A Guide to: What chocolate brands are gluten free?

November 9, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, a strict gluten-free diet is the only recognized treatment for celiac disease, making finding safe foods a daily necessity. For many with gluten sensitivities, chocolate is a beloved treat, but determining what chocolate brands are gluten free? requires careful label reading and knowledge of brand-specific practices to ensure a product is safe and free from cross-contamination.

Quick Summary

This guide provides a list of certified gluten-free and allergen-friendly chocolate brands, detailing the importance of reading labels, understanding certifications like GFCO, and recognizing the risks of cross-contamination. It compares brands based on their production facilities and offers practical tips for safely enjoying chocolate on a gluten-free diet.

Key Points

Certification is Key: Look for third-party certifications like GFCO to ensure a product contains less than 10-20 ppm of gluten, which is safer than relying solely on ingredient lists.
Dedicated Facilities Offer Highest Safety: Brands like Enjoy Life and No Whey! Foods, which use dedicated gluten-free facilities, provide the best protection against cross-contamination for those with celiac disease.
Major Brands Vary: Some products from big brands like Hershey's and Lindt are gluten-free, but others may not be. Always check the manufacturer's specific product lists and labels.
Read Labels Thoroughly: Always check for 'may contain' warnings, shared equipment disclaimers, and hidden gluten sources like malt, especially if not certified.
'Wheat-Free' ≠ 'Gluten-Free': A product labeled 'wheat-free' can still contain gluten from other grains like barley or rye. Check for gluten, not just wheat.
Product Formulations Change: Stay vigilant by checking labels regularly and visiting manufacturer websites for the most current information, as ingredients and processes can be altered.

Navigating the Label: Certified Gluten-Free vs. 'No Gluten Ingredients'

Understanding labels is critical when searching for gluten-free chocolate. Products labeled 'gluten-free' in the U.S. must meet the FDA standard of less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten. However, certifications from organizations like the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) often require even stricter standards, testing at 10 ppm or less, which provides increased assurance for those with high sensitivity.

A key concern is cross-contamination, especially with brands that manufacture both gluten-containing and gluten-free products on the same equipment. While cleaning procedures are followed, trace amounts of gluten can remain. For individuals with celiac disease, seeking certified gluten-free products or those made in dedicated gluten-free facilities is the safest choice. For instance, Godiva advises customers with allergies that they cannot guarantee their chocolates are free of allergens like gluten due to shared equipment.

Brands Made in Dedicated Gluten-Free Facilities

For maximum safety and minimal risk of cross-contamination, prioritize brands operating in dedicated gluten-free facilities.

Enjoy Life Foods: This brand is known for being allergen-friendly, with a facility free from gluten and 14 other common allergens. They offer various chocolate products.
No Whey! Foods: Specializing in allergen-free options, No Whey! Foods operates from a dedicated gluten-free facility and provides a range of chocolate candies and bars.
Pascha Organic: This brand offers certified organic and gluten-free vegan chocolate, including white chocolate, and is produced in a dedicated facility.

Brands with Certified Gluten-Free Products

Many brands have specific certified gluten-free products, identifiable by a certification logo, even if they use shared equipment for some of their overall production.

Endangered Species Chocolate: All of their products carry GFCO certification, although some dark chocolate is made on equipment shared with milk products.
Lily's Sweets: Several of Lily's low-sugar, stevia-sweetened chocolate bars, such as certain dark and extra dark varieties, are certified gluten-free.
Schar: Beyond their gluten-free baked goods, Schar offers certified gluten-free chocolate items like their Twin Bar.
UNREAL: This brand includes several certified gluten-free options, such as their coconut minis.

Products from Major Brands That Are Gluten-Free

Certain products from major confectionery companies are made without gluten ingredients. Consulting the manufacturer's website or reliable lists, like the Celiac Disease Foundation's, is recommended for the most current information.

Hershey's: Specific items like certain sizes of plain milk chocolate bars, select Kisses, and York Peppermint Patties are considered gluten-free by Hershey's.
Reese's: Many Reese's Peanut Butter Cup versions are gluten-free, with seasonal shapes being a common exception.
Lindt: While Lindt's facilities process gluten, some products, including certain Excellence bars and Lindor truffle flavors, are made without gluten ingredients.

Comparison of Selected Gluten-Free Chocolate Brands


Brand	Gluten-Free Certification	Dedicated Facility?	Notable Allergen-Free Claims	Key Offerings
Enjoy Life	Yes (GFCO)	Yes	Free from 14 common allergens	Baking chocolate, chocolate bars, cookies
No Whey! Foods	Yes (GFCO)	Yes	Free from Top 8 allergens + sesame	Milkless chocolate bars, chocolate candies
Endangered Species	Yes (GFCO)	No (shared equipment)	Fair Trade, Non-GMO	Variety of dark and milk chocolate bars
Lily's Sweets	Yes (GFCO)	No (shared equipment)	No added sugar, Stevia sweetened	Low-sugar dark and milk chocolate bars
Schar	Yes (GFCO)	Yes	Specializes in gluten-free products	Wafers, snack cakes, chocolate bars

Expert Tips for Choosing Gluten-Free Chocolate

Look for Certification Logos: Certification marks like GFCO or the Crossed Grain Symbol are reliable indicators of gluten-free status.
Read Ingredient Statements Carefully: Check for common gluten sources like wheat, barley, rye, malt, and malt flavoring in ingredient lists.
Be Cautious of 'May Contain' Warnings: Phrases indicating shared equipment or facilities processing wheat suggest a risk of cross-contamination and should be avoided by those with celiac disease.
Confirm with the Manufacturer: If uncertain, contact the manufacturer directly or check their official website for the most current allergen information, as product details can change.
Understand 'Wheat-Free': A 'wheat-free' label does not guarantee a product is gluten-free, as it could still contain gluten from barley or rye.

Conclusion: Finding the Right Chocolate for You

Enjoying chocolate on a gluten-free diet is possible with careful selection and label reading. Prioritizing certified gluten-free products, especially those from dedicated facilities like Enjoy Life and No Whey! Foods, significantly minimizes the risk of gluten exposure. When considering products from major brands such as Hershey's or Lindt, verify that the specific item is listed as gluten-free by the manufacturer. Relying on certification logos and diligently checking labels for hidden ingredients and cross-contamination warnings are essential practices for safely indulging in chocolate.

For additional resources on maintaining a safe gluten-free diet, refer to organizations like the Celiac Disease Foundation, which provides updated information on gluten-free foods and candies.

[Authoritative Link: Celiac Disease Foundation (https://celiac.org/gluten-free-living/gluten-free-foods/gluten-free-candy-list/)]

Frequently Asked Questions

No, not all Hershey's products are gluten-free. While certain products, like some Kisses and York Peppermint Patties, are considered gluten-free, seasonal items and those with other fillings may not be. Always check the Celiac Disease Foundation's list or the Hershey's website for specific, current product information.

For those with celiac disease or high gluten sensitivity, products that are only labeled 'made without gluten ingredients' may not be safe due to the risk of cross-contamination from shared equipment. Certified gluten-free products, which undergo stricter testing, offer greater safety.

To avoid cross-contamination, purchase chocolate that is either certified gluten-free or produced in a dedicated gluten-free facility. Always read labels to look for 'may contain' statements and avoid products processed on shared equipment.

Yes, all Endangered Species chocolate products are certified gluten-free by GFCO. While they do use shared equipment with milk products, they have rigorous cleaning protocols. Those with severe sensitivities should consider this shared-equipment risk.

Godiva does not guarantee that its products are free from gluten due to the variety of ingredients used and potential cross-contamination during manufacturing. They advise those with allergies not to consume their products.

Pure, unsweetened chocolate is naturally gluten-free. However, many chocolate products contain additives, flavorings, or are processed on equipment that also handles gluten, which introduces the risk of contamination. Always check the label.

The GFCO logo signifies that a product is certified gluten-free by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization and has been tested to contain 10 ppm of gluten or less. This provides a higher standard of assurance than simply reading an ingredient list.