Sure Foods Living – gluten-free and allergen-free living

This year’s double birthday party featured a Hawaiian theme. We went to Hawaii on vacation this summer and my girls fell in love with a hula dancer we saw. (I also encouraged the Hawaii idea so I could re-use the fish decorations I have used the last two years! I am running out of themes featuring the ocean.)

Once again, my mom made the cakes with Pamela’s chocolate cake mixes, and they were gluten-free, dairy-free, and egg-free. I have already frozen the leftovers for any future cake needs that arise — I will keep the frosting as is or scrape it off and refrost as necessary!

We had 12 little girls and invited the parents to stay for food and Mai Tais made with my husband’s grandfather’s secret Mai Tai recipe from Hawaii. You only needed one!
The gluten-free dinner menu included:

• Quinoa tabouleh salad with cucumber, tomatoes, green onions, mint, parsley, lemon juice, feta cheese
• Black bean salad with corn, jicama, red pepper, and cucumber, tossed in a vinaigrette
• Oven roasted baby gold potatoes
• Barbecued Aidell’s chicken apple and cajun style andouille sausages
• Freshly cut pineapple

The party was a success, complete with tiki mask pinata, treasure hunt and a spontaneous dance party at the end. It is hilarious to hear 6 and 4 year olds singing, “All the single ladies!” They are growing up too fast!

Past birthday posts:
Happy Birthday to my girls and wow! gluten-free mermaid cakes! 2009
Happy Birthday to my girls 2008

Well, we did it today. We did the egg challenge. The way it turned out was not at all what I expected. I documented the whole thing as it was happening, not knowing what the outcome would be as I scribbled my notes.

I brought my daughter in to the doctor at 9:15, one scrambled egg in tote (to find out why I decided to have her do an egg challenge, please read Adventures in Food Allergy Testing Part 1). I was also armed with ketchup, salt, some bread (egg-free) and some turkey, just in case she didn’t like the egg and I had to doctor it up. The taste of the egg wasn’t a problem at all. Here’s how the rest of the egg challenge went down:

9:25 am: She eats a tiny amount of egg. “Yummy,” she says and the doctor says, “She likes it — that’s good.” I am surprised she likes it so much.

9:35 am: Doctor comes in and examines her throat, face, skin and breath. There is no reaction. He says to eat a larger amount, so she eats about a teaspoonful. After a few minutes she says her ears itch inside a little and her tummy hurts a teeny, tiny bit. But after another few minutes, she doesn’t seem to be having any problem and continues to watch the movie on the DVD player I brought. She is even singing with the movie. 15 minutes later she says her tummy hurts again, but then she gets a drink of water and says she is fine.

10:00 am: Doctor checks her again, sees no sign of reaction and says she can eat 3 bites of egg. She again says “It’s yummy.” The doctor says again that the fact she likes it is a good sign.

10:25 am: Doctor checks her again. So far, so good. Now I am starting to get a little excited, thinking we are in the clear. She is excited too, but I tell her that we are not done and that she gets to eat the rest of the egg now. She doesn’t really want to, but she is motivated by the possibility of getting to eat eggs in the future. She takes a few bites and then says that her tummy hurts. She finishes the egg at 10:35.

10:45 am: She scratches her chin and I see that there is a little hive there. She is using her upper teeth to scratch her lower lip, where I see another hive and she is simultaneously scratching her lower arm where there is another hive. I go get the doctor. He checks her throat and says it is okay. She is feeling more and more itchy and uncomfortable. He gives her allergy medication (Zirtec) and wants to give her an adrenaline shot. I look at him wide-eyed — really? A shot of epinephrine? Is that necessary? I don’t want to freak her out and he says okay, we can wait and see and gives her an asthma pill just in case. By now, her eyes are really red and itching like crazy. Her tummy is hurting, she’s feeling awful and starts crying, “I want to go home!” As she is deteriorating before our eyes, the doctor says she needs the shot to reverse the symptoms more quickly. The nurse gives her a small dose (.5mg) of epinephrine in her arm. The regular epinephrine shot, most commonly known as the Epi-Pen, is .15mg and is administered in the thigh muscle for the fastest absorption into the body. When given in the subcutaneous fat level of the arm, it is absorbed more slowly. The doctor felt that this was all she would need. Nope.

11:10 am: She is lying down, feeling a little better. Her eyes are still itching like crazy, but she refuses to try eye drops to relieve them. She is really congested and begins to cough. The doctor checks her and finds that she has swelling in the right side of her throat. The coughing is a sign that her airways are being affected. The doctor orders another adrenaline shot, this time .1mg. I ask if this is a considered an anaphylactic reaction. The answer is yes, and this is why you do food challenges in the doctor’s office. No eggs for her, in any way, shape or form. I am feeling shocked. I thought she might have a rash today at most.

11:35 am: She is a little hyper from the adrenaline and feeling better. The doctor warned me that she might get pale lips from the epinephrine. Yes, her lips are looking pale.

11:50 am: I am reading a book to my daughter who is sitting on my lap when the doctor comes in for another check. “Flushed,” he says. I turn her around and my eyes must have bugged out of my head. Her face, chest and back are flushed so red she looks like she has a really bad sunburn. She also has a few hives on her back. “I think her reaction would have been much worse without the medication,” says the doctor. He checks her heart rate and it is okay, but because she is so flushed, he orders a third shot of epinephrine, this time .5mg. The red is traveling slowly down her body, and eventually reaches her legs, which eventually also look sunburned. She is cold, so they bring her a blanket. She is feeling much better and is in good spirits, but we have to stay another hour.

1:00 pm: After a few more checkups, the doctor determines that nothing is progressing any further and that we can go. She is still really red, but other than that, she is okay. She wouldn’t resume her normal color for another hour.

Before we left the doctor’s office, I confirmed with him that had this happened out in the world, I should have given her the Epi-Pen. Absolutely. “And even if you aren’t sure, just give it.”

So many thoughts have been swirling in my head since this experience. The first is, I can’t believe I didn’t cry. I was quite unemotional and I’m not sure why — maybe I was in shock? Or maybe because I felt like I was part of a science experiment. Or was it because I was playing it cool for my daughter’s sake so she wouldn’t freak out? It is sad news: my daughter had an anaphylactic reaction to an egg. So… we will continue to avoid egg, but be even more careful about it.

Another thought: Did I have false hope? With the 50% chance given by my doctor, I figured it was worth the gamble to try the egg. If we could have added it back into her diet, it would have been like winning a jackpot.

The most important realization of all: THIS IS REAL. FOOD ALLERGIES ARE REAL. Dare I say that part of me has at times wondered if she really was allergic to all these foods, that maybe the tests are overdiagnosing as several past news articles and editorial pieces have suggested, that maybe her tests weren’t accurate, that since we’ve never had to use the Epi-Pen, maybe we wouldn’t really need to. Even though this day did not bring me the happy results I wanted, it did bring me clarity. It brought me resolve to stay vigilant in protecting my daughter. It brought me confirmation that we need to continue to raise awareness about food allergies. After what I saw happen right in front of me today, I know for sure that they are real.

Related reading: Diary of a gluten poisoning

I am writing this post to help others who might need to go through allergy testing with their children. I was anxious before knowing what to expect and searched the web hoping to read about others’ experiences. Here is one of mine…

Last week I brought my 5 (almost 6) year old daughter in to the allergist to repeat some food allergy tests. My primary motive was to get her cleared for eggs.  When she was a toddler, she got a rash on her face and body when she ate eggs. When I brought her in for skin allergy testing at age 18 months, she tested positive for eggs. We have avoided eggs ever since, but an article in Allergic Living magazine called Allergy Breakthrough on Baked Milk and Egg inspired me to take her back in.

In addition, my allergist has assured me every time we visit that most of his egg-allergic patients eventually outgrow their egg allergy. To add eggs into her diet would be so helpful as cooking and baking gluten-free is challenging enough!

I was also hoping that I could add almonds into her diet. She had consistently tested negative for almonds, but we were advised to avoid all nuts because she tested high for peanuts, cashews and pistachios. There is a lot of cross-contamination with nuts, and possible confusion about which nuts are safe and which are not — better to just avoid them all. But, I thought, if I could ensure that certain almonds or almond products were not contaminated with other nuts, there would be another food I could add to her diet.

At the allergist’s office this time, they tested her for the following: eggs, almonds, 6 different types of shellfish (she had tested allergic to shellfish before), and many different environmental allergens including grass, various pollens, cat and dog. The environmental allergens were done because she has been having itchy eyes and a stuffy and irritated nose, and the allergist said that her nose was swollen inside.

The test consisted of 3 sets of “stamps” on her back, and then one on her arm. The stamps are 6 tiny little pricks with a different allergen going into the skin. If a “wheal” or a welt shows up, it means that the person is reacting to the allergen. When she was younger she completely freaked out about the prick tests, but this time she didn’t even flinch. I’m glad she couldn’t see the egg reaction developing on her back though.

Here are the results of the skin prick test:

• Egg: positive
• Almond: positive
• Shellfish: negative
• Environmental allergens: all or almost all positive

Here are the recommendations from the doctor:

• Egg: do an egg challenge in the office. The doctor says that even among kids with a positive skin test for eggs, 50% can actually tolerate eggs. The egg challenge is scheduled for June 23rd. She will, over a few hours, consume one cooked egg as she is being monitored for a reaction. We’ll see what happens!
• Almonds: forget it. All nuts are out. No challenge because nuts are considered risky.
• Shellfish: looks like she is cleared for shellfish, although he wants to do a shellfish challenge in his office given the fact that I think I am allergic to shrimp and abalone and don’t eat it anymore (based on experience). But for the most part, it’s looking good!
• Environmental: “Close the windows.” Yes, that was really the advice from the doctor. And Claritin as needed.

Stay tuned for Adventures in Food Allergy Testing Part 2 after we do the egg challenge on June 23rd!

If we had to be just gluten-free in my family, that would be easy with so many great gluten-free products on the market now. But my older daughter is allergic to eggs, and many gluten-free products contain eggs or call for eggs in their recipes. Making good, fluffy gluten-free and egg-free pancakes is one of the biggest challenges.

One mix that I have found to work really well is The Cravings Place All-Purpose Pancake and Waffle Mix. None of the mixes made by The Cravings Place contain nor require the use of eggs. This mix is easy to use — you just pour out as much mix as you want, then add water until it is the right consistency for pancakes. I usually make little pancakes and they always turn out light and fluffy.

Lately I have been adding teff flour to the dry mix before adding the water. I don’t measure — just dump some in. The teff ups the nutrition of the pancakes, and amazingly, the fluffiness isn’t compromised. It turns the pancakes from white to brown with the teff added in, but my 5 year old daughter didn’t mind, especially when I told her that teff makes people run really fast! I tried adding quinoa flour this morning, but the taste and smell of the quinoa was too strong. I’ll stick with teff.

From the company’s website:
“This mix was designed especially for children so the flavor is very mild. This is a great thing so depending on your dietary restictions add your favorite ingredients such as fruit, nuts, oats or flavorings to create your own yummy recipes.”

Ingredients:
BROWN RICE FLOUR, WHITE RICE FLOUR, VANILLA BEAN POWDER (vanilla beans, corn based dextrose), SEA SALT, XANTHAN GUM, NON-ALUMINUM BAKING POWDER (sodium acid pyrophosphate, bicarbonate of soda, corn starch (from non GMO corn), calcium acid phosphate), BAKING SODA.

The Cravings Place mixes are produced in a dedicated allergen free facility. I buy the mixes 6 at a time on Amazon.

If you know of any other good gluten-free egg-free pancakes, feel free to leave the info in a comment!

Easter is coming quickly! Are you ready?

Let’s cut to the chase! This list is by no means complete… but here are some ideas. You can also check out last year’s Easter article. Post more ideas in the comments if you have them!

JELLY BEANS:

• Jelly Belly
  • Gluten-free
  • Free of top 8 allergens (wheat, milk, soy*, nuts, peanuts, egg, fish, shellfish)
    
  • SuperFruit flavors are made with all natural colors and flavors and was recently accepted by Feingold Association.
  • Allergen info (via web March 2010):
    *Soy lecithin is used on Chocolate Pudding flavor.
    Are your Jelly Belly jelly beans gluten-free?
    All flavors of Jelly Belly beans are free of gluten. We do not use any wheat, rye, barley, or oats in the basic recipe for Jelly Belly jelly beans. The modified food starch listed on the package is cornstarch.
    If I am allergic to peanuts, can I eat Jelly Belly jelly beans?
    Please continue to carefully check all ingredient statements on packages and bulk bins for peanut ingredients.  We discontinued Peanut Butter flavor of Jelly Belly beans (this flavor contained peanut butter and peanut flour) however, it is possible this flavor may still be included in packages sold in retail stores.
    None of the other flavors of Jelly Belly beans contain peanuts as an ingredient.  We no longer process peanuts in our manufacturing plants.
    Are Jelly Belly jelly beans dairy-free?
    Yes.  We work very closely with all of our ingredient suppliers to ensure that all ingredients are free of dairy.
    
• Surf Sweets
  • Gluten-free
  • Free of top 8 allergens (wheat, milk, soy*, nuts, peanuts, egg, fish, shellfish)
  • Allergen Info (via web March 2010):
    Are your products gluten-free and casein-free? Yes, all of our products are both gluten-free and casein-free. Casein is the protein found in dairy.
    Are your products peanut-free? Yes, all of our products do not contain peanuts and are produced and packaged in a facility free of peanuts.
    Are your products produced and/or packaged in a facility with other common allergens? No, our products are produced in a facility free of: wheat, dairy, soy, eggs, tree nuts, nuts, fish, and shellfish.
    Surf Sweets products are made with natural colors and flavors, organic fruit juice and sweeteners, and provide you with your daily allowance of Vitamin C. We are also one of the only candies made without corn syrup.
• Gimbal’s
  • Gluten-free
  • Free of top 8 allergens (wheat, milk, soy, nuts, peanuts, egg, fish, shellfish)
  • Allergen info (via web March 2010):
    Gimbal’s Fine Candies facilities are free of these eight most common food allergens.
• Just Born
  • Gluten-free
  • Free of top 8 allergens (wheat, milk, soy, nuts, peanuts, egg, fish, shellfish)
  • Allergen info (via phone March 2010)
    Please always check packaging as ingredients can change from year to year, but at this time, the jelly beans are free of gluten and the top 8 allergens.
• Update: Jolly Rancher, Starburst, Lifesaver and Mike & Ike Jelly Beans are all free of the top 8 allergens!

BUNNIES & CHICKS & EGGS, oh my!

• Peeps
  • Gluten-free (including chocolate covered peeps)
  • Regular peeps are free of top 8 allergens (wheat, milk, soy, nuts, peanuts, egg, fish, shellfish). Chocolate covered peeps contain dairy and have an allergen warning for peanut, tree nut, egg and coconut.
    
  • Allergen info (via phone March 2010)
    Please always check packaging as ingredients can change from year to year, but at this time, Peeps are free of gluten and the top 8 allergens.
• Hershey’s
  • Check label!
  • Stay away from Robin Eggs! These are Whoppers in an Easter disguise, and they contain gluten.
  • Hershey’s allergen info:
    The Hershey Company strives to provide its consumers with accurate, reliable ingredient statements upon which consumers can make their purchase decision. The Hershey Company has an Allergy Task Force that ensures that the ingredient statements are always accurate, and that any allergen statements placed on the label is understandable. Do your products share plants & equipment? We take food allergies very seriously at Hershey and have strict procedures in place to prevent crossover of allergens into other products that do not contain the allergen. In instances where we have a concern about possible crossover by an allergen we take the added precaution of including an allergy information statement on the label.
• Make your own chocolate eggs and lollipops!
  If you’re worried about the ingredients in the available chocolates out there, trying making your own! Here’s how I did it:
  1. I got Easter egg and bunny lollipop molds at a baking supply store (Cake Art).
  2. I used Enjoy Life chocolate chips.
  3. I tempered the chocolate in the microwave (see end of post for instructions), poured it in, and let it set in refrigerator.
  4. I wrapped the little chocolates with colored foil and the lollipops with clear plastic and a pretty ribbon.
  5. I marveled at my work — it was so easy I couldn’t believe it!
• Garnish baked goods with bunnies and other Easter decor
  If you can’t actually find a bunny to eat, then stick one on top of a treat! Last year I made these mini-cupcakes using Pamela’s Vanilla and Chocolate cake and frosting mixes, with Wilton sprinkles and some bunny decorations. They were a hit and I will be making something similar again this year.

How to temper chocolate in a microwave oven to make chocolate molds (from the Guittard website):

1. Place chocolate in a microwave-proof bowl. Place the bowl of chocolate in the microwave oven. Set power level to 5 or 50%. Set time to 30 seconds. Heat for 30 seconds.
2. Take the bowl out of microwave oven and use a rubber spatula in a gentle sweeping motion to stir the chocolate, even if none of it has become liquid yet.
3. Return the bowl to the microwave oven. Heat for 30 seconds more. Remove. And stir.
4. Repeat the intervals of heating and stirring until about two-thirds of the chunks become liquid and about one-third are in soft lumps. The temperature of the liquid chocolate at this point will be about 100°. Continually stir to cool the chocolate until the soft lumps disappear and the temperature lowers to 89°F.
5. At this point the chocolate should be in temper and ready to use.

Remember animal cookies or animal crackers from our childhood? What fun to experience them again through your kid’s eyes! But if your child can’t have gluten or has other food allergies, most animal cookies are off-limits. Don’t worry… there are several brands now making them free of gluten and other allergens!

Kinnikinnick Foods

In addition to being gluten-free, Kinnikinnick’s animal cookeis are also dairy-free, nut-free and egg-free. (They contain soy lecithin and pea protein.) Three flavors of animal cookies are available:

• Kinnikritter Animal Cookies
• Kinnikritter Chocolate Animal Cookies
• Kinnikritter Graham Style Animal Cookies

Orgran

In addition to being gluten-free, Orgran’s animal cookies are also dairy-free, egg-free, and nut-free. Several flavors of animal cookies available:

• Outback Animals Vanilla (also in Mini)
• Outback Animals Chocolate (also in Mini)
• Itsy Bitsy Bears

Nature’s Path Organic

In addition to being gluten-free, Nature’s Path’s animal cookies  are also egg-free, dairy-free and nut-free. (They do contain soy.) Flavor:

• Envirokidz Vanilla Animal Cookies

Jo-Sefs Gluten Free

In addition to being gluten-free, Jo-Sefs animal cookies are dairy/casein-free, lactose-free, egg-free, and nut-free. (They contain soy.) Products are processed in a dedicated nut free and gluten-free kosher facility. Flavors available:

• Vanilla Animal Cookies
• Chocolate Animal Cookies

Mi-Del

Not all cookie flavors made by this company are gluten-free, but the Arrowroot Animal Cookies are. They do contain egg, soy and milk. Regarding nuts, the website says: “Only Pecans are run on the MI-DEL line of bagged cookies. Peanut Butter Cremes are sometimes produced on the same line that makes the MI-DEL Sandwich Cookies but strict sanitation/allergen procedures are in place to avoid any potential contamination.” Flavor available:

• Arrowroot Animal Cookies

Now go make that little person in your life happy!

Are you ready to navigate Thanksgiving with celiac disease, gluten intolerance or food allergies? Need some help? Here are some tips about those traditional Thanksgiving dishes to help you get through this food-centered holiday!

THE TURKEY

Turkey by itself is naturally gluten-free, of course, but turkeys that are prepared for roasting may have added gluten. Be sure to check labels for “wheat” (which must by law be declared on a label) or for “natural flavorings” (which could have hidden sources of gluten). And definitely steer clear of those gravy packets that come with some turkeys — they are sure to contain wheat flour.

THE GRAVY

Gravy is almost always thickened with wheat flour. To make a gluten-free gravy, use sweet rice flour (also known as mochiko), cornstarch, arrowroot powder/starch or tapioca flour. Be sure to mix any of these with a little water or broth before whisking into the gravy.

Gravy can also contain dairy, as many people like to add butter, milk or cream.

THE STUFFING

Stuffing is made with bread (and therefore, gluten) — no wonder everyone feels stuffed afterword! Gluten-free stuffing is just as easy to make and you won’t have to unbutton the top of your pants after you’re done!

Try this recipe for gluten-free dairy-free stuffing that I have made many times.

Or, try this easy gluten-free bread stuffing recipe from Whole Foods using their gluten-free bread.

Or, if you like cornbread stuffing, make gluten-free cornbread with Pamela’s Cornbread and Muffin Mix and then use it in any old cornbread stuffing recipe and voila! Everybody will LOVE it! There’s even a recipe for Southern Cornbread Dressing on the bag of cornbread mix, and Karina’s got a new yummy-looking gluten-free cornbread stuffing recipe too.

For those with egg allergies, watch out for the bread in the stuffing since it could contain eggs. Some stuffing recipes call for eggs to be added to the entire stuffing mixture.

For those with nut allergies, watch out for chestnuts, and other tree nuts, which are very commonly used in stuffing.

THE MASHED POTATOES

No worries about gluten in mashed potatoes (usually), but they often contain dairy — people add butter and sour cream to make them creamy. Want to make your own creamy mashed potatoes? Try this creamy dairy free mashed potatoes recipe or this allergy free mashed potatoes recipe.

Mashed sweet potatoes or sweet potato gratin dishes also usually contain dairy due to the added butter. And if your family has served that weird sweet potato dish with marshmallows on top (mine has), watch out for pecans you have a nut allergy.

THE PIE (I’m talking pumpkin of course!)

I have never been a fan of pumpkin pie, but it is good to know that I wouldn’t have to give it up if I did like it! The “regular” ones contain wheat of course, but there are a lot of great gluten-free and dairy-free pumpkin pie recipes out there:

Dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free pumpkin pie recipe from Go Dairy Free

Crustless gluten-free pumpkin pie from gfe — gluten-free easily

Gluten-free dairy-free egg-free pumpkin pie from Karina’s Kitchen

Not a baker?
Get your hands on a gluten-free dairy-free pumpkin tart from Crave Bakery or a Whole Foods Bakehouse pumpkin pie.

Well, I hope this helps a little, and remember:
The day is not just about the food, so give thanks for what you HAVE in your life, rather than dwelling on what you don’t! Happy Thanksgiving, and feel free to add more recipe ideas and tips in the comments!

THE LIST BELOW IS FROM 2009. PLEASE GO TO THE UPDATED LIST: Allergen-Free Halloween Candy Quick List 2010

This is a quick list of Halloween candy (October 2009) that is gluten-free and free of the top 8 allergens. Note: I do not include coconut as a tree nut. Please, as always, double check ingredients and also check with the child’s parents before giving them any candy or allowing them to eat anything! I will not be held liable for any accident occurring due to the use of this list. It is meant as a guide only.

For a more complete listing, along with allergy statements, please read the Halloween Candy List – Gluten-Free Allergen-Free – 2009. For a gluten-free listing only, please read the Gluten-Free Halloween Candy Quick List.

AIRHEADS

• Airheads Pops
• Whistle Pops

ANNIE’S

• Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks
  

CADBURY ADAMS

• Swedish Fish
• Sour Patch Soft and Chewy Candy Kids

CE DE CANDY

• Smarties
• Bubble Gum Smarties
• Candy Money
• Smarties in a Pouch
• Tropical Smarties
• X-TREME Sour Smarties
• Smarties Parties
• Smarties Double Lollies
• Smarties Mega Lollies
• Smarties Pops

ENJOY LIFE

• Boom CHOCO Boom Dark Chocolate Bar
• Boom CHOCO Boom Crispy Rice Bar
• Boom CHOCO Boom Milk Bar

FARLEY’S AND SATHER’S

• Super Bubble and Super Bubble Blast (manufactured in a facility that manufactures products containing traces of eggs)
  
• Rain-Blo Pops (manufactured in a facility that manufactures products containing traces of milk and peanuts)
  
• Atomic Fireball (manufactured in a facility that manufactures products containing traces of milk, egg, peanuts, tree nuts and/or soy protein)
• Jawbreakers (manufactured in a facility that manufactures products containing traces of milk, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts and/or soy protein)
• Trolli Gummi Bears, Trolli Sour Brite (Frite) Crawlers, Jujufruits (made in allergen-free facility but packaged on equipment that packages products containing traces of milk, wheat, egg, peanuts, tree nuts and/or soy protein)
• Smarties
• Sweetarts (manufactured in a facility that manufactures products with traces of eggs and soy protein)
  
• Brach’s Candy Corn and Gummi Candy Corn (not flavored candy corns)
  • “packaged on equipment that also packages products containing milk, egg, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts and/or soy protein.”
• Brach’s Mellowcreme Pumpkins
  • “Packaged on equipment that also packages products containing traces of milk, egg, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, and/or soy protein.”
    
• Jujyfruits and Friends (Heide candies)

FERRARA PAN

Some packages state: “this product was manufactured in a facility where peanuts, almonds, milk, cashews, macadamias, pistachios, soy and egg are used in the production of other products.”

• Chewy Atomic Fireballs
• Lemonhead
• Red Hots
• Chewy Lemonhead and Friends
• Applehead, Grapehead, Cherryhead
• Jawbreakers

HERSHEY

• Jolly Rancher Hard Candy
• Jolly Rancher Hard Candy Sticks

JELLY BELLY

• Jelly Belly Jelly Beans

JUST BORN

• Mike & Ike
• Hot Tamales
• Peeps Pumpkins and Ghosts

MARS and WRIGLEY

• Starburst
• Skittles
  
• Skittles Sour
• Lifesavers Hard Candy fruit flavors
• Lifesavers Pops
• Lifesavers Gummies

PURE FUN

• Lollipops
• Cotton Candy
• Hard Candies
• Chocolate Meltdowns

SPANGLER (may contain traces of soy oil)

• Dum Dums
• Chewy Pops
• Saf-T-Pops
• Circus Peanuts

SURF SWEETS

• Gummy Worms
• Gummy Swirls
• Gummy Bears
• Fruity Bears
• Jelly Beans
• Sour Worms
• Sour Berry Bears

TOOTSIE

• Dots
• Bat Dots
• Candy Corn Dots
• Ghost Dots

WELCH’S

• Fruit Snacks

WONKA

• Bottlecaps
• Everlasting Gobstopper
• Chewy Gobstopper
• Runts (not Chewy),
  
• Fun Dip and Fun Dip Sour
• Pixy Stix
  
• Sweetarts (regular)
• Tart N Tinys
• Nerds

YUMMY EARTH

• Lollipops
• Candy Drops
• Gummy Bears
• Gummy Worms

Looking for non-candy ideas for Halloween? Read How to have an allergy-free Halloween.

THE LIST BELOW IS FROM 2009. PLEASE GO TO THE UPDATED LIST:
Gluten-Free Allergen-Free Halloween Candy List 2010

The gluten-free allergen-free Halloween candy list is here! It’s that time of year again — the decorations are starting to appear, the scary costumes are peering out of store windows, and my children are already excited and talking about the candy they get to eat. Halloween is coming, but don’t get spooked! I have made things easy for you again this year with a list of Halloween candy available, both mainstream and specialty, and their gluten-free and allergen-free status.

Each candy shows if it contains wheat/gluten, milk (dairy), soy, egg, nuts, or peanuts (6 of the top 8 allergens — fish and shellfish are not present in any of the candies on this list.) Note: I do not include coconut as a tree nut. Please, as always, double check ingredients and also check with the child’s parents before giving them any candy or allowing them to eat anything! I will not be held liable for any accident occurring due to the use of this list. It is meant as a guide only.

In a hurry? Check out these:
Gluten-Free Halloween Candy Quick List
Gluten-Free and Allergen-Free Halloween Candy Quick List

Mainstream candy listed by brand, in alphabetical order:

AIRHEADS

• Airheads Bars regular and sour
  • Free of: peanuts, nuts, egg, milk
  • Contains: soybean oil, “processed in a facility that processes wheat flour”
• Airheads Xtremes Rolls
  • Free of: peanuts, nuts, egg, milk
  • Contains: wheat flour, soybean oil
• Airheads Pops and Whistle Pops
  • Free of: peanuts, nuts, egg, milk, soy, wheat
  • Contains: none of the top 8 allergens

ANNABELLE’S

• Big Hunk
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, milk, tree nuts
  • Contains: peanuts, eggs, soy lecithin, “made in a facility that uses milk, egg, treenuts, wheat and peanuts”
• Rocky Road
  • Free of: none of top 8!
  • Contains: milk, tree nuts (cashews), wheat/gluten (barley malt and wheat flour), soybean oil, “may contain peanuts, eggs, and flour”

CADBURY ADAMS

• Swedish Fish
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg, milk, soy
  • Contains: none of the top 8 allergens
• Sour Patch Soft and Chewy Candy Kids
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg, milk, soy
  • Contains: none of the top 8 allergens

CE DE CANDY

• Smarties, Bubble Gum Smarties, Candy Money, Love Hearts, Smarties in a Pouch, Tropical Smarties, X-TREME Sour Smarties, Easter Smarties, Smarties Parties, Smarties Double Lollies, Smarties Mega Lollies, Smarties Pops
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, milk, nuts, peanuts, egg, soy
  • Contains: None of top 8 allergens

Allergen Statement (via web Oct 09): Smarties® and our entire line of products are free from all the known allergens, and they do not appear anywhere in our manufacturing facilities. Our new item, Bubble Gum Smarties®, may contain minute traces of soy lecithin. We sell our products to many different classifications of trade, including “re-baggers.” A “re-bagger” buys products from many different companies and re-bags them in their own packaging. We cannot verify whether their manufacturing plants are free of nuts, soy, etc. If the UPC number on the packaging begins with “0 11206″, you can be assured that it was manufactured in one of our facilities and that it is allergen free.
Gluten Statement: Smarties® and our entire line of products are gluten free. If the UPC number on the packaging begins with “0 11206″, you can be assured that it is manufactured in a facility that is gluten free and safe to eat if you have Celiac Disease.

FARLEY’S AND SATHER’S

• Super Bubble and Super Bubble Blast
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg, milk, soy
  • Contains: none of the top 8 allergens, but manufactured in a facility that manufactures products containing traces of eggs
    
• Rain-Blo Pops
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg, milk, soy
  • Contains: none of the top 8 allergens, but manufactured in a facility that manufactures products containing traces of milk and peanuts
    
• Atomic Fireball
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg, milk, soy
  • Contains: none of the top 8 allergens, but manufactured in a facility that manufactures products containing traces of milk, egg, peanuts, tree nuts and/or soy protein.
• Jawbreakers
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg, milk, soy
  • Contains: none of the top 8 allergens, but manufactured in a facility that manufactures products containing traces of milk, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts and/or soy protein.
• Trolli Gummi Bears, Trolli Sour Brite (Frite) Crawlers, Jujufruits
  
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg, milk, soy
  • Contains: none of the top 8 allergens, but made in allergen-free facility but packaged on equipment that packages products containing traces of milk, wheat, egg, peanuts, tree nuts and/or soy protein.
• Smarties
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg, milk, soy
  • Contains: none of the top 8 allergens
• Sweetarts
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg, milk, soy
  • Contains: none of the top 8 allergens, but manufactured in a facility that manufactures products with traces of eggs and soy protein
    
• Now and Later regular
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, milk, eggs
    
  • Contains: soy (lecithin and oil)
• Now and Later Soft
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, milk
  • Contains: egg, soy (lecithin and oil), manufactured in a facility with products containing traces of milk
    
• Brach’s Candy Corn and Gummi Candy Corn (not flavored candy corns — see below)
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg, milk, soy
  • Contains: none of the top 8 allergens, contains sesame oil, on package it states: “packaged on equipment that also packages products containing milk, egg, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts and/or soy protein.”
• Brach’s Caramel Candy Corn, Caramel Apple Candy Corn, Chocolate Caramel Candy Corn
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg
  • Contains: milk, soybean oil, sesame oil, on package: “packaged on equipment that also packages products containing traces of milk, egg, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, and/or soy protein”
• Brach’s Mellowcreme Pumpkins
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg, milk, soy
  • Contains: none of the top 8 allergens, states on package: “Packaged on equipment that also packages products containing traces of milk, egg, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, and/or soy protein.”
    
• Jujyfruits and Friends (Heide candies)
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg, milk, soy
  • Contains: none of the top 8 allergens

Allergen Info (via web Oct 09): For product specific information regarding the Big 8 allergens and cross-contamination associated with these allergens, please contact Farleys & Sathers Candy Company, Inc. Consumer Relations at 1-888-247-9855 or complete our Feedback form to receive information. Due to changes that may occur in the manufacturing and packaging environments, Farley’s & Sathers Candy Company, Inc. does not provide allergen or gluten free lists.

FERRARA PAN

• Chewy Atomic Fireballs, Lemonhead, Red Hots, Chewy Lemonhead and Friends, Applehead, Grapehead, Cherryhead, Jawbreakers
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg, milk, soy
  • Contains: none of the top 8 allergens, states on packages of some: “this product was manufactured in a facility where peanuts, almonds, milk, cashews, macadamias, pistachios, soy and egg are used in the production of other products.”

Allergen Info (via web Oct 09): Do you process and pack products that contain allergens? We manufacture and pack products made with Peanuts, Almonds, Milk, Egg and Soy in our facilities. We have common use lines which means we process and pack products which contain allergens on the same lines on which we process and pack products which do not contain allergens. Ferrara Pan has established an Allergen Policy which calls for the segregation of allergen-containing products from those products which do not contain allergens. The Allergen Policy also calls for the segregation of different allergen-containing products and ingredients from each other.

Ferrara Pan’s Allergen Policy requires a thorough, monitored cleaning of the common use lines when switching from allergen-containing products to non allergen-containing products, and requires multi-departmental inspections as well as stringent verification procedures. The precautions and procedures which Ferrara Pan has implemented are in place to assure our customers that Ferrara Pan manufactures its food products in a safe and responsible manner. However, because Ferrara Pan recognizes the serious challenges which people with food allergies face when making their food choices, we disclose to our customers that certain allergens are used in our facilities and those products containing allergens are manufactured and packed on the same lines as products which do not contain allergens.

Gluten-Free Info: No Ferrara Pan products are packed on equipment that is also used to pack a product that contains wheat, oat, rye or barley gluten. No Ferrara Pan products contain wheat, oat, rye or barley. No Ferrara Pan products are made from derivatives of wheat, oat, rye or barley. No Ferrara Pan products are made with wheat, oat, rye or barley gluten. No Ferrara Pan products are made on equipment that is also used to make a product that contains wheat, oat, rye or barley gluten.

Gluten-free products: All Gummies Ferrara or Black Forest, All Jellies (Gum Drops, Orange Slices, etc…), All the Headlines (Lemonhead, Applehead, Grapehead, etc…), All Jujus, All Jelly Beans, Sour Jacks, Cherry Sours, Boston Baked Beans, Atomic Fireballs, Jawbreakers (Jawbusters), Red Hots, Chewy Lemonhead & Friends, Chewy Atomic Fireballs, Fruit Snacks, Chocolate (Almonds, Peanuts, Raisins)-Dairy

HERSHEY

• Kit Kat
  • Free of: tree nuts, egg
  • Contains: wheat/gluten, milk, soy (lecithin), “manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts”
    
• Twizzlers
  • Free of: tree nuts, egg, milk, soy, peanuts
  • Contains: wheat/gluten
• Whoppers
  • Free of: tree nuts, egg, peanuts
  • Contains: wheat/gluten (barley malt and wheat flour), milk, soy (lecithin)
• Milk Chocolate Bars
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, tree nuts, egg, peanuts
  • Contains: milk, soy (lecithin), manufactured on the same equipment that manufactures almonds”
    
• Milk Duds
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, egg, nuts, peanuts
  • Contains: milk, soy (lecithin)
• Heath Minis
  • Free of: gluten/wheat, egg, peanuts
  • Contains: milk, soy (lecithin), almonds
• Kisses, Special Dark Kisses
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, tree nuts, peanuts, egg
    
  • Contains: milk, soy lecithin
    
• Almond Joy
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, egg, peanuts
    
  • Contains: milk, almonds, soy (lecithin and oil), “manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts”
• Mounds
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, egg, peanuts
    
  • Contains: milk, almonds, soy (lecithin and oil), “manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts”
• Mr. Goodbar
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, egg, tree nuts
    
  • Contains: milk, peanuts, soy (lecithin)
• Baby Ruth
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, tree nuts, egg
  • Contains: peanuts, milk, soy (lecithin and oil)
• Jolly Rancher Hard Candy and Hard Candy Sticks
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, egg, nuts, peanuts, milk, soy (except for Jolly Rancher Doubles and Pops contain soy lecithin)
  • Contains: none of the top 8 allergens, except for Jolly Rancher Doubles and Pops contain soy lecithin
• Reese’s
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, egg, tree nuts
    
  • Contains: soy, peanuts, milk

Allergen Info (via web Oct 09): How does The Hershey Company manage allergies? The Hershey Company strives to provide its consumers with accurate, reliable ingredient statements upon which consumers can make their purchase decision. The Hershey Company has an Allergy Task Force that ensures that the ingredient statements are always accurate, and that any allergen statements placed on the label is understandable. Do your products share plants & equipment? We take food allergies very seriously at Hershey and have strict procedures in place to prevent crossover of allergens into other products that do not contain the allergen. In instances where we have a concern about possible crossover by an allergen we take the added precaution of including an allergy information statement on the label.

JELLY BELLY

• Jelly Belly Jelly Beans
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, milk, nuts, peanuts, egg, soy
  • Contains: None of top 8 allergens

Allergen info (via email Oct 09): Jelly Belly beans are gluten-free, dairy-free and OU kosher. There are no eggs, fish or shellfish. Soy lecithin is used on Chocolate Pudding flavor. Otherwise no soy products. Some packages still on the market will carry an allergy statement “made in a plant that processes peanuts and tree nuts”.  The company no longer processes peanuts but some packages may remain in retail. It’s best the check the package to be sure. Also one new collection of flavors Jelly Belly SuperFruit flavors are made with all natural colors and flavors and was recently accepted by Feingold Association.

JUST BORN

• Mike & Ike
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg, milk, soy
  • Contains: none of the top 8 allergens
• Hot Tamales
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg, milk, soy
  • Contains: none of the top 8 allergens
• Peeps Pumpkins and Ghosts
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg, milk, soy
  • Contains: none of the top 8 allergens

Allergen Info (via web Oct 09): Are your candies gluten-free? The modified food starch that we use in our candies in corn starch.  We are in the process of updating our package labels to reflect products that are gluten free.  Our gluten free brands are: MIKE AND IKE® Brand Candies, HOT TAMALES® Brand Candies, PEEPS® Marshmallow Candies, PEANUT CHEW® Brand candies, TEENEE BEANEE® Jelly Beans and JUST BORN® Jelly Bean. This information pertains to all Just Born candies that we make and package at our two manufacturing locations (Bethlehem, PA and Philadelphia, PA) and are in their original packaging. Please be aware that we do sell some of our products in bulk to other manufacturers who may be repackaging them in another facility.  We encourage consumers to read the labels carefully for any gluten information on products that might be packaged elsewhere.  For further questions, we recommend consumers call our Consumer Relations Team toll-free at 1-888-645-3453. We encourage consumers to read the labels carefully for any potential allergen warning on products that might be packaged elsewhere.

MARS and WRIGLEY

• M & Ms Plain
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, egg
  • Contains: milk, “may contain peanuts”, soy (lecithin)
• M & Ms Peanut
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, egg
  • Contains: milk, “may contain almonds”, peanuts, soy (lecithin)
• Snickers
  • Free of: wheat/gluten
  • Contains: milk, “may contain almonds”, peanuts, soy (lecithin and oil), egg
• 3 Musketeers
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, tree nuts
  • Contains: milk, eggs, soy lecithin, “may contain peanuts”
• Milky Way
  • Free of: tree nuts
  • Contains: wheat/gluten (barley malt), milk, eggs, soy lecithin, “may contain peanuts”
• Twix
  • Free of: tree nuts, eggs, soy
  • Contains: wheat/gluten, milk, “may contain peanuts”
• Starburst
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg, soy, milk
  • Contains: None of top 8 allergens
• Skittles and Skittle Sour
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg, soy, milk
  • Contains: None of top 8 allergens
• Lifesavers Hard Candy and Lifesavers Pops
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg, milk, soy (except some flavors, like Butter Rum)
    
  • Contains: soy lecithin (some flavors)
    
• Lifesavers Gummies
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg, milk, soy
  • Contains: none of the top 8 allergens
• Hubba Bubba Gum, Glop, Max, Pop
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg, milk
  • Contains: soy (lecithin)

Allergen Info (via web Oct 09): read their policy on allergen labeling

NESTLE

• Butterfinger
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, tree nuts, egg
  • Contains: peanuts, milk, soy lecithin and soybean oil
    
• Crunch
  • Free of: nuts, egg, peanuts, wheat
    
  • Contains: milk, soy lecithin, gluten (barley malt), “made on equipment that also processes peanuts, nuts and wheat.”
    
• Raisinets
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, nuts, egg
    
  • Contains: milk, soy lecithin, “made on equipment that also processes peanuts”
    
• Bit-O-Honey
  • Free of: wheat/gluten
    
  • Contains: milk, almonds, egg whites, soy protein, “made on equipment that also processes other nuts and peanuts”
    
• Baby Ruth
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, nuts, egg
    
  • Contains: peanuts, milk, soy

SPANGLER

• Dum Dums, Chewy Pops, Saf-T-Pops, Circus Peanuts, Candy Canes, Chewy Canes
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, milk, nuts, peanuts, egg
  • Contains: soy (see note below)
    

Allergen Info: *A note about soy. Our products, except Circus Peanuts, may contain trace amounts of soy oil, a processing aid in making candy. The soy oil has been refined, bleached and deodorized, a process that removes the protein that can cause an allergic reaction.  Because individual sensitivities vary, however, we have chosen to list the soy oil.

5 ways we make sure our products are allergy free.

1. Our manufacturing facilities are 100% free of gluten (from wheat, barley and rye), dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, fish and shellfish.
2. All Spangler Candy products are made on dedicated manufacturing equipment.
3. We thoroughly clean every manufacturing line, every day.
4. We notify all of our suppliers about our allergen standards. We also request an annual allergen report from each supplier to verify that the ingredients they provide are allergy free.
5. At least twice a year, all of our products are tested for allergens by an independent food lab.

Dum Dum Gum Pops and Dum Dum Chewy Pops made in the USA are free of peanuts, tree nuts, egg, gluten, and milk.  Dum Dum Gum Pops and Dum Dum Chewy Pops made in Brazil are manufactured in a facility where peanuts and milk are used in the manufacturing of other products.  Please check the back panel for country of origin.

TOOTSIE

• Charleston Chew (including minis)
  • Free of: nut, peanut, wheat/gluten
  • Contains: milk, soy, egg
• Charms Blow Pops
  • Free of: nut, peanut, wheat/gluten, egg
  • Contains: “Milk and soy may be present”
• Charms Flat Pops
  • Free of: nut, peanut, wheat/gluten, egg
  • Contains: “Milk and soy may be present”
• Dots, including Bat Dots, Candy Corn Dots and Ghost Dots
  • Free of: nut, peanut, wheat/gluten, soy, egg, milk
  • Contains: None of top 8 allergens (except Yogurt Dots)
• Tootsie Pops
  • Free of: nut, peanut, wheat/gluten, egg
  • Contains: milk, soy (soybean oil and soy lecithin)
• Tootsie Rolls and Fruit Rolls:
  • Free of: nut, peanut, wheat/gluten, egg
  • Contains: milk, soy (soybean oil)
• Junior Mints:
  • Free of: nut, peanut, wheat/gluten
  • Contains: soy (soya albumin), “milk and egg may be present”
• Junior Mints Inside Outs:
  • Free of: nut, peanut, wheat/gluten
  • Contains: soy (soya albumin), contains milk, “eggs may be present”
• Junior Caramels:
  • Free of: nut, peanut, wheat/gluten
  • Contains: soy (soya albumin), milk, “eggs may be present”
• Dubble Bubble Bubble Gum:
  • Free of: nut, peanut, wheat/gluten, egg
  • Contains: “milk and soy may be present”
• Sugar Babies:
  • Free of: nut, peanut, wheat/gluten
  • Contains: milk, soy, “egg may be present”
• Sugar Babies Caramel Apple:
  • Free of: nut, peanut, wheat/gluten
  • Contains: milk, contains egg
• Sugar Daddy:
  • Free of: nut, peanut, wheat/gluten, egg (Sugar Daddy Giant contains egg)
  • Contains: milk, soy (Sugar Daddy Giant contains egg)

  Allergen Info (via web Oct 09): At this time, all of our confections are completely peanut, tree nut and nut product free. We have no peanut or tree nut products in any of our facilities. At this time, all of our confections are gluten free. We do not use wheat, barley, rye, oats, triticale, spelt or any of their components and that includes our dusting on our conveyor belts. All Tootsie products are gluten-, peanut-, and nut product-free. Corn and soy products are used during the manufacturing process.

WELCH’S

• Fruit Snacks
  • Free of: nut, peanut, wheat/gluten, soy, egg, milk
  • Contains: None of top 8 allergens

WONKA

• Bottlecaps, Everlasting Gobstopper, Chewy Gobstopper, Runts (not Chewy), Fun Dip and Fun Dip Sour, Pixy Stix, Sweetarts (regular), Tart N Tinys, Nerds
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, milk, nuts, peanuts, egg, soy
  • Contains: None of top 8 allergens
• Chewy Runts, Laffy Taffy Stretchy and Tangy, Giant Chewy Sweetarts, Mini Chewy Sweetarts, Sweetarts Chewy Twists, Sweetarts Shockers, Chewy Tart N Tinys
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, milk, nuts, peanuts, soy
  • Contains: egg
• Laffy Taffy, Laffy Taffy Rope, Sweetarts Chew
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, milk, nuts, peanuts, egg
  • Contains: soy lecithin in Laffy Taffy, soybean oil in Sweetarts Chew
• Sweetarts Gummy Bugs, Sweetarts Rope
  • Free of: nuts, peanuts, egg, soy
  • Contains: wheat/gluten, Gummy Bugs made on equipment that also processes milk

Allergen Info (via web Oct 09): Labeling regulations require that if any of the eight recognized known allergens are in the product, they must be listed in the ingredient statement. We always list the allergen by the common name.

Additionally, our factories, that use any of the recognized allergens as an ingredient, take all precautions to avoid cross contact of products that do not contain them. We always add a cautionary statement at the end of our packaging ingredient listing if a product is made on the same line or factory of those products containing a recognized allergen. It is recommended that you always check the label before purchasing a product.

Here is a list of natural and specialty candy companies – great for kids with food allergies!

AMANDA’S OWN CONFECTIONS (www.amandasown.com)

• Chocolate shapes and chocolate lollipops
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg, milk
  • Contains: soy (lecithin)

Allergen Info (via web Oct 09): Our products are only made from DAIRY FREE and TREE NUT FREE and PEANUT FREE semi-sweet chocolate.  The chocolate is made on dedicated equipment that is free of all dairy and nut ingredients.  We do not use dairy or nuts in any of our products so there is no chance for cross-contamination of our ingredients. Our products are also egg-free & gluten-free!

ANNIE’S

• Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks (Flavors: Tropical Treat, Berry Patch, Sunny Citrus, Summer Strawberry)
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg, milk, soy
  • Contains: none of the top 8 allergens

Allergen Info (via web Oct 09): This product does not contain the following eight allergens and are not made on shared equipment with wheat, dairy, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, crustaceans/shellfish, and egg.

CHOCOLATE DECADENCE (www.chocolatedecadence.com)

• Chocolate Halloween shapes and chocolate bars
  • Free of: milk, wheat/gluten (except pretzel items), egg
  • Contains: soy (lecithin), some contain nuts, peanuts

DIVVIES (www.divvies.com)

• Boo x2 Chocolate Ghosts, BinGo! Divvine Chocolate Bar, Benjamint Crunch Bar, Halloween Jelly Beans
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg, milk
  • Contains: soy (lecithin)

Allergen Info (via web Oct 09): Divvies candies, frosting, and sprinkles are certified by their manufacturers to be peanut-, tree nut-, milk-, egg-free, and sesame-free and are packaged in Divvies Bakery. Divvies conducts routine testing to minimize the risk of any cross-contamination in their certified allergen-free ingredients.

ENJOY LIFE (www.enjoylifefoods.com)

• Boom CHOCO Boom Dark Chocolate Bar, Crispy Rice Bar, Milk Bar
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, peanuts, nuts, egg, milk, soy
  • Contains: none of the top 8 allergens. Made in a dedicated nut- and gluten-free facility

PURE FUN (www.organiccandy.com)

• Lollipops, Cotton Candy, Hard Candies, Chocolate Meltdowns
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, milk, nuts, peanuts,egg, soy
  • Contains: none of the top 8 allergens

Allergen Info (via web Oct 09): At Pure Fun™, our core principle is to provide products that are free of known allergens with NO pesticides, NO Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s), NO cholesterol, NO transfats, NO chemicals, NO gluten, NO synthetic flavors and NO artificial FD&C colorants. Pure Fun™ is truly “Better for you candy©”, retaining the natural nutrients of pure cane juice. The Pure Fun™ brand is synonymous with the highest organic, Kosher and Vegan standards.

SURF SWEETS (www.surfsweets.com)

• Gummy Worms, Gummy Swirls, Gummy Bears, Fruity Bears, Jelly Beans, Sour Worms, Sour Berry Bears
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, milk, nuts, peanuts,egg, soy
  • Contains: none of the top 8 allergens

Allergen Info (via web Oct 09):
Are your products gluten-free and casein-free? Yes, all of our products are both gluten-free and casein-free. Casein is the protein found in dairy.
Are your products peanut-free? Yes, all of our products do not contain peanuts and are produced and packaged in a facility free of peanuts.
Are your products produced and/or packaged in a facility with other common allergens? No, our products are produced in a facility free of: wheat, dairy, soy, eggs, tree nuts, nuts, fish, and shellfish.
Surf Sweets products are made with natural colors and flavors, organic fruit juice and sweeteners, and provide you with your daily allowance of Vitamin C. We are also one of the only candies made without corn syrup.

VERMONT NUT FREE CHOCOLATES (www.vermontnutfree.com)

• Assorted chocolates
  • Free of: nuts, peanuts
  • Contains: depending on the selection, wheat, milk, egg, soy (lecithin)

Allergen Info (via web Oct 09):
Our entire selection is completely safe for those with any tree nut or peanut allergy but can also be enjoyed by anyone who loves fine chocolates.
Regarding dairy: Although our solid dark chocolate items do not contain any dairy ingredients, they are processed on shared dairy equipment and are labeled as such. Additionally, most of the items that we make are in milk chocolate and we always have lots of dairy ingredients around in the same production area so we could not consider our solid dark chocolate items to be truly dairy free. If the dairy allergy in question is more than a mild one and you have concerns about possible dairy traces, we would not recommend our solid dark chocolate items.
Regarding eggs: We do make some products that contain egg ingredients. The Orange-Apricot truffles, orange creams and the raspberry creams as well as our fudge and candy corn all contain eggs or egg products as an ingredient. All of our other filled (boxed) chocolates as well as the mini twist pretzels are processed on the same equipment. All of our solid chocolate items, in both milk chocolate and dark chocolate, are processed on different equipment than is used for the egg containing chocolates. Our solid chocolate items include the chocolate bars, pops, coins, drops, chips, bugs and holiday novelty items.

YUMMY EARTH (www.yummyearth.com)

• Lollipops, Candy Drop, Gummy Bears, Gummy Worms
  • Free of: wheat/gluten, milk, nuts, peanuts,egg, soy
  • Contains: none of the top 8 allergens

Allergen Info (via web Oct 09): Are any of the major allergens, including peanuts or tree nuts, used in your product?  No, plus our plant does not produce anything
with tree-nuts or peanuts. YummyEarth’s organic lollipops and drops are enjoyed by corn sensitive people around the world.

Looking for non-candy ideas for Halloween? Read How to have an allergy-free Halloween.

My daughter is in her second week of Kindergarten and already there have been four birthdays in her class, which means four days of treats that she can’t eat! I’m realizing that elementary school is a whole different world than preschool when it comes to food. It seems to be everywhere. Part of me feels nervous. Can I trust everyone to remember not to give her the birthday treat? Can I trust her to always say no? Part of me feels sad for her that she feels left out.

“I wish I didn’t have food allergies,” she told me last night.
“I wish I didn’t have any either,” I said.

I can’t grant her wish, but I can offer her alternatives that are delicious and safe for her. I have supplied a “snack box” in her classroom — a plastic storage container with her name written on it filled with packaged allergy-free cookies and fruit bars — in case of a treat emergency. But we also have a deal: if other kids got something special in class that day that she couldn’t have, then she gets to have something special when she gets home. Homemade cookies always do the trick! And a good old chocolate chip cookie can also turn into an ice cream sandwich or a frosted delight!

Making gluten-free cookies from scratch doesn’t have to be difficult, even if you have other food allergies too, like we do. Using a pre-made GF flour blend makes it especially easy. There are many on the market, but I recently tried Namaste Foods’ Perfect Flour Blend to make gluten-free oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, and they were perfect! Now you can make them too, using the recipes below.

Namaste Foods is going to give away a package of Perfect Flour Blend to three lucky winners! All you have to do to enter is make a comment on this post saying what you would like to make using the Perfect Flour Blend. Three winners will be chosen at random (one comment per person please). Contest will end on Monday, September 14 at noon PST.

According to the package, “Namaste’s Perfect Flour Blend has been designed with ease, efficiency and all your favorite recipes in mind. Simply replace the wheat flour in your everyday recipe with the same amount of our flour blend then follow the directions in the recipe. Namaste’s Perfect Flour Blend will work with almost any recipe in your everyday cookbook. (Obviously, results may vary with more sophisticated recipes.)”

Ingredients: Sweet brown rice flour, tapioca flour, arrowroot flour, sorghum flour and xanthan gum. (Namaste Foods uses xanthan gum that is not derived from corn or corn sources.)

Here is the recipe for the cookies I made using the recipe from the Perfect Flour Blend bag with some substitutions and additions:

Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Egg-Free Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Earth Balance Dairy-Free Soy-Free Natural Buttery Spread, softened (you can also use oil, butter or margarine)
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup sugar
Ener-G Egg Replacer for 1 egg (or use 1 egg if you have no egg allergies)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup Namaste Foods Perfect Flour Blend
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups gluten-free oats (I use Cream Hill Estates Lara’s Rolled Oats)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup raisins or chocolate chips, or 1/2 cup of each

Directions:
1. Cream together “butter” and sugars until smooth. Add egg replacer (or egg) and vanilla and mix until combined. Add dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.
2. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto lightly greased cookie sheet. If the batter seems a little crumbly, just press it together to hold its shape. It will hold together when it cooks.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes, then move to wire rack and continue cooling. Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

The recipe below was sent to me by Michele, the creator of Namaste Foods.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup butter or non-dairy butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups Namaste Perfect Flour Blend
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons hot water
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Cream together the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Dissolve baking soda in hot water. Add to batter along with salt. Stir in flour, chocolate chips, and nuts. Drop by large spoonfuls onto greased pans.
3. Bake for about 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are nicely
browned.