Scott Adams
In 1994 I was diagnosed with celiac disease, which led me to create Celiac.com in 1995. I created this site for a single purpose: To help as many people as possible with celiac disease get diagnosed so they can begin to live happy, healthy gluten-free lives. Celiac.com was the first site on the Internet dedicated solely to celiac disease, and since then it has become an invaluable resource to people worldwide who seek information about celiac disease and the gluten-free diet.
In 1998 I created The Gluten-Free Mall, Your Special Diet Superstore! which was also another Internet first—it was the first gluten-free food site to offer a shopping cart-style interface, and the ability for people to order gluten-free products manufactured by many different companies at a single Web site.
I am also co-author of the book Cereal Killers, and founder and publisher of Journal of Gluten Sensitivity.
New M&M's Label Now Says "May Contain Wheat"
- By Scott Adams
- Published 12/1/2010
Update from Sarah Ann Harwick 12/03/2010:
Original Blog Post:
I just got this bit of bad news today. Unfortunately I've received some warnings from celiacs who have found that M&M's may no longer be gluten-free. A call to their customer service line still indicates that all M&M's are gluten-free (except for the new Pretzel M&M's), however, when you actually speak to a real person they will indicate that all M&M's are made on shared lines and may be cross-contaminated due to the fact that the pretzel M&M's are made on those lines.
I certainly hope that this is not the case, but early indications lead me to believe that this may be so.
I urge everyone to share your disappointment with this by calling them directly at: 800-627-7852.
"Because we seemed to be getting different answers from the MARS company, I decided to call back and speak with a manager about the recent "may contain wheat" warming I found on the Mint M&M's.
Only the Mint and Speckled (both holiday specials) are produced on
the same lines as the pretzel M&M's, and although they do clean the
lines between production, there is the possibility of cross contamination, which is why they now have the wheat warning on them.
She said all of the other M&M's are still gluten free."
Original Blog Post:
I just got this bit of bad news today. Unfortunately I've received some warnings from celiacs who have found that M&M's may no longer be gluten-free. A call to their customer service line still indicates that all M&M's are gluten-free (except for the new Pretzel M&M's), however, when you actually speak to a real person they will indicate that all M&M's are made on shared lines and may be cross-contaminated due to the fact that the pretzel M&M's are made on those lines.
I certainly hope that this is not the case, but early indications lead me to believe that this may be so.
I urge everyone to share your disappointment with this by calling them directly at: 800-627-7852.
Spread The Word
13 Responses to "New M&M's Label Now Says "May Contain Wheat"" 
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said this on
06 Dec 2010 8:07:15 AM PDT I have been having DH break outs periodically since Halloween and had started to suspect the peanut M&M's I was eating. I hadn't had problems with m&ms in the past so I didn't immediately go there. I quit eating them and the problem cleared up. This news seems to substantiate my suspicions. (Very Sad Face!)
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said this on
09 Dec 2010 9:43:02 AM PDT I just called the Mars company and the representative insisted that the peanut M&M's were produced on a designated belt and there was no possibility of cross contamination. I can only take their word for it.
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said this on
18 Dec 2010 12:14:02 PM PDT Dear posters:
All M&Ms are made actually in separate parts of the factories that make them. I have a daughter who eats M&Ms (the plain ones) and has never had an issue despite her gluten allergy test came out in the 95 out of 100 range. All peanut butter, peanut and almond M&Ms are made in one part of the factory. Plain chocolates are made in another and the pretzels ones are made entirely in another as well. To make sure that kids with and without nut allergies can have their products, each of the categories are made in separate factories. People please do your research more. |
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said this on
18 Dec 2010 12:17:03 PM PDT Oh to let this person know who was concerned about the MINT M&Ms:
The mint flavoring is more of an "alcohol-based" mint flavoring. Alcohol has a gluten in it. Hence the warning label. |
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said this on
24 Dec 2010 9:38:33 PM PDT earlier this year I had a gluten reaction to peanut m&ms that I had eaten before, but they are off my list after a 3 day sick
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said this on
05 Jan 2012 8:34:32 PM PDT I just accidentally ate the new mint M&M's today around 3pm, I didn't think twice because in my mind had the thought "all M&M's are GF except pretzel ones" and by 10pm I am having cramping, gurgling and other not so pleasant reactions... And I'm not even full-on celiac, only gluten sensitive/intolerant...and I normally don't have a reaction to things that "may be made on same lines as gluten products" like I can eat Hidden Valley Ranch without any issues, only things that directly contain gluten ingredients give me trouble normally...I'm confused but will steer clear of these from now on anyway....
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said this on
15 Apr 2012 1:52:44 AM PDT Up in the middle of the night sick. The only thing suspect - the peanut M&Ms. I didn't read the label myself (trusted my husband who claimed I could eat them....). Went online tonight between potty breaks to look up the ingredient list. I found a disclaimer on the M&M site *lists all sorts of foods that people are allergic too, included was "wheat". Apparently the Mars company has this disclaimer there for a reason on their site? What I didn't find was 'an ingredient list'. Husband threw the bag away.... However, I found this blog, where others like you have had issues. Now I feel certain that there is something about the new peanut M&M that is making me sick. I didn't eat anything else that was "unknown". I'm not certain what ingredient is the culprit though - because the person above who's daughter apparently works for Mars company believes that they are not made in a part of the factory where the pretzels are, for example. Mystery.
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said this on
15 May 2012 5:33:49 AM PDT I too am beginning to suspect that they are not aware of a hidden source. Several times now I've been sick in the morning and it's the only thing I ate that wasn't fruit, veg, or meat! I no longer trust peanut M&Ms.
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said this on
12 Jun 2012 12:03:13 PM PDT I have been enjoying a "fun pack" a day of plain M&Ms all week and now have dermatitis herpetiformis all over my lips and am suffering from fatigue and diarrhea. I just noticed the individual packages (but not the main bag) say "may contain peanuts." I strongly suspect the bags contain cross contaminated gluten as well.
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said this on
24 Jul 2012 3:28:04 AM PDT Ate a bunch of Peanut Butter M&M's and am now bloated, etc. In pain... there must be something I'm sensitive to in them.
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01 Aug 2012 12:41:06 PM PDT Just went to the M&M Store in Las Vegas. My daughter chose mostly plain with a few mint and raspberry flavored candies. She hadn't eaten M&Ms in quite a while, but she had never had a reaction before. The day she began eating the M&Ms from Vegas she became very ill. We had already suspected the M&Ms of being contaminated but after reading the comments on this site I am now convinced they contained gluten. Mars just lost one more customer.
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said this on
20 Dec 2012 4:45:57 PM PDT Those Mint M&M's are evil. I snacked on some yesterday and suffered for it today. I could swear I was OK eating these last year. I wonder if something changed in the production to make it drastically worse or if I've just gotten more sensitive to gluten.
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said this on
28 Mar 2013 12:22:46 PM PDT I have recently been told that I am gluten intolerant but have not confirmed celiac disease. I have noticed as the rest on here that M&Ms bother me. Especially the mint ones. I will now stay away from them.
I really was just beginning to think that I developed an allergy to chocolate. I will try only plain or peanut ones and see how it goes. |