It's candy season, from Halloween baskets to holiday treats. And while gluten has a way of sneaking into things like malted Whoppers, crispy Kit Kats and Milky Way nougat, thankfully, there are plenty of options available from fruity to chocolatey for those following a gluten-free diet.
Whether you're trick-or-treating or filling stockings, knowing what candies are gluten free is a must if you or someone you're feeding has celiac disease or gluten intolerance. Not all candy that is GF is labeled gluten free and some that you might think are safe aren’t. So, to help you navigate the candy aisle, we put together a guide to some of the most searched-for treats.
Here's your guide to gluten-free candy.
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Candies that are labeled gluten free
Many popular candies are labeled gluten-free, including sweet candies and chocolate. Here are some of the most popular candies that are marked gluten-free right on the packaging:
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Are Skittles gluten free?
All types of Skittles are labeled gluten free, including original, sour and other flavors.
Are Reese's gluten free?
Reese's peanut butter cups, which come in packages of one, two or four, are labeled gluten-free. This also includes Reese's Big Cups, Reese's with potato chips or pretzels and the miniature cups often found on Halloween. Reese's Pieces are also gluten-free.
However, seasonal shapes such as Reese's eggs and hearts are not gluten-free, due to cross-contamination during production.
Are Starburst gluten free?
Starburst, the individually wrapped candies that come in pink, orange, yellow and red are gluten free and are labeled as such on the packaging.
However, the spinoff candy Starburst minis, which come unwrapped in a bag, do not have the gluten-free label, though they appear gluten-free based on ingredients, so the issue is probably the potential for cross-contamination during production.
Starburst minis might be safe depending on your sensitivity. But sticking with original Starbursts is a safe bet.
Is Hershey's gluten free?
Some Hershey's chocolates are gluten-free, including the original milk chocolate bars and milk chocolate with almonds. Most Hershey kisses are also gluten free, including the original chocolate flavor as well as candy cane, milk chocolate, mint truffle and mini kisses.
Some new and seasonal offerings, like Hershey's Peanut Butter Covered Pretzels are not gluten-free, so if you are ever unsure, look for a gluten-free label on the packaging near where ingredients are listed.
Are Tootsie Rolls gluten free?
Oftentimes, Tootsie Rolls are given out individually or in a handful of other Halloween candies, so you may not have ever had the chance to read the ingredients since they're not listed on the smaller wrapper. But Tootsie Rolls of all flavors are in fact gluten free.
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Candies that are gluten free based on ingredients, or according to the brand's website
There are a number of candies out there that are labeled gluten free. But there are even more out there that are gluten free despite the lack of clear wording to that effect on the packaging.
Here are some popular candies that are likely safe to eat on a gluten-free diet:
Are M&M's gluten free?
M&M's do not have a gluten-free label, but many flavors are safe to eat including milk chocolate M&M's, dark chocolate M&M's, peanut M&M's, caramel M&M's, peanut butter M&M's and caramel cold brew M&M's.
However, not all M&M's are gluten-free, such as pretzel M&M's, crispy M&M's and many seasonal and holiday flavors.
The best way to check is by looking at the ingredients. Some M&M's flavors contain or may contain wheat or barley malt. If the package does not have those words, then the M&M's are gluten-free.
Is Snickers gluten free?
Almost all types of Snickers are considered gluten-free, as they do not contain gluten ingredients and are not processed on equipment that processes gluten-containing ingredients.
The only exception is Snickers Hi Protein bars and Snickers ice cream, which are not gluten-free.
Gluten-free seasonal holiday candies
Whether it's Halloween, Christmas or Easter, there is no better way to get into the festive mood than with candy.
Here's which candies are gluten free:
Is candy corn gluten free?
Some candy corn is gluten free, but it is important to pay attention to the brand. Always read the bag carefully to be sure.
Brach's Natural Candy Corn is labeled gluten free on the bag.
So is Jelly Belly candy corn, as all Jelly Belly products are gluten free.
If you find a bag of candy corn that is not labeled gluten free, take caution before buying it as some brands contain wheat and others are processed on shared equipment.
Are candy canes gluten free?
Like candy corn, many candy canes are gluten free, but you should always read the box first to be safe. If anything contains wheat, barley, rye or malt, or is processed on shared equipment, it is not gluten free.
Brach's Bob's Candy Canes are gluten free, including red and white peppermint and red, green and white peppermint, despite no distinct gluten-free label on the box.
Fruit-flavored candy canes made by Jelly Belly, Starburst and Lifesavers are gluten free, just like their original candy counterparts.
Are Peeps gluten free?
All Peeps are gluten free and are labeled as such on the packaging.
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Reach the reporter atendia.fontanez@gannett.com. Follow@EndiaFontanezon X, formerly Twitter.
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