Jolly Ranchers are a popular hard candy known for their delicious and intense fun fruit flavors, especially around Halloween. But are they gluten-free and safe to eat for those with celiac?
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What Are Jolly Ranchers?
Jolly Ranchers is a fruit-flavored hard candy. The original flavors of Jolly Ranchers are watermelon, apple, and fire stix. Soon, they introduced more fruit flavors like cherry, orange tangerine, lemon, grape, peach, and sour apple.
Also, check out is Lifesavers candy gluten-free?
Who Makes Jolly Ranchers?
The Hershey Company makes the Jolly Ranchers, but it was originally founded by Bill and Dorothy Harmsen in 1949. Hershey purchased Jolly Ranchers in 1996. (Source)
Jolly Rancher Hard Candy Ingredients
According to the packaging, the ingredients in Jolly Ranchers are:
corn syrup, sugar, contains 2% or less of: malic acid, natural flavor, artificial flavor, artificial colorants: Red 40, Blue 1, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, mineral oil, lecithin.
The Short Answer - Are Jolly Ranchers Gluten-Free?
The short answer is Maybe!
Jolly Ranchers are primarily made from sugar, corn syrup, and various fruit flavors. These ingredients do not typically contain gluten.
However, they are not certified gluten-free and are not mentioned on Hershey’s official gluten-free product list. There is probably a reason for that. Perhaps it is due to potential cross-contamination with other products which are not gluten-free.
Note: Some people have reported issues after eating Jolly Ranchers, so be cautious if you try them. It really depends on how sensitive you are to gluten. If you are celiac, I would suggest giving this candy a pass and enjoying other gluten-free candies.
Other Dietary and Allergen Risks
Soy Free? Jolly Ranchers contain soy lecithin, so they are not soy-free.
Vegan/vegetarian? The good news is that most Jolly Rancher candies are considered vegan and vegetarian-friendly. Jolly Ranchers are primarily made from sugar, corn syrup, and various fruit flavors, which do not typically contain animal-derived ingredients.
Dairy-free? For those with lactose intolerance or a dairy allergy, the good news is that Jolly Ranchers are generally considered dairy-free.
Nut-free? Based on Jolly Ranchers' ingredient list, Jolly Ranchers don't have nuts listed on their ingredients label.
More Jolly Rancher Candies
There are a lot of varieties of Jolly Rancher Candies, from the classic hard candy to soft gummies, sweet and sour Jolly Rancher Candies.
None of the candies listed below are categorized as gluten-free on Hershey's website, even though they do not contain any gluten ingredients. So, it is unclear if there is a potential for cross-contamination.
- Jolly Rancher Gummies
- Jolly Rancher Lollipops
- Jolly Rancher Candy Canes
- Jolly Rancher Chews
- Jolly Rancher Jelly Beans
Are you wondering about other candies?
If you're curious about the gluten-free status of different candy brands or specific sweet treats, we've got you covered! Check out our comprehensive guide to gluten-free candies, where we provide information on popular candy brands, their gluten-free options, and tips for navigating gluten-free choices.
Feel free to share this article with friends and family to help more people know how to help keep loved ones gluten-free.
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