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Gluten Free Candy, Dairy Free Candy, Allergy Friendly Candy, Vegan Candy

Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Allergy Friendly Candy, Vegan Options Too

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Today I want to share some great info with you about candy and non-food items you can use to celebrate holidays such as Easter, Christmas, and Halloween. Whether you’re managing a child with food allergies, are hosting children with food allergies, or are managing food allergies yourself, this handy article can help you when you’re shopping for confectionary treats. Be sure to share this article with friends, family members, teachers, etc. so they can purchase inclusive candy as well.

Candy, with all of its pros and cons, is one of those little things that bring joy to just about everyone. Kids love it, adults love it, grandparents love to hand it out 🙂 When you’re living with food allergies, food intolerances, special diets, and other dietary restrictions, it can be really hard to feel included.

So, from fruit snacks to hard candies, to dairy free milk chocolate bars, let’s dive into all things sugary treats.

Inclusion is Something I’m REALLY Big About

I want to help build a world where everyone is included because isolation is awful. Given my health and medical condition, it’s been years since I’ve shared a meal with another human. Whilst you do get used to it, it can take a toll on you. As an adult that lives this life, I hate the idea of a child experiencing isolation/exclusion regularly.

If you don’t already know about the Teal Pumpkin Project, be sure to take a look. Teal is the color for food allergies (like pink for breast cancer). The short of it is: place a teal pumpkin at your door and offer non-food treats and items as an alternative to Halloween candy for kids with food allergies and other dietary restrictions.

The idea is that the children with food allergies can experience the enjoyment of trick-or-treating with friends and family, and still get to have something in their bag as well.

Here’s a little variety of items you can pick up inexpensively to hand out:

  • Bubbles
  • Stickers
  • Little Trinket Toys
  • Inexpensive Toy Cars
  • Glow Sticks
  • Costume Jewelry
  • Bouncy Balls

Honestly, the Teal Pumpkin Project is so inclusive it almost makes you want to cry. There’s even an online registry where you can add your house to a map, and food allergy parents can see the best areas to take their kiddos to. What’s really radical is stores like Michael’s and Target are selling teal pumpkins now. Whilst it’s sad to see the diagnosis rate of food allergies go up, it’s awesome to see people come together to make the world a little more inclusive.

Related Product Review: Glee Gum Candy Tarts

Sharing My Personal Favorite Brands for Allergy Friendly Candy

There are a few key features that are required to be one my favorites, and a brand I’ll share and talk about. First, no weird ingredients. I know there are a few conventional brands that are allergy friendly and even top 8 allergy free, but I can’t support the ingredients on principle. In recent years, many have been sued because they continue to use ingredients that are known to cause cancer and other health ailments.

Second, the equipment these candies are made on is something I focus on a lot (more on this later). “Allergy Friendly” is an unregulated term whereas gluten-free and several others have a very defined definition. Most people, when asked, will tell you that “allergy friendly” means they can personally eat it. Talk about the wild wild west.

To me though, allergy friendly means that a good chunk of the free-from community can consume the product. I like to see the item be free from at least 4 major allergens, if not more. Additionally, the equipment matters so much to me because not everyone can eat food made on shared equipment.

Through my work, I’ve found that approximately 30% of people with food allergies can’t consume trace amounts of allergens, and need food made on free-from equipment. I’m a firm believer that if you feed the 30, you feed 100. Hence, to be one of my favorites, you need clean equipment, free from what you claim to be free-from.

My Favorite Top Candy Brands Are:

NOTE: The facility notes I’ve included can change at any time. Always contact companies before trying something new.

More Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Vegan Candy Choices

My kids haven’t tried most of the brands here, however, I know them to be allergy friendly brands. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s website for further allergen information to make sure they’re a good fit for you. Some of the brands here do use shared equipment. and not all are top 8/9 allergy free.

For example, Yum Earth has some allergens present on their lines, they are very transparent about it (on their website). When you visit their website, go to the FAQ section, then find the allergen portion. It’s not super easy to navigate last I checked, but the info IS there. You’ll be able to see equipment/allergens by product.

Finding More Allergy Friendly Candy Options

If you haven’t seen the Spokin app, you need to check it out ASAP. You know now that I’m not one to promote foods and ingredients I’m not willing to purchase for my own kids. However, I’m not one to stop the next person from getting it.

If you’d like to dive into the allergen information for products such as Smarties, Sour Patch Kids, Skittles, Jelly Belly, M&Ms, Laffy Taffy, Swedish Fish, Tootsie Pops, Ring Pops, Twizzlers, and Jolly Ranchers, go to the Spokin App.

They’ve curated great information on the ingredients, and where possible, on the facility as well.

What Are the Major Allergens

Here in the United States, we previously had the top 8 allergies, and now we have the top 9 allergies. The top 9 allergens are:

Wheat, Milk, Egg, Soy, Peanut, Tree Nut, Fish, Shellfish, and Sesame.

As of January 2025, coconut will no longer be classified as a tree nut as per the FDA for the sake of labeling laws. Until now, coconut had to be labeled as a tree nut.

There are mixed reactions to this because whilst coconuts are not botanical tree nuts (like almonds or pistachios), those with a coconut allergy found shopping a little easier since it had to be called out on the label.

Canada has the Top 11 Allergens, and those are: Eggs, Milk, Mustard, Peanuts, Crustaceans & Mollusks, Fish, Sesame Seeds, Soy, Sulfites, Tree Nuts, Wheat, Triticale & Gluten Containing Cereals (rye, barley, oats).

In Europe, and other select countries, they have the top 14 allergens. Whilst I can’t suggest candy brands outside of the US, the top 14 allergens are: Cereals Containing Gluten (wheat, rye, barley, oats), Crustaceans, Eggs, Fish, Peanuts, Soybean, Milk, Nuts, Celery, Mustard, Sesame, and Added Sulfite above 10mg/KG.

For EU & UK readers, check out The Raw Chocolate Company. They may be a promising lead for you.

Just Because It’s Certified Gluten-Free Doesn’t Mean Gluten-Free Equipment

A lot of people don’t know this, but, more than 70% of foods certified gluten free (and not just USDA, but all certifiers) are made on shared equipment with wheat. To make matters worse, it’s not required that they disclose this information the label. Really stop and think about that.

I’ve called over 400 companies that claim to be gluten free and that’s how I learned about this. One manufacturer actually told me that the product is made on shared equipment with wheat, and they test for cross-contact ONCE PER YEAR. Not every batch, not every month, but once a year.

Not only is that wildly irresponsible, consumers may not connect the dots if they are having reactions to products that *seem* safe based on the packaging and product labels.

So, if you have questions or concerns because you can’t tolerate trace amounts of allergens, please make sure you reach out to the manufacturer to better understand their process.

Understand the Lingo

It’s so important that you know which buzz words mean what, so let’s break it down.

  • Wheat Free is not Gluten Free
  • Gluten Free is Wheat Free
  • Vegan is Milk Free, Egg Free, Honey Free, and Insect Free
  • Vegan Can Contain: Wheat, Gluten, Tree Nuts, Soy, Peanut, Sesame
  • Lactose Free is Not Milk Free
  • Organic Doesn’t Indicate Allergy Status
  • Non-GMO Doesn’t Indicate Allergy Status

Now, there’s one huge caveat to this in today’s modern world: lab engineered proteins. Vegan no longer always means milk free. The world is seeing a rollout (that’s still small) of vegan products that contain lab grown milk proteins. If you are allergic to milk, you can have an allergic reaction to lab grown proteins. Please read this article in full for more information.

Vegan Foods Aren't Always Dairy Free

Holiday & Fun Size Candy Warning

Many people don’t know this, but the fun size package of popular conventional candies don’t always share the same allergy status, especially the gluten free status.

I’m referring to things like fun sized Snickers Bars, mini packs of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, fun size Twix, and so on. Companies such as Mars and Hershey should be able to quickly tell you what’s safe if you reach out to them.

Dairy Free + Vegan White Chocolate (Soy Free As Well)

Dairy-free and vegan white chocolates seems to be all the rage and people are always shocked, which cracks me up a bit, because it’s been around for years. If nothing else, this highlights the fact that so many GOOD free-from companies just aren’t known, and i wish I had the power to change that.

For now, here are brands that makes dairy free + vegan + allergy friendly white chocolate:

  • Pascha Chocolate
  • No Whey Chocolate
  • Enjoy Life Foods
  • Sacred Heart (not nut-free)

Each of these brands offer white chocolate, but be sure it’s safe for you. For what it’s worth, my kids prefer regular chocolate and I mainly use white chocolate for special pastry projects.

Hands On Gluten Free + Vegan + Allergy Friendly Kits

If you’re looking for treats that serve as activities, I want to let you know about Little GF Chefs and Pastry Base.

Little GF Chefs, as the name implies, is gluten free. However, they’re also top 9 allergy free as well. They sell food kids (both sweet and savory) that come with just about everything you need for a fun food activity. Their gingerbread house is especially fun during the holidays.

Pastry Base offers mixes and baking kits, including a Valentine’s Day kit. They have a solid allergen statement on their website that currently lets you know that their products may be processed near facilities that store peanuts.

Yum Earth now also offers an allergy friendly gingerbread house, as does Sensitive Sweets. Be sure to read the equipment/facility information for these two brands.

More Vegan Friendly, Allergy Friendly Treats

Gluten Free Gummy Bears & Vegan Gummy Bears

There are a few brands that are doing well with gluten free gummies as well as vegan gummies. This isn’t an exhaustive list, but some really great companies to look into.

  • Kiss My Keto (contains coconut)
  • Surf Sweets Organic Fruity Bears
  • Yum Earth
  • Yupik Organic Fruit Gummy Bears (Vegan, may contain peanuts tree nuts, coconut, soy)

VegoBears (organic, gluten free, vegan gummy bears) gets a somewhat honorable mention. They make a gluten free gummy bear in France, however, the package clearly says contains wheat. You’ll need to reach out to them to see which of their ingredients is wheat derived because on the surface, it looks like a wheat free product. It’s most likely one of their flavouring agents.

Gluten Free, Dairy Free Allergy Friendly Valentine’s Day Candy & Treats

For Valentine’s Day, I’ve seen several brands create packages of small sized (fun size) treats that are perfect for class parties. There are also a couple of brands that naturally lend themselves to Valentine’s Day due to the indulgence the products deliver. Here are brands to specifically check for Valentine’s day:

  • Amore di Mona
  • Blake’s Seed Base (the strawberry crispy rice treats play into the red/pink theme)
  • No Whey Chocolate
  • Made Good Foods
  • Partake Foods
  • Rule Breaker
  • Surf Sweets
  • Yum Earth

Dairy Free, Gluten Free Allergy Friendly Christmas Candy & Treats

Most of the allergy friendly candy brands I’ve mentioned in this article offer some kind of Christmas treat. It’s either a special flavour such as peppermint, or it’s repackaged to look super festive. Here are the brands I’d look into first for gluten free, vegan, allergy friendly Christmas candy.

Quick Rundown: How to Read Labels

There are few main components to a food label. First, there’s the buzz words on the front (Vegan, Non-GMO, Plant-Based, Seed Oil Free, Gluten Free, No Nuts, School Safe, and so on). These should only be seen as a guide, not the Gospel Truth.

Second, the list of ingredients. This is what you want to start to focus on. Read through all of the words and look for ingredients you’re allergic or intolerant to. If you see something you can’t have, put it back and move on.

Third, the Contains Statement. With labeling laws, major allergens have to be called out either in bold, or in a contains statement. Every so often you’ll come across a company that didn’t print the label properly, but usually it’s there. It will say something like “Contains: Milk, Soy”. That tells you the major allergens are present in the product.

Fourth, the completely voluntary May Contain statement. There’s no regulation forcing companies to add this which is why sometimes you’ll see it and sometimes you won’t. “May Contain: Peanut, Tree Nuts”. This means that the equipment and/or facility contains peanuts and tree nuts. The only way to get more details is to talk to the company directly.

Reading labels is your first line of defense to staying safe. Sure, there are mistakes sometimes, but usually, the label is correct. If you’re managing a child with food allergies, food sensitivities, etc., it’s critical that you teach them how to read labels as well. Don’t just have them look for a Contains Statement, but really learn to read a full label. This builds confidence in your children and teaches them how to start managing their dietary restriction.

My free eCourse, Food Allergy Help 101: Hidden Allergens dives really deep into this topic.

How Gluten and Wheat Hides in Candy

There are a few ways that your candy may contain wheat and/or gluten ingredients. Your first line of defense will always be the ingredient list. There you’ll find the list of ingredients and you’ll want to keep an eye out for ingredients such as wheat, wheat starch, food starch, modified food starch, and malt (those will be the top items containing gluten seen in candy, but there are others).

The second issue is cross-contact (some people say cross-contamination but that’s the wrong term for allergy). If the candy you’d like to purchase was made on shared lines/conveyor belts with gluten or wheat, there’s a risk for cross-contact. You’d have to reach out to the manufacturer for more information on their policies, procedures, and how often they test for gluten.

For those managing Celiac Disease in the United States, it’s critical to remember that gluten is not a major allergen and doesn’t need to be called out on the ingredient label when some gluten ingredients are present. You won’t see a contains or may contain statements for gluten (rye, barley, malt, etc.). You’ll only ever see contains or may contains statements for wheat (in reference to gluten).

For those who are wheat free, please be aware that some companies are now using “gluten free wheat starch” as an ingredient, and slapping a gluten free claim on the front of the package. Whilst this is allowed, it’s not wheat free and not for someone with a wheat allergy. That means you can’t rely solely on the term “gluten free” on the package to indicate that the candy is wheat free as well.

Equipment & Facility Note

For many of you, shared equipment and trace amounts and “may contain” isn’t an issue. I’m doing a happy dance and I’d ask that you eat delicious food in my honor.

For the rest of you, shared equipment (and sometimes a shared facility) just isn’t an option. You’ll have to make it a point to reach out to individual companies to get detailed information.

Knowing what’s safe is half the battle in my opinion. The other half: don’t let the diagnosis get you down. It’s easy to get upset about the lack of options, but know that you’ll either find something, or make something tasty at home.

We have to find the strength to carry on, especially if it’s our kids that have the food allergies. If you can’t find a brand that’s safe, check out the Advanced Recipe Search on RAISE, plug in all of your needs (using more than 100 free-from filters), then select the sweets and treat option to see what you can make.

Chocolate Has a High Risk of Cross-Contact

I want to make sure you hear about this PSA, because it’s very important. The equipment used to make chocolate products is notoriously difficult to clean. That doesn’t mean they’re using dirty equipment.

What it means is that chocolate products made on shared lines have a much higher risk of cross-contact.

If you are allergic to milk, I cannot stress this enough, you should be purchasing chocolate made on milk free/dairy free equipment. Even if you’re not in the 30% group I mentioned earlier, this is one product I almost always say should be purchased like you can’t do shared equipment.

The same is true if you’re allergic to tree nuts, peanuts, sesame, soy, and any other major allergen used in chocolate production. Make sure your candy stash has truly safe-for-you chocolate.

Answering Your Allergy Friendly Candy Questions

What types of candy would be good for someone who loves chocolate but is allergic to milk?

There will be a few factors and preferences to consider. First, is this for a child, or an adult? Second, do they love milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or all chocolate? Third, are they a foodie at heart and wanting to try exotic flavors? I’ll share my top picks based on these factors, then you can decide.

  • For Children: No Whey Chocolate, hands down the WINNER.
  • Adults & Dark Chocolate Lovers: Amore di Mona (also refined sugar free)
  • Foodie: Honey Mama’s
  • Clean Eater: Sacred Heart and Coracacao Confections
  • Just wants to shove chocolate chips in their mouth: Guittard and Equal Exchange (read the labels carefully to purchase the correct version)

Is it possible to buy a large box of candy free from major food allergens?

Around major holidays (Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Chanukah, Halloween), many allergy friendly brands offer a large bag/box of some of their products. Often times it’s a small fun sized version for handing out.

Outside of that, you’d have to visit the manufacturer’s website to see if they have a large box option, or call them directly. Many offer wholesale boxes, and may be able to offer you some kind of large option, even if it’s not an official wholesale package at a discounted rate.

What’s a good cookie option I can purchase for a friend with a gluten sensitivity?

I love that you care about your gluten sensitive friend and want to get them a treat. When it comes to gluten free cookies, there are a lot of brands to choose from in the organic/natural space and the conventional space.

My kids love Partake Foods, Cybele’s Free to Eat, Catalina Crunch, and Rule Breaker cookies. If you check out Phil Hates Gluten on Instagram, he’s shared gluten free cookies that are more conventional for you to choose from as well.

Who sells the best vegan chocolate bars?

From a clean/sugar free stand point, that would be Sacred Heart and Amore di Mona. From a classic American taste perspective, No Whey Chocolate.

All three brands have items you can order directly on their website. I suggest ordering an item or two from each brand, doing some taste tests, then going all in on ordering all sorts of delicious chocolate bars.

What’s a good brand of vegan marshmallows?

Dandies sells the gelatin free marshmallows my kids love. They come in a range of flavors, and recently, Dandies introduced a vegan & top 9 allergy free marshmallow fluff! Apparently this fluff makes really good vegan fudge (I have yet to make it).

During the holidays, I bake with the vegan pumpkin mini marshmallows, and my kids eat the peppermint mini marshmallows by the handful.

Does anyone sell vegan gummies?

The brand Surf Sweets is a good starting point. They have options for vegan gummies and last I checked, vegan jelly beans as well. If for some reason they don’t work out for you, check out Bear Nibbles. Technically these are really a lunch fruit snack, but they’re still a gummy “candy”.

Grizzly Bears is another interesting maker of vegan gummies. Their vegan gummy bears come in lemon, apple, orange, and strawberry flavors, and it looks like they’re using natural colors.

Is there a company that sells color free/dye free candies?

If you need 100% color free, I’d suggest looking at the chocolate companies I shared above in this article. If you need dye free/artificial colors free, and are OK with all natural dyes, the brands that I list as my favorites are a great starting point. One of my kids can’t have the artificial stuff.

Where can I purchase vegan chocolate truffles?

No Whey Chocolate! All of their products are free from animal ingredients/animal products and my kids are in love with their vegan chocolate truffles. What’s even better is that they’re also a gluten free and top 9 allergy free brand. They also have vegan candy bars you may enjoy (faux Twix, faux Snickers, nougat filled, etc.).

Are vegetarian confectionary items also vegan?

No, not always. Vegan means no animal ingredients or animal products have been used in the product. Vegan foods are also insect free (not even honey), are gelatin-free, and tend to be cruelty-free.

Vegetarian confectionary items can contain honey, milk, cream, eggs, gelatin, and a few other animal products. A vegetarian diet is free from animal flesh (meat) and fish flesh, and shellfish. They do consume byproducts, such as milk, where the animal is still alive.

Is licorice vegan?

Most licorice is vegan, including the Yum Earth version. If you’re wheat free or gluten free + vegan, then you’ll find purchasing licorice a harder task, especially if you can’t have food made on shared equipment.

In all my years of searching, I’ve only been able to find one brand I was comfortable with for my child allergic to wheat. Even though Candy Tree uses shared equipment with wheat, after speaking with the owners, my wheat free teenager decided it was worth the risk to try licorice.

Can I purchase cane sugar free caramel?

Sweet Apricity has the caramel you’re looking for. What makes this brand special is that they’re also safe for those who follow an AIP Paleo diet. Be sure to check out all of their confectionery alternatives because last I checked, they also had marshmallows.

Can I order a lot of vegan candy online?

Yes! A lot of allergy friendly and vegan candy companies take orders directly on their website. In’s incredibly helpful because many don’t have nationwide distribution. Be prepared to pay shipping costs (this isn’t Amazon Prime).

Also, if you’re placing orders during hotter months, make sure you add on the ice pack if it’s offered. The last thing you want to do is arrive home to expensive melted vegan chocolates on your doorstep.

Do any companies make gluten free, dairy free, egg free candy corn?

Jelly Belly looks to have a candy corn that would meet your needs as do Arctic Farms and Fruidles. Be sure to read the ingredients as there’s multiple forms of sugar, corn syrup, and colors, and additives. Also, none of these products claim to be vegan, and some contain honey.

Are there any brands that sell a Starburst alternative?

Yes, both Yum Earth and Torie & Howard sell chewy candies that are a Starbust alternative. My kids prefer the Torie & Howard faux Starburst, and any time I buy them they’re gone in a few days.

Is there some sort of one stop shop for gluten-free candy?

Not quite, because gluten-free candy comes in a range of options (organic, all natural, etc.). The top two helpful stores online that come to mind are VitaCost and Thrive Market. VitaCost carries a wide range of gluten free and allergy friendly options, including gluten-free candy. They also have free shipping when you spend over $50, plus there are regular sales.

Thrive Market requires a membership to shop, but I’ve heard nothing but good things about them. If you have concerns about how much gluten-free candy you’d have access to on the shop, reach out to their customer service before signing up.

Also, Gluten Free Mall has a small selection of gluten-free candy that may be new to you.

What’s a good brand for gluten free fruity chocolate bars?

I’d suggest starting with Honey Mama’s and Amore di Mona. They have some very cool fruity flavors that pair well with the chocolate.

Do any of these brands sell Easter candy?

Some, such as No Whey Chocolate and Amanda’s Own, specifically create themed candy for Easter. I’ve seen a bunny rabbit and some kind of egg in the past. I know some companies roll out festive packaging for Easter and other holidays whilst the candy stays the same.

I will add, the brands that make Easter Candy, they aren’t making new flavors, it’s their regular product in a new shape/mold, or with a different color.

If you need to, you can always purchase your go-to candy, then wrap it up in something pastel and pretty.

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