Gluten-Free Candy 2015

As the Holiday Season approaches, people begin to ask me what candy is gluten-free. Every year I go on the search to find gluten-free candy. The process takes weeks and the results are usually very similar to the Celiac Support Association (CSA) list. 

So this year I am using the Celiac Support Assocation list of gluten-free candy. CSA is a great organization and has helped me through my journey. I belong to the O.C.Celiacs: CSA 14 in Orange County, CA and enjoy the friendships I have developed with people who have similar issues to me. 

Thank you to the Celiac Support Association for all the hard work you put in to keep us safe.

Cliff Bar & Company: Fruit Rope

Dove: Large Milk Chocolate and White Chocolate Bunnies 

                  Flat and Oval Eggs, Milk Chocolate and White Chocolate

http://us.mms.com/us/legal/allergen.html

Endangered Species Chocolate: All candy bars are gluten-free

http://www.chocolatebar.com/docs/esc_faq.pdf

Hershey: Kisses and Nuggets

Please visit website for full gluten-free list: http://www.thehersheycompany.com/nutrition-and-wellbeing/nutrition-information/special-dietary-needs/gluten-free-products.aspx

Gimbals Fine Candies: All candy is gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, egg-free, peanut-free

http://www.gimbalscandy.com/allergen-free.html

Jelly Belly: Jelly Beans

http://www.jellybelly.com/frequently-asked-questions

Just Born: Mike and Ike, Hot Tamales, Peeps (verify labeled gluten-free), Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews, Teenee Beanee    

http://www.justborn.com/get-to-know-us/faqs

Natural Candy Store: specialty candies made for the holidays may differ from traditional packaging. Always check the label!

Necco: They make the following products which do not contain gluten from wheat, rye, oats or barley:

• NECCO Wafers
• NECCO Chocolate Wafers
• Candy Buttons
• CANADA Mints & CANADA Wintergreen
• Mary Jane
• Banana Splits Chews
• Mint Julep Chews
• Haviland Thin Mints
• Haviland Wintergreen Patty
• Sky Bar
• Sweethearts (Valentine's Day)
• Mary Jane Peanut Butter Kisses (Halloween)

http://www.necco.com/FAQs.aspx

Nestle: Baby Ruth, Nips, Divine filled Chocolate, Sno Caps, Raisinettes (dark and milk chocolate), Oh Henry, regular size and original flavored Butterfinger (snack size not gluten-free)

M&M’s: Plain and Peanut    (Not pretzel m&m’s)

http://us.mms.com/us/legal/allergen.html

Premium Chocolatiers: Makes a variety of gluten and dairy-free chocolate

http://www.premiumchocolatiers.com/valentines-c-28.html

See’s: All candy is gluten-free.

http://www.sees.com/pdf/SeesAllergenInfo_2014.pdf

Surf Sweets: All candy is gluten-free.

Organic Fruity Hearts

Organic Fruity Bears

Organic Spring Mix Jelly Beans

Gummy Bears

http://www.surfsweets.com/faqs/#toggle-id-4

Tootsie Roll: All candy is gluten-free including Andes Mints, Baking Chips, Candy Carnival, Blow Pops, Charm Pops, Sugar Babies, Carmel Apple Pops, Charm Blow Pops Minis, Charms Flat Pops, Dots, Crows, Tootsie rolls (all flavors), Cry Baby Extra Sour Candy, Cry Baby Extra Sour, Bubble Gum, Double Bubble (all flavors), Fluffy Stuff Cotton Candy, Junior Mints, Frooties (all), Sugar Daddy, Tootsie Pops, Nik-L-Nip Wax Bottles, Razzle’s

http://www.tootsie.com/faqs

Wrigley: all products are gluten-free, except the Altoid mini peppermints, including Starburst, Orbit, Juicy Fruit, Wrigley’s Spearmint, extra gum, Doublemint gum, Skittles, Lifesavers, Eclipse Gum, Winterfresh Gum, Lifesavers, Airwaves .

http://www.wrigley.com/global/brands/us-brands.aspx

Yummy Earth: All candy is gluten-free including Sour Beans, Fruit Snacks, Gummy Bears, Lollipops and Drops

http://yummyearth.com/

Product packaging can change, and seasonal products may be packaged in a separate facility that handles gluten. Always read the label when verifying gluten-free.

Did you know that an additional step is being recommended for Celiac disease testing?

Did you know that an additional step is being recommended for Celiac disease testing? 

The consensus at the 15th International Celiac Disease Symposium is that it is essential to be retested 1 year after the initial diagnosis, in order to confirm that healing is occurring and no further damage is being done. This means a 2^nd endoscope and biopsies.  Though it may feel unnecessary and inconvenient, it is worth the time, effort and money.

Being retested can give a person with Celiac Disease the peace of mind that their body is healing and on the path to health. It can also let you and your doctors know if the healing process is slow or nonexistent, which will help direct the changes that need to be made in order to promote healing.

One member of our group (who has chosen to remain anonymous) decided to be retested because he/she had attended an O.C. Celiac event when chairman, Mary Schooler and founder, Cecile Weed presented a summary of the 15th International Celiac Disease Symposium.  He/she walked past Mary as she was discussing retesting with another member. A light bulb went on in this person upon hearing this information. This person had not been feeling well for a long time. The blood test results continued to show that little improvement was being made in the healing process, even though he/she was extremely careful about what he/she eat and about cross contamination. The doctor kept telling her the blood test results were false positives.  Even with the continued negative blood test results his/her doctor never suggested doing another endoscope to see what was actually going on. After the O.C. Celiac meeting, he/ she went to the doctor and requested a retest. The results were shocking. 

He/she had stomach cancer. The cancer is contained and localized, so that the specialist will be able to remove the cancer and hopefully it will be fully healed. Had he/she waited any longer to be retested, the cancer may have grown and spread. Retesting has saved he/she from unknown possible medical issues and maybe even death.

Unfortunately, as many of you with Celiac Disease know, stomach and small intestine cancer is real and is a serious possible side effect of Celiac Disease. The longer it takes for the initial diagnosis, the greater the possibility of other health issues arising.  So please push aside the excuses and go get retested NOW.  Please see the web links from Celiac Central and WedMd to read up on cancer and Celiac Disease.

The O.C. Celiacs goal is to touch lives and make a difference. Our motto, Celiacs Helping Celiacs, rings true for us. Even if we can help change just one life, it would be worth the time and effort we put into this support group.  Well, that has happened and we at O.C. Celiac are so thankful that our “voice” has made a difference.

Love and prayers to all our members!