Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Beware Of The Candy Heart

Rivergirl

Recommended Posts

Rivergirl Apprentice
Rivergirl
Posted

I am experiencing my first Valentine's day after being diagnoses nealy 6 months ago, so I learn some things the hard way. A couple weeks ago, I treated myself to a Valentine's day mix of candy. I filled the candy dishes and nibbled on a few of my favorits. Those Candy Hearts with those cute little sayings are truly one of my favorites. Not more than three hours after my last nibble, I found myself rushing to the bathroom. I went back to the store and did a careful label read and to my surprise those Candy Hearts contain wheat.

Are there other holiday candies that have gluten - jelly beans? gummy bears? jelly hearts? heart shaped gum drops?

I am hopeful a few of them are safe so I can refill the candy dishes... Thanks for your insight/

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


kenlove Rising Star
kenlove
Posted

Maybe it depends on the maker. This is from the Open Original Shared Link site

which makes sweethearts.

Which Necco products are Gluten Free?

We make the following products which do not contain gluten from wheat, rye, oats or barley: Necco Wafers, Mary Janes, Mary Jane Peanut Butter Kisses, Sweethearts Conversation Hearts (Valentines only), Canada Mint & Wintergreen Lozenges, Haviland Thin Mints and Candy Stix

In addition, Clark Bars, Skybars, Haviland Peppermint & Wintergreen Patties, Necco Candy Eggs (Easter), Talking Pumpkins (Halloween), Squirrel Nut Caramels and Squirrel Nut Zippers, Banana Split and Mint Julep Chews, ULTRAMINTS are also gluten free.

What kind did you have?

ken

I am experiencing my first Valentine's day after being diagnoses nealy 6 months ago, so I learn some things the hard way. A couple weeks ago, I treated myself to a Valentine's day mix of candy. I filled the candy dishes and nibbled on a few of my favorits. Those Candy Hearts with those cute little sayings are truly one of my favorites. Not more than three hours after my last nibble, I found myself rushing to the bathroom. I went back to the store and did a careful label read and to my surprise those Candy Hearts contain wheat.

Are there other holiday candies that have gluten - jelly beans? gummy bears? jelly hearts? heart shaped gum drops?

I am hopeful a few of them are safe so I can refill the candy dishes... Thanks for your insight/

Nina12488 Rookie
Nina12488
Posted

ohh im sorry! i'm pretty sure the Necco candy hearts are gluten free!

Which Necco products are Gluten Free?

We make the following products which do not contain gluten from wheat, rye, oats or barley: Necco Wafers, Mary Janes, Mary Jane Peanut Butter Kisses, Sweethearts Conversation Hearts (Valentines only), Canada Mint & Wintergreen Lozenges, Haviland Thin Mints and Candy Stix

In addition, Clark Bars, Skybars, Haviland Peppermint & Wintergreen Patties, Necco Candy Eggs (Easter), Talking Pumpkins (Halloween), Squirrel Nut Caramels and Squirrel Nut Zippers, Banana Split and Mint Julep Chews, ULTRAMINTS are also gluten free.

thats from their website! goodluck!

Nina12488 Rookie
Nina12488
Posted

hahaha sorry didn't realize you already posted that same exact information!

kenlove Rising Star
kenlove
Posted

Gret minds think alike <G>

hahaha sorry didn't realize you already posted that same exact information!
blueeyedmanda Community Regular
blueeyedmanda
Posted

yep Necco ones are safe, those are the only ones I ever see in the stores, which company makes the other type so I can be on the look-out?

happygirl Collaborator
happygirl
Posted

I picked up some Reese's PB hearts, in a bag, recently. Only after I got home did I realize they had wheat in them (whereas the regular PB cups do not have wheat).

A good reminder for me to always read labels.

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


larry mac Enthusiast
larry mac
Posted

Sorry you had to learn a lesson the hard way. I never ever buy any food product without reading the ingredients first. Even at home, I reread the ingredients often. I just don't trust my memory enough. I almost bought some Bush's chili beans the other day before I noticed they contained wheat flour. Of course I had previously discovered that, but didn't remember.

It's hard having Celiac. B)

best regards, lm

blueeyedmanda Community Regular
blueeyedmanda
Posted
Sorry you had to learn a lesson the hard way. I never ever buy any food product without reading the ingredients first. Even at home, I reread the ingredients often. I just don't trust my memory enough. I almost bought some Bush's chili beans the other day before I noticed they contained wheat flour. Of course I had previously discovered that, but didn't remember.

It's hard having Celiac. B)

best regards, lm

I understand where you are coming from Larry, sometimes I will read a label at the store and think it is fine....and get home to find it to say barley or wheat.....I have been doing this for years and I still miss things. Its one of those you learn something new every day deals :)

Worriedtodeath Enthusiast
Worriedtodeath
Posted
I picked up some Reese's PB hearts, in a bag, recently. Only after I got home did I realize they had wheat in them (whereas the regular PB cups do not have wheat).

A good reminder for me to always read labels.

Do you remember what the ingredient was? I just bought a 6 pack of reese's peanut butter hearts and it didn't have anything I recognized as wheat.

It had the following:

peanuts, sugar, dextrose, vegetable oil(cocoa butter, palm, shea, sunflower and/or safflower oil), chocolate, nonfat milk contains 2% or less of milk fat, lactose (milk) salt, whey, (milk) partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (palm kernel and palm oil) corn syrup, soy lecithin, cornstarch, glycerin, TBHQ (perservative) PGPR, emulsifier, vanillin, artifical flavor

We checked the website and it sounded good. I'm fairly new at this and am still trying to make sure I understand which word I can't pronounce is a wheat product. I compared all to the list of no nos and good to go list I found here and thought everything was fine.

HELP!

It's the only thing my son loves and I got a lot OF IT!!!

Thanks

Stacie

buffettbride Enthusiast
buffettbride
Posted

We buy Necco candy hearts because they are gluten-free and have eaten them regularly this season with no problems.

Brachs who also makes them will not guarantee the gluten-free status of any of their products.

happygirl Collaborator
happygirl
Posted
Do you remember what the ingredient was? I just bought a 6 pack of reese's peanut butter hearts and it didn't have anything I recognized as wheat.

It had the following:

peanuts, sugar, dextrose, vegetable oil(cocoa butter, palm, shea, sunflower and/or safflower oil), chocolate, nonfat milk contains 2% or less of milk fat, lactose (milk) salt, whey, (milk) partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (palm kernel and palm oil) corn syrup, soy lecithin, cornstarch, glycerin, TBHQ (perservative) PGPR, emulsifier, vanillin, artifical flavor

We checked the website and it sounded good. I'm fairly new at this and am still trying to make sure I understand which word I can't pronounce is a wheat product. I compared all to the list of no nos and good to go list I found here and thought everything was fine.

HELP!

It's the only thing my son loves and I got a lot OF IT!!!

Thanks

Stacie

Stacie: It was a bag of small hearts. And "wheat" was clearly listed (not hidden). The allergen statement said wheat on my bag. Yours looks fine and is what I am used to seeing....I would eat those. No worries!

Worriedtodeath Enthusiast
Worriedtodeath
Posted

Thank GOD!!! I'm pretty adept now at ruling out the obvious wheat but those gluten cover up names are still not second nature yet.

Thanks

Stacie

I'm glad I put back the bag of little hearts because I didn't want him to eat that much :D

debmidge Rising Star
debmidge
Posted
I picked up some Reese's PB hearts, in a bag, recently. Only after I got home did I realize they had wheat in them (whereas the regular PB cups do not have wheat).

A good reminder for me to always read labels.

why does Reese haveeee to do this!? (i.e., put wheat in product when obviously they don't need to as they make it wheat free too) :o:(

Rivergirl Apprentice
Rivergirl
Posted
  • Author

I went back to the store last night where I read the label on the Candy Hearts. The company is Mayfair. They do not list wheat as ingredients but they do clearly state that the candy is made in a facility that manufactures products containing wheat. Mayfair does not have a website that I could find, but I did find a list of other candy it produces which is quite extensive, so I can see where cross contamination must be an issue.

happygirl Collaborator
happygirl
Posted
why does Reese haveeee to do this!? (i.e., put wheat in product when obviously they don't need to as they make it wheat free too) :o:(

Isn't there another instance of one of the "mini" ones not being safe? I think I remember hearing that a year or two ago. Like a special/holiday one....snickers, maybe? Does that ring a bell?

Its frustrating!

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      131,679
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    mark mcdonald
    Newest Member
    mark mcdonald
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.4k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Draft gluten-free ciders… can they be trusted ?

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I'd go with a vodka tonic, but that's just me😉
    • Rejoicephd
      Draft gluten-free ciders… can they be trusted ?

      By Rejoicephd · Posted

      That and my nutritionist also said that drinking cider is one of the worst drink choices for me, given that I have candida overgrowth.  She said the combination of the alcohol and sugar would be very likely to worsen my candida problem.  She suggested that if I drink, I go for clear vodka, either neat or with a splash of cranberry.   So in summary, I am giving ciders a rest.  Whether it's a gluten risk or sugars and yeast overgrowth, its just not worth it.
    • Inkie
      Tea Bags and Gluten

      By Inkie · Posted

      Thank you for the information ill will definitely bring it into practice .
    • Scott Adams
      Tea Bags and Gluten

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      While plain, pure tea leaves (black, green, or white) are naturally gluten-free, the issue often lies not with the tea itself but with other ingredients or processing. Many flavored teas use barley malt or other gluten-containing grains as a flavoring agent, which would be clearly listed on the ingredient label. Cross-contamination is another possibility, either in the facility where the tea is processed or, surprisingly, from the tea bag material itself—some tea bags are sealed with a wheat-based glue. Furthermore, it's important to consider that your reaction could be to other substances in tea, such as high levels of tannins, which can be hard on the stomach, or to natural histamines or other compounds that can cause a non-celiac immune response. The best way to investigate is to carefully read labels for hidden ingredients, try switching to a certified gluten-free tea brand that uses whole leaf or pyramid-style bags, and see if the reaction persists.
    • Scott Adams
      Inconclusive results

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      This is a challenging and confusing situation. The combination of a positive EMA—which is a highly specific marker rarely yielding false positives—alongside strongly elevated TTG on two separate occasions, years apart, is profoundly suggestive of celiac disease, even in the absence of biopsy damage. This pattern strongly aligns with what is known as "potential celiac disease," where the immune system is clearly activated, but intestinal damage has not yet become visible under the microscope. Your concern about the long-term risk of continued gluten consumption is valid, especially given your family's experience with the consequences of delayed diagnosis. Since your daughter is now at an age where her buy-in is essential for a gluten-free lifestyle, obtaining a definitive answer is crucial for her long-term adherence and health. Given that she is asymptomatic yet serologically positive, a third biopsy now, after a proper 12-week challenge, offers the best chance to capture any microscopic damage that may have developed, providing the concrete evidence needed to justify the dietary change. This isn't about wanting her to have celiac; it's about wanting to prevent the insidious damage that can occur while waiting for symptoms to appear, and ultimately giving her the unambiguous "why" she needs to accept and commit to the necessary treatment. This article might be helpful. It breaks down each type of test, and what a positive results means in terms of the probability that you might have celiac disease. One test that always needs to be done is the IgA Levels/Deficiency Test (often called "Total IGA") because some people are naturally IGA deficient, and if this is the case, then certain blood tests for celiac disease might be false-negative, and other types of tests need to be done to make an accurate diagnosis. The article includes the "Mayo Clinic Protocol," which is the best overall protocol for results to be ~98% accurate.    
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.