Conference caterers assembling lunches
Count the tortillas needed for your menu, then check every filling and condiment. Coeliac UK advises keeping gluten-free and gluten-containing ingredients separate during preparation and service.
Who needs to plan for what?
Event organisers ordering ready-made food
Confirm how many wrap pieces the order contains, what other food is included and how the finished food must be stored and served. A platter-piece count is not necessarily a wrap count.
Attendees with coeliac disease or additional allergies
Ask about the complete dish and how it was prepared, not just the tortilla. Product-specific statements about mustard, sesame, egg or milk may also matter to individual guests.
What should you check before ordering?
Fill tortilla packs
Choose this when: You need to control the fillings and can prepare and serve the wraps separately from gluten-containing food.
Plan for: Checking every filling and condiment, as well as the finished food’s allergen information.
Order prepared portions
Consider this when: You need portions prepared before the event rather than plain tortillas to fill.
Check first: The specified M&S platter mixes wrap and sandwich pieces, and its chicken fajita wrap has milk and egg ingredients.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten-free claim | Check the exact tortilla’s label, then the fillings, sauces and preparation of the finished wrap. The Food Standards Agency states that a UK “gluten-free” claim means no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten in the food as sold to the final consumer. | I need to know whether the whole lunch can be served as gluten free, not just whether its tortilla carries that label. |
| Portions and format | Count tortillas or actual wrap pieces, rather than packs or total platter pieces. Old El Paso specifies six tortillas of 36 g each; the listed BFree, Warburtons and Tesco packs contain four wraps each. M&S lists eight wrap pieces and six sandwich pieces in its 14-piece platter. | For this menu, I need enough wrap portions and need to know whether I’m ordering plain tortillas or prepared food. |
| Other allergens | Check the supplied product and every component of the finished dish. The BFree listing says its wraps may contain mustard and sesame; Warburtons says its White Wraps are produced in a bakery using egg; the specified M&S chicken fajita wrap lists milk and egg ingredients. | If a guest has another allergy, a gluten-free claim does not answer whether that guest can have the finished wrap. |
| Preparation and storage | Keep gluten-free ingredients and food separate from gluten-containing ones, as Coeliac UK advises. Follow the supplied pack’s opened-pack directions; the specified M&S chicken fajita wrap requires chilled storage at 0°C to +5°C. | I need a workable plan for assembling, holding and serving the food without losing track of its ingredients or handling requirements. |
Common ordering mistakes
-
Assuming any wrap from a familiar brand is gluten free
Mission Original Wraps contain wheat flour, according to Mission’s ingredient description. That exact product is not a gluten-free tortilla choice.
Check the gluten-free claim and ingredients on the exact product supplied, rather than relying on its brand or the word “wrap”.
-
Treating a gluten-free tortilla as a complete allergen-safe lunch
Fillings can introduce other allergens, while contact with gluten-containing food during preparation or service can affect the finished wrap.
Check each finished recipe against guests’ stated requirements and keep gluten-free ingredients, utensils and service arrangements controlled.
-
Counting every platter piece as a wrap
M&S lists eight chicken fajita wrap pieces and six sandwich pieces in its 14-piece Made Without Wheat platter.
Order against the supplier’s wrap-piece count and the portion size planned for your menu.
Relevant wrap brands and product lines
Old El Paso
Its UK gluten-free regular tortilla pack contains six tortillas of 36 g each for filling.
- The six-count pack offers a different portion count from the four-count wrap packs listed here.
- Check the supplied pack’s current allergen information before serving guests with additional allergies.
BFree
Its listed Gluten Free Soft White Wraps come in a four-count pack displaying a Crossed Grain symbol.
- The pack count makes it straightforward to calculate the number of packs for a chosen portion plan.
- The Sainsbury’s listing states that the wraps may contain mustard and sesame.
Warburtons Gluten Free
Its gluten-free White Wraps come in a four-count pack. Warburtons says it operates a dedicated gluten-, wheat- and milk-free bakery.
- The White Wraps provide a four-wrap option for planned portions.
- The product page says the wraps are produced in a bakery that uses egg; the bakery description is not a claim that every allergen is absent.
Tesco Free From
Tesco lists its White Tortilla Wraps as a four-count, 160 g pack described as gluten, wheat and milk free.
- The product listing gives preparation and storage directions, including opened-pack guidance.
- Check the supplied label for current ingredients and instructions, which Tesco says can change.
Sainsbury’s Free From
Sainsbury’s lists its gluten-free White Wraps as a four-count, 168 g pack.
- The stated pack count can be used when planning plain-wrap portions.
- Check the supplied pack for its full ingredients, allergen statements and storage directions.
M&S Made Without Wheat
Its listed sandwich-and-wrap platter is prepared food rather than a pack of plain tortillas.
- The 14 listed pieces comprise eight chicken fajita wrap pieces and six sandwich pieces.
- The specified chicken fajita wrap lists milk and egg ingredients and requires chilled storage.
Mission
Mission Original Wraps are wheat-flour tortillas, not the gluten-free product needed for this menu.
- Mission’s ingredient description begins with wheat flour; assess any other product by its own label rather than the brand name.
Joybuy tortillas for filling
This plain-tortilla option is for caterers assembling their own conference wraps; fillings, preparation and the finished food still need separate checks.
No image available
Old El Paso Gluten Free Tortilla Wraps 216g
For filling as part of a planned conference menu: the pack contains six plain tortillas of 36 g each.
Check the supplied pack’s allergen statement for guests with additional allergies, and assess fillings and cross-contact when preparing the finished wraps.
Questions about serving gluten-free wraps
Does a gluten-free tortilla make the filled wrap gluten free?
Not by itself. The Food Standards Agency’s UK limit for a “gluten-free” claim concerns the food as sold to the final consumer, so check fillings and sauces and control cross-contact when preparing and serving the finished wrap.
How should a shared kitchen prepare gluten-free wraps?
Keep gluten-free and gluten-containing ingredients and foods separate. Coeliac UK’s catering guidance also advises using dedicated utensils or thoroughly cleaning shared utensils before gluten-free preparation.
Are all 14 pieces in the M&S platter wraps?
No. Marks & Spencer lists eight chicken fajita wrap pieces and six chicken-and-bacon sandwich pieces in its 14-piece Made Without Wheat platter.
What allergen information must a conference food business provide?
The Food Standards Agency says food businesses must provide allergen information for both prepacked and non-prepacked food. If food produced by the business qualifies as prepacked for direct sale in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, the FSA says it needs the food name and a full ingredients list, with allergenic ingredients emphasised. Which requirements apply to a particular finished wrap depends on how and where it is packed and offered.
Do tortilla-pack storage instructions cover assembled wraps?
No. Follow the supplied pack’s directions for the tortillas and assess storage for the finished food and its fillings separately. Tesco’s specified wrap listing gives opened-pack guidance, while the specified M&S chicken fajita wrap requires refrigeration at 0°C to +5°C.