Nerds are a pretty popular candy, especially around Halloween, but are nerds gluten-free, and which of its different varieties are gluten-free and safe to eat for those with celiac?
It's almost Halloween, and that means all the little pieces of candy are being stocked up and getting ready to be passed out to all the kids. When you have kids with food sensitivities and allergies, it's important to know which candy is safe for them to eat and which ones are not.
Nerds have always been a favorite for my kids, but after going gluten-free, we started to wonder if Nerds candy was safe to eat for someone on a gluten-free diet.
Jump to:
- Who Makes Nerds?
- Ingredients in Nerds
- Are Nerds Gluten-Free?
- What do Ferrara and Nerds Brands Say About Labeling Allergens?
- Are Nerds' Gummy Clusters Gluten-Free?
- Are Nerd Ropes Gluten-Free?
- Are Big Chewy Nerds Gluten-Free?
- In Conclusion, Are Nerds Safe to Eat on a Gluten-Free Diet?
- More Gluten-Free Candy Details
Who Makes Nerds?
Nerds are currently (as of 2023) made by the Ferrara Candy Company. The company bought out Nestle in 2019. This purchase included several candy brands, including Sweetarts, Black Forest, Laffy Taffy, Fun Dip, Pixi Stix, Nerds, and many more.
Ingredients in Nerds
According to the packaging, the ingredients in original Nerds are dextrose, sugar, malic acid, corn syrup, natural flavors, carnauba wax, carmine color, blue 1 lake, blue 1, blue 2 lake, red 40 lake, yellow 5, yellow 6, gum acacia.
Are Nerds Gluten-Free?
According to the ingredients, it might be hard to tell. Most people associate malic acid with malt (which is not gluten-free). However, malic acid is actually derived from unripe apples and is gluten-free.
The next ingredient that could be gluten is the presence of natural flavors. Sometimes, this ingredient can be derived from gluten grains, usually barley.
If you notice the package has an allergy statement that says, "may contain eggs." It does not say it may contain wheat. The packaging also does not state that it was produced on lines that also process wheat.
So, based on the package, the original nerds should be gluten-free. Make sure to read further for other varieties of Nerds.
It is important to note that they are not certified gluten-free; there is no such indication on the box or by the company.
What do Ferrara and Nerds Brands Say About Labeling Allergens?
According to Ferrara, "Product manufactured and/or packaged on lines in which other products containing any of the "Big 8" will contain an allergen statement. Allergens listed explicitly in the ingredients may not be listed dually in the allergen statement. For every Ferrara product that contains allergens, we list a CONTAINS statement immediately following the ingredient list on all of our packages, which clearly indicates which allergens are present. If there is no CONTAINS statement following the ingredient list, then the product has no allergens. Additionally, however, Ferrara uses a MADE IN statement, which reflects any allergens within the manufacturing facility where the product is made out of an abundance of caution for those concerned with allergies." (https://www.ferrarausa.com/faq.html)
The company also states that any changes made to the ingredients or manufacturing are noted on the packaging as changes are made, So it's best always to check the package to ensure that the batch is gluten-free.
Are Nerds' Gummy Clusters Gluten-Free?
According to the company, Nerds gummy clusters are gluten-free based on the ingredients. However, they have a statement that says, "This product was manufactured in a facility where milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soy are used in the production of other products."
This means that the possibility of cross-contamination during processing makes the Nerds gummy clusters not gluten-free.
Are Nerd Ropes Gluten-Free?
Nerds Rope candies allergy warning only says that they may contain eggs. This makes the safer of the two options if you want something besides the traditional nerds and still stay gluten-free.
Are Big Chewy Nerds Gluten-Free?
The Big Chewy Nerds don't contain any obvious gluten ingredients, so they are likely gluten-free. However, note that these are not tested for gluten-free certification.
In Conclusion, Are Nerds Safe to Eat on a Gluten-Free Diet?
Yes, the original Nerds candy is considered gluten-free and safe for those who eat a gluten-free diet. Always check the individual packing for any possible ingredient or manufacturing changes that could make them not gluten-free.
If you want something more fun, opt for the Nerds rope, which doesn't have the allergy warning for wheat, instead of the Nerds gummy clusters, which have a possibility of cross-contamination.
| Original Nerds | No gluten ingredients or warning |
| Nerds' Gummy Clusters | Gluten allergy warning |
| Nerd Ropes | No gluten ingredients or warning |
| Big Chewy Nerds + Sour | No gluten ingredients or warning |
| Nerds Candy Corn | Gluten allergy warning |
| Nerds Tangy Candy Canes | No gluten ingredients or warning |
Note: Some people have tested Nerds using a Nima sensor and have found Nerds safe to eat on a gluten-free diet. That said, always be sure to check the package for clear details.
More Gluten-Free Candy Details
Check out and see if some of your other favorite candies are actually gluten-free. If you don't see your favorite and aren't sure, drop me a comment below, 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.
Leave a comment.