What Candy is Safe for Celiac? Your Guide to Gluten-Free Treats

October 15, 2025 •

4 min read

It is estimated that roughly 1% of the global population has celiac disease, necessitating a strictly gluten-free diet. For these individuals, enjoying candy requires careful attention to ingredients and manufacturing processes, which is why knowing what candy is safe for celiac is so important.

Quick Summary

This guide outlines which popular candy brands and products are considered safe for individuals with celiac disease. It provides essential tips for identifying hidden gluten and avoiding cross-contamination by carefully reading labels and offers insights into specific brand policies to help make safe choices when buying candy.

Key Points

Read Labels Carefully: Always check the most current ingredient list and allergen statement, as formulations can change unexpectedly.
Beware of Cross-Contamination: Many brands that use gluten-free ingredients do not use dedicated equipment, posing a risk for celiacs.
Trust Dedicated Facilities: Brands like Enjoy Life and Tootsie Roll have dedicated gluten-free production, offering higher safety assurances.
Avoid Seasonal Variations: Seasonal or specially shaped versions of popular candies (e.g., Reese's eggs) often carry cross-contamination risks.
Check Brand-Specific Lists: Reputable brands like Hershey's provide extensive, regularly updated lists of their gluten-free products online.
Identify Unsafe Ingredients: Watch out for common gluten sources like wheat, barley, and malt, which are frequently used in crispy or wafer-based candies.

Navigating the World of Gluten-Free Confections

For those with celiac disease, maintaining a strict gluten-free diet is a medical necessity to manage symptoms and prevent complications. However, gluten can lurk in unexpected places, especially in processed goods like candy, where it may be a component of flavorings, a dusting agent, or present due to shared manufacturing equipment. Fortunately, many manufacturers prioritize clear labeling and some even operate dedicated gluten-free facilities, making it possible to satisfy your sweet tooth safely.

Popular Gluten-Free Candy Brands and Products

By learning which brands have reliable gluten-free policies and products, you can make informed decisions when shopping. Remember to always double-check the most current packaging, as ingredients and production methods can change over time.

Hershey's: A Wide Array of Safe Chocolates

Hershey's provides a detailed, updated list of gluten-free products on its website, though not all their items are safe. Crucially, size and seasonal shape can affect the gluten status of a product. Safe chocolate options from Hershey's include:

Plain Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar: Only the 1.55 oz. size is labeled gluten-free.
Almond Joy: Excludes Almond Joy Pieces.
Mounds Bars
Heath Bars
Milk Duds
PayDay
Rolo Caramels in Milk Chocolate: Excludes Rolo Minis.
York Peppermint Patties: Excludes York Pieces, York Minis, and some seasonal shapes.
Select varieties of Hershey's Kisses: Including Milk Chocolate and Special Dark.
Most standard Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Reese's Pieces: Avoid seasonal shapes which pose a cross-contamination risk.

Just Born Quality Confections

Just Born is a dependable brand that offers many naturally gluten-free products. They encourage checking labels for the most up-to-date allergen information due to shared equipment risks. Their list of gluten-free candies includes:

Peeps
Hot Tamales
Mike and Ike (most varieties)
Goldenberg's Peanut Chews

Tootsie Roll Industries: Dedicated Gluten-Free Production

As of recent updates, Tootsie Roll Industries confirms all its confections are gluten-free and manufactured without gluten-containing components in their facilities, minimizing cross-contamination risk. Safe options include Tootsie Rolls and Tootsie Pops, Andes Mints, Junior Mints, Charms lollipops, Dots, and Sugar Daddy.

Smarties Candy Company

Smarties Candy Company in the U.S. explicitly labels its standard candies as gluten-free. To ensure production in a dedicated gluten-free facility, check for UPC codes beginning with “0 11206”.

Potential Risks and What to Avoid

Cross-contamination is a significant concern for individuals with celiac disease, especially when candies are made in facilities that also process gluten-containing ingredients.

Watch Out for Variations

Some brands offer both gluten-free and non-gluten-free versions of their candies. For example, while many M&M's are safe, the pretzel and crispy varieties contain gluten. Always verify the specific product.

Candies to Generally Avoid

Candies containing ingredients like wheat flour or barley malt should typically be avoided. Common examples include:

Kit Kat: Contains wheat flour in the wafer center.
Whoppers: Contains barley malt.
Twizzlers: Made with wheat flour.
Crunch Bars: Contains barley malt.
Milky Way (Original): Includes barley malt.
100 Grand: Contains barley malt.

The Importance of Reading Labels

Label reading is your most important tool for ensuring candy is safe. Manufacturer policies and ingredients can change, making the most current packaging label the definitive source of information.

Allergen Statement: U.S. regulations mandate the clear labeling of top allergens, including wheat. Look for a 'contains: wheat' declaration, but remember this doesn't cover barley or rye.
Gluten-Free Certification: Certified gluten-free products, often indicated by a GF logo, have undergone testing to meet specific standards and offer the highest level of assurance.
Cross-Contamination Warnings: Phrases like 'May contain traces of wheat' signal a risk of cross-contact and should be avoided by those with celiac disease.

How Brands Handle Gluten: A Comparison


Feature	Tootsie Roll Industries	Mars Wrigley	Enjoy Life Foods	Smarties (U.S.)
All Products GF?	Yes, all confections are gluten-free.	No, some varieties contain gluten (e.g., Crispy M&M's).	Yes, all products are certified gluten-free.	Yes, all standard candies are GF.
Dedicated Equipment?	Yes, states no gluten components are used on conveyor belts.	No, cross-contamination is a risk; does not label products as gluten-free.	Yes, baking facility is certified GF.	Yes, certain UPC codes confirm dedicated equipment.
Best Practice	Ideal for high confidence in gluten-free status due to manufacturing control.	Requires careful label reading; not ideal for those with high sensitivity.	Excellent for multi-allergen diets and guaranteed safety.	Trustworthy for standard products, check UPC for guaranteed facility status.

Conclusion

Living with celiac disease doesn't mean you have to forgo all candy. By focusing on brands with clear gluten-free policies, diligently reading ingredient labels for potential gluten sources like wheat, barley, or malt, and being mindful of cross-contamination risks, you can find safe and delicious treats. Brands with dedicated gluten-free facilities, like Tootsie Roll Industries, offer high assurance, while many popular brands also have safe options if specific product variations are chosen carefully. Always refer to the manufacturer's official website for the most up-to-date allergen information. With informed choices and careful label checks, you can enjoy candy safely.

Beyond Celiac provides an excellent resource for gluten-free living.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, most standard Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are gluten-free. However, seasonal and specially shaped versions (like Reese's Eggs or Trees) can be produced in different facilities and may carry a risk of gluten cross-contamination. Always check the label for the specific product.

Most varieties of M&M's, such as plain and peanut, do not contain gluten ingredients. However, varieties like Crispy M&M's and Pretzel M&M's are not gluten-free and must be avoided. The manufacturer, Mars Wrigley, does not label its products as certified gluten-free due to potential cross-contamination risks.

Yes, all confections produced by Tootsie Roll Industries, including Tootsie Rolls, Tootsie Pops, and Andes Mints, are considered gluten-free. The company states it does not use any gluten-containing ingredients in its manufacturing facilities, including dusting on conveyor belts.

While many varieties are safe, not all Hershey's Kisses are gluten-free. Safe varieties include the standard Milk Chocolate, Special Dark, and certain seasonal Kisses like Candy Cane. Varieties with added inclusions like pretzels or cookies are not safe. Always check the label or consult the official Hershey's website for the latest list.

Not always. While many gummy candies are inherently gluten-free, some brands use glucose syrup derived from wheat or process them on shared equipment. For example, some Haribo gummies contain wheat, while safe options can be found from YumEarth and Black Forest Gummies.

The U.S.-made Smarties candies are gluten-free. For added assurance against cross-contamination, check that the UPC number on the packaging begins with '0 11206'. This indicates it was made in a facility that produces exclusively gluten-free products.

Barley malt is an ingredient derived from barley, a gluten-containing grain. It is often used as a sweetener or flavoring agent in some candies and cereals. For individuals with celiac disease, consuming barley malt can trigger an autoimmune response, so any product containing it must be avoided.