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

Have you ever wanted to tell someone about the new product you found, the great (or not so good) restaurant experience you had, the book or cookbook you discovered, or a recipe you tried? Now you can share your opinion on anything gluten-free by joining me in a new online community called the Gluten Free Groupies!

As a member of the Gluten Free Groupies, you can write reviews, make lists of your favorite things, add a recipe, rate products and comment on other people’s reviews. It’s a fun and interactive way to give your 2 cents!

To join, go to www.lunch.com/glutenfreegroupies and click Join. Then participate as much as you would like!

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!

“Gluten-Free” was named one of the top five food trends of the Winter Fancy Food Show 2010 in San Francisco! For those of us who live gluten-free, we know it is not a trend, but a diagnosis and a way of life that is fortunately becoming more common and better understood.

I had the privilege of spending all three days at the show, working in the Pamela’s Products booth. It’s very exciting for me to be able to help a company whose products I love and whose dedication and generosity to the gluten-free community I applaud. I will be working at several events for Pamela’s in the future, so be sure to say hi if you see me!

I didn’t get much time to walk around and sample the other products at the show, but I did find a few new things worth mentioning…

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CAKES & COOKIES

Pamela’s Gluten-Free Cheesecake and Coffee Cake

Okay, well, I can’t go without first mentioning Pamela’s Gluten-Free Cheesecakes and Coffee Cake since I was serving them all day and might have snuck a few (or many) in my mouth (a girl’s gotta eat). I actually tried them last year when I visited their booth, but this year they are actually in stores — check your Whole Foods. It was fun watching people’s expressions when they took bites of the New York Agave Sweetened or the White Chocolate Raspberry cheesecakes… and then found out they were gluten-free. I can confirm that they are amazing!

Minnie Beasley’s Handmade Almond Lace

Minnie Beasley’s Gluten-Free Handmade Almond Lace tastes like buttah – maybe ’cause that’s the first ingredient! If you like toffee, you will love these. Ingredients: butter, almonds, sugar, heavy cream, milk, rice flour, potato starch, tapioca flour, salt, xanthan gum. Allergen information: Minnie Beasley’s Cookie Co. uses good manufacturing practices to segregate ingredients in a facility that also processes wheat and may contain peanuts.

Something Good’s Allergen-Free Mixes

This was the first time I had seen Something Good products from Australia. It’s nice to have another option for mixes that are free of wheat, gluten, dairy, nuts, egg and soy. The Chocolate Mud Cake Mix and the Cupcake Mix do require eggs in the recipe, however. It looks like the Classic Bread Mix and the SuperGrain Bread Mix do not. Cute packaging.

Mary’s Gone Cookies - Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Egg-Free

Known for crackers, Mary’s Gone Crackers now has “love Cookies!” Certified organic and gluten-free, they are also free of eggs and dairy. Packed with interesting ingredients, they are formulated to be a healthy cookie if there is such a thing! I love that I have another cookie option for my gluten-free dairy-free egg-allergic daughter. Thanks Mary!

The No Bake Cookie Company’s Gluten Free All Natural No Bake Cookies

A no-bake cookie is a cookie made by heating ingredients like butter, sugar, chocolate, oats, and peanut butter on the stove until melted and then dropping by spoonfuls onto waxed paper until they harden. I don’t know the exact method or ingredients used by The No Bake Cookie Company, but I do know that they use certified gluten-free oats from Bob’s Red Mill. And that’s pretty much all you need to know because they… are… sooo… good.

WOW Baking Company’s Gluten Free Cookies

I tried WOW Baking Company’s gluten-free cookies last year and got to try them again this time. They are like a giant homemade cookie  and they are delicious! I really like the Peanut Butter and Snickerdoodle flavors. They use gluten-free oats in their Oregon Oatmeal flavor. They also make cookie dough — I bet it’s good too!

CANDY & TREATS & OTHER SWEETS

Happy Goat Caramel

There are sweet treats everywhere you turn at this show — candy, chocolate, licorice, lolly pops, taffy, caramel corn, chocolate and more chocolate. You almost become numb to it, unless something stands out. For me, it was Happy Goat Caramel. I have become a fan of goat milk products in recent years and for many people, it is easier to digest than cow’s milk. I am also a fan of caramel. Put it together and I am one happy human! (The name Happy Goat comes from the fact that the milk comes from free-range goats raised on small California farms with no pesticides, who eat a healthy diet, are free to roam and aren’t separated from their mothers at birth!)

Goody Good Stuff Candy

This candy isn’t available yet, but when it is, I will be buying Goody Good Stuff for my daughters (when candy is called for). Made by the company that makes Haribo, these gummy candies are gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, soy-free, kosher, vegan, and all natural. I tested them on my children and they passed (not that hard to get them to eat candy, but still). They come in fun shapes and flavors, like Cola Breeze, Summer Peaches, Sour Pretzels, and Gummy Koala Bears.

Plush Puffs Gourmet Marshmallows

Big fluffy marshmallow squares… Plush Puffs! Plain old store-bought marshmallows are usually gluten-free, but these hand-made ones with natural ingredients are sooo much better. Plus, you get to choose from Vanilla Bean, Caramel Swirl, Chocolate Chipetta, Luscious Lemony Meringue, Peppi-Mint and seasonal specials. I even tasted Maple & Bacon flavor at the show! Yes, it had real bits of bacon in it! Not sure I will ever see that one again, but it definitely caught my attention! Every flavor except one (Simply S’mores) is gluten-free, and every flavor except one (Caramel Swirl) is free of corn syrup.

Sunny Seed Drops

Say you really need a candy-coated chocolate something. Well, in 2010 it’s all about the seeds, so why not treat yourself to some Sunny Seed Drops? The little tiny drops of sunshine come in many cheerful colors with cute packaging. There is even an All Natural version with no artificial colors.

Smooze Fruit Ice

My kids already eat Smooze Fruit Ice frozen dairy-free treats, but I am excited to announce that they have a new flavor — strawberry! Made from coconut milk and fruit juice, you buy them in liquid form in their triangular containers and put them in your freezer. Kids squeeze them up as they eat them.

CHIPS & SNACKS & CRUNCHY THINGS

Wai Lana Yogi Chips

If you need another chip in your life, you might like Yogi Chips. Made by the same company that makes Yoga videos, the chips are gluten-free, soy-free, and several flavors are dairy-free. Made from cassava (yucca) and tapioca flour, they are light and crunchy. The Whole Grain Yogi Chips  also contain corn, brown rice and mung bean.

Taste Waves 3-6-9 Tortilla Chips

I probably wouldn’t have noticed these chips if they weren’t in the booth right next to us, but everyone shares food with their neighbors at the show and a bag of Taste Wave Tortilla Chips came my way. I love tortilla chips and regularly snack on them. These chips have chia seeds added to them, and though you can’t taste them, apparently they are packed with nutrition. I very much enjoyed them!

Falafel Chips

I used to be a regular at Holy Land Restaurant in Oakland where I always ordered the falafel on pita bread. It was a meal full of gluten, and one I had to give up when I started eating gluten-free. Falafel Chips, however, contain no gluten. Made of organic corn and organic beans (chickpeas, fava beans and/or black beans), and lots of spices, Falafel Chips are an interesting spin on the old chip. They come in Original or Spicy.

R.W. Garcia Gluten Free 5-Seed Crackers

R.W. Garcia is know for their tortilla chips, which are all made from non-genetically modified corn. Now they are making Gluten Free 5-Seed Crackers in three flavors: Rosemary & Garlic, Onion & Chive, and Tellicherry Cracked Pepper (Tellicherry is an Indian peppercorn). The base of the crackers is still corn, so it’s still more like a tortilla chip than a cracker, but at least it’s another option for munching and adding spreads.

Harvest Roast Pumpkin Seeds

In case you haven’t been paying attention, SEEDS are IN! I happen to love pumpkin seeds and so I was happy to find a company that makes only pumpkin seeds. This matters to me because I have a nut-allergic daughter and I never know if pumpkin seeds are processed with nuts. The Harvest Roast pumpkin seeds come in many flavors, such as garlic herb, honey sesame and chili lime. Delicious and nutritious!

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There were literally thousands more products being introduced at the show. Something I found surprising (and discouraging) was that despite the growing incidence of peanut and tree nut allergies, there were SO MANY nut products! I guess nuts are fancy. At least gluten-free is now considered fancy too!

If you were at the show, and found something you’d like to mention, feel free to comment.

The best store-bought gluten-free bread? Hands down, it’s Udi’s. When my cousin’s son Reed came back from Camp Celiac (more on this in a future post), he declared that the best food at the camp was the grilled cheese sandwiches. Now this is a statement, considering that he was eating  dairy-free rice cheese, but the fact that it was served on Udi’s gluten-free bread made it tops in his book!

I was lazy about ordering it online to try it for myself, but lo and behold, it showed up in my Whole Foods recently. And I must say that the 13-year-old was right — it is delicious. I have now tried both the Whole Grain Bread and the White Sandwich Bread. I much prefer the Whole Grain Bread but there are probably many people that would like the White Sandwich Bread just as much. The bread is made to be eaten NOT frozen, NOT refrigerated, which is how I ate it, but it depends on where you live and how it is shipped and stored. Of course, like all gluten-free breads, just toast it and it tastes even better.

If you can’t yet find it in a store near you, you can order online at Udi’s Gluten Free Foods.

If you have a gluten-free child or a child with food allergies, you are no stranger to packing his or her “special” cupcake to bring to a birthday party. The challenge is how to send one cupcake and not smush it! I have found the answer my friends… Go Go Cupcake Holders!

These cupcake holders are awesome! Not only are they cute, but they really hold the cupcake in place with a perfectly tight fitting bottom and a spike in the top so the frosting doesn’t get smashed. Stick it in a backpack or hand it to your kid to take to the party (just make sure the latch is completely closed).

Here is a picture from the last time I used them:

The best part is that they are cheap: $6.99 for 2 on Amazon!

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.

This is a quick list of gluten-free Halloween candy (October 2009). Note: 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 and other allergens, please read the Halloween Candy List - Gluten-Free Allergen-Free - 2009. For a Top-8 Allergen-Free list, read the Gluten-Free Allergen-Free Halloween Candy Quick List.

AIRHEADS

• Airheads Bars regular and sour
  • “processed in a facility that processes wheat flour”
• Airheads Pops
• Whistle Pops

AMANDA’S OWN CONFECTIONS

• Chocolate shapes and chocolate lollipops

ANNABELLE’S

• Big Hunk
  • “made in a facility that uses milk, egg, treenuts, wheat and peanuts”

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

DIVVIES

• Boo x2 Chocolate Ghosts
• BinGo! Divvine Chocolate Bar
• Benjamint Crunch Bar
• Halloween Jelly Beans

ENJOY LIFE

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

FARLEY’S AND SATHER’S

• Super Bubble and Super Bubble Blast
• Rain-Blo Pops
• Atomic Fireball
• Jawbreakers
  • manufactured in a facility that manufactures products containing traces of wheat
• Trolli Gummi Bears
  • made in allergen-free facility but packaged on equipment that packages products containing traces of wheat
    
• Trolli Sour Brite (Frite) Crawlers
  • made in allergen-free facility but packaged on equipment that packages products containing traces of wheat
• Jujufruits
  • made in allergen-free facility but packaged on equipment that packages products containing traces of wheat
• Smarties
• Sweetarts
• Now and Later regular
• Now and Later Soft
• Brach’s Candy Corn, Gummi Candy Corn, Caramel Candy Corn, Caramel Apple Candy Corn, Chocolate Caramel Candy Corn
  • packaged on equipment that also packages products containing wheat
• Brach’s Mellowcreme Pumpkins
  • Packaged on equipment that also packages products containing traces of wheat
    
• Jujyfruits and Friends (Heide candies)

FERRARA PAN

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

HERSHEY

• Milk Chocolate Bars
• Milk Duds
• Heath Minis
• Kisses, Special Dark Kisses
• Almond Joy
• Mounds
• Mr. Goodbar
• Baby Ruth
• Jolly Rancher Hard Candy
• Jolly Rancher Hard Candy Sticks
• Reese’s

JELLY BELLY

• Jelly Beans

JUST BORN

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

MARS and WRIGLEY

• M & Ms Plain
• M & Ms Peanut
• Snickers
• 3 Musketeers
• Starburst
• Skittles
  
• Skittles Sour
• Lifesavers Hard Candy
• Lifesavers Pops
• Lifesavers Gummies
• Hubba Bubba Gum, Glop, Max, Pop

NESTLE

• Butterfinger (not Butterfinger Crisp)
  
• Raisinets
• Bit-O-Honey
• Baby Ruth

PURE FUN

• Lollipops
• Cotton Candy
• Hard Candies
• Chocolate Meltdowns

SPANGLER

• 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

• Charleston Chew (including minis)
• Charms Blow Pops
• Charms Flat Pops
• Dots, including Bat Dots, Candy Corn Dots and Ghost Dots
• Tootsie Pops
• Tootsie Rolls
• Tootsie Fruit Rolls
• Junior Mints
• Junior Mints Inside Outs
• Junior Caramels
• Dubble Bubble Bubble Gum
• Sugar Babies
• Sugar Babies Caramel Apple
• Sugar Daddy

WELCH’S

• Fruit Snacks

WONKA

• Bottlecaps
• Gobstopper Everlasting
• Gobstopper Chewy
• Runts
• Runts Chewy
• Fun Dip
• Fun Dip Sour
• Pixy Stix
• Sweetarts (regular)
• Sweetarts Chew
• Sweetarts Giant Chewy
• Sweetarts Mini Chew
• Sweetarts Chewy Twists
• Sweetarts Shockers
• Tart N Tinys,
  
• Tart N Tinys Chew
• Nerds
• Laffy Taffy
• Laffy Taffy Stretchy and Tangy
• Laffy Taffy Rope

YUMMY EARTH

• Lollipops
• Candy Drop
• Gummy Bears
• Gummy Worms

WATCH OUT! CANDY THAT CONTAINS GLUTEN!

AIRHEADS

• Airheads Xtremes Rolls
  • contains wheat flour
    

ANNABELLE’S

• Rocky Road
  
  • Contains barley malt and wheat flour

HERSHEY

• Kit Kat
  • Contains wheat
    
• Twizzlers
  • Contains wheat
• Whoppers
  • Contains barley malt and wheat flour

MARS and WRIGLEY

• Milky Way
  
  • Contains barley malt
    
• Twix
  • Contains wheat

NESTLE

• Butterfinger Crisp
  • Contains wheat flour
• Crunch
  • Contains barley malt, “made on equipment that also processes wheat.”

WONKA

• Sweetarts Gummy Bugs
  • Contains wheat/gluten
• Sweetarts Rope
  • Contains wheat/gluten

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

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.

People often come to this website looking for easy gluten-free to-go lunch ideas. I have given suggestions and more suggestions. And now, I’m going to tell you about a to-go lunch and snack idea that I think is pretty cool. In fact, I read about it on the website Cool Mom Picks. So there you go!

You know those boxes of snacks that are now sometimes offered on planes? GoPicnic ready-to-eat meals are just like those, except they have entirely GLUTEN-FREE ones! Plus, they are much healthier than the usual “lunchables”-type meal. (Actually, I think GoPicnic is being sold on Alaska Airlines, but not gluten-free.) These meals need no refrigeration, so they would be great in the car, on a plane or to take to camp!

There are many gluten-free choices such as Zesty Break, Go Trek, Sports Munch, Explore Munch, Safari Munch (also casein-free), and Anywhere Break. Another cool thing: 5% of sales of gluten-free products goes to the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research!