This Halloween, don’t be spooked by hidden gluten in your favorite candy. In an industry that commonly handles gluten-containing ingredients like wheat in cookies or barley malt syrup as a sweetener, candy could be dangerous for those with Celiac disease or gluten intolerance. It’s important to do some research and read the labels of every candy every time. Manufacturers may change formulations or processing procedures and a previously gluten-free candy might become a dangerous indulgence seemingly overnight.
One such example is Reese’s peanut butter cups. While the regular candy bar you may find at the grocery store 12 months out of the year is gluten-free, Hershey’s states that its seasonal shaped peanut butter cups are not gluten-free. This means the pumpkin-shaped candies that debut around Halloween are not a safe choice for someone avoiding gluten and could come as a wreak havoc to those who chow down without thinking to double check the label.
More sources of hidden gluten may come in some of the popular non-chocolate candy. While candy bars with crisped rice like Crunch or Krackel contain naturally gluten-free rice, they also usually contain malt syrup which comes from barley and is therefore not a safe option. This is also the case with Rice Krispies Treats which puts them on the black list for gluten-free trick-or-treaters. Licorice also commonly contains gluten, which may come as a surprise. Popular licorice brands like Twizzlers and Red Vines have wheat flour as the second ingredient. Gluten-free licorice that’s made with modified corn or potato starch does exist, but the chances of getting it at a neighbor’s door are pretty slim.
With all the places gluten can be hiding this Halloween, it might seem like it’s not worthwhile to send a gluten-free child out trick-or-treating. However, candy companies are hearing the demands from consumers to have complete transparency when it comes to gluten, and are making this information easier to find. While the candy wrapper is the best place to check for the most up-to-date ingredient and allergen information, company websites are also great places to look for gluten-free candy listings. With the FDA now having a final definition for gluten-free food and a policy for policing this, companies are being held to a much higher standard when it comes to marking something as gluten-free.
This Halloween when the kids come home with bags and baskets full of candy, conduct a gluten inspection just like you would check for torn wrappers or unsafe items. Do some research ahead of time to know what kinds of candies to avoid and which you can tell your kids to look for. A safe Halloween is a happy one, and avoiding gluten tricks and only finding safe and sweet treats is a surefire way to guarantee a successful holiday.
