifically for products carrying a “Certified Gluten-Free” seal from organizations like the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) or NSF International. These certifications require testing to verify products contain fewer than 10 to 20 parts per million of gluten, depending on the certifier.
Many greens powders on the market skip wheatgrass and barley grass entirely, relying instead on spinach, kale, spirulina, chlorella, and other naturally gluten-free plant sources. If a greens powder does include wheatgrass or barley grass but carries a certified gluten-free label, it means the final product has been tested and passed. A self-declared “gluten free” on the label without a third-party seal offers less assurance, since the manufacturer is responsible for their own testing and compliance.
Morning Kick doesn’t make a gluten-free claim at all, which at least means the company isn’t being misleading. But for anyone managing celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, this product should be off the list.