Beware Of The Candy Heart

[Rivergirl]

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/

[kenlove]

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]

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]

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

[kenlove]

Gret minds think alike <G>

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

[blueeyedmanda]

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]

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.

[larry mac]

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.

best regards, lm

[blueeyedmanda]

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.

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[debmidge]

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)

[Rivergirl]

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]

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)

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!