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There are several different varieties; find out which M&M's are gluten-free and safe to consume on a gluten-free diet.
M&M's are a popular candy-coated chocolate sold by Hershey's brand. These little candies have been around since the 1940s. They are so popular they have become a full on brand in themselves, with characters for every color.
Chocolate candy is popular for those on a gluten-free diet since chocolate in itself is gluten-free. Finding a gluten-free chocolate bar is easy, but that doesn't mean you don't have to be careful because not all chocolate candy is gluten-free.
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Quick answer.
M&M's are not advertised or labeled as gluten-free. However, there are several of their candies that are actually gluten-free and safe to consume on a gluten-free diet.
Which M&M flavors are gluten-free?
There are more than thirteen flavors of M&M's sold around the world. They even sell seasonal varieties that never seem to last the full season before they are sold out. To add to these, there are always new varieties of M&M's coming out.
These varieties should be gluten-free and safe to consume on a gluten-free diet.
- Milk Chocolate M&M's
- Peanut M&M's
- Peanut Butter M&M's
- Almond M&M's
- Caramel M&M's
- Mint Chocolate M&M's
- White Chocolate M&M's
- Coffee Nut M&M's
- Mini M&M's
- Fudge Brownie M&M's
Note: Other varieties not listed may be gluten-free.
M&M's that are not gluten-free.
- Crispy M&M's - Crispy M&M's contain barley malt in the ingredients, which renders them not gluten-free.
- Pretzel M&M's - Unlike pretzel Reese's (which are gluten-free), pretzel M&M's contain both wheat flour and marly, which makes these candies not gluten-free.
Gluten-free M&M labeling.
I think it is important to note that none of the packages of M&M's in the U.S. contain a gluten-free certification or labeling. While they may not contain those labels or certifications, many varieties that are not made with any gluten ingredients are considered gluten-free.
- The only exception is those few varieties that do contain gluten and are labeled on the package under an allergen warning.
It is best practice to always double-check any label before consuming.
May contain wheat warning.
Some of the varieties of M&M's labels contain a warning that they "may contain wheat." According to Hershey's, they label products that contain certain ingredients on the label.
They also label if there has been any potential cross-contact with possible allergens. An example would be "manufactured on the same equipment as (fill in the allergen). If someone has a severe gluten allergy, they should probably be cautious of consuming those M&M's.
There are a few varieties that do not contain this warning.
- Milk Chocolate M&M's
- Peanut M&M's
- Peanut Butter M&M's
- Almond M&M's
Other allergens.
Several varieties of M&M's contain nuts, and a lot of the packaging contains the warning "may contain peanuts." This is because of the popular peanut and peanut butter M&M's.
- Peanut M&M's are similar to the original milk chocolate M&M's, except for the single peanut in the middle. Similarly, the peanut butter M&M's have peanut butter in the center, surrounded by chocolate and the candy coating.
- Both of these varieties contain peanuts, making them not safe for anyone with a peanut allergy to consume.
M&M's are not dairy-free as the chocolate in them contains milk ingredients. This makes M&M's not safe to consume for anyone with a dairy allergy.
M&M's around the world.
M&M's contain different ingredients in the U.S. than they do in other countries.
Most M&M's in the U.S. are considered gluten-free except for a few varieties.
If you are looking at consuming M&M's in other countries, it is best to read the label and ingredients thoroughly because of these ingredient changes, as well as gluten-free labeling requirements around the world.
Conclusion.
So, are M&M's gluten-free and safe to for someone with celiac to consume?
As always, I am going to tell anyone to always check the labels before consuming foods when on a gluten-free diet.
- However, most M&M's sold in the U.S. can be considered gluten-free and safe to consume on a gluten-free diet.
- If you are outside of the U.S., always check the labels, as each country has its own standards for labeling allergens.
More gluten-free candy.
Are you curious about what other candy is or is not gluten-free? Check out these articles. Don't see one you're curious about? Feel free to let me know, and I'll look into it for you.
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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