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Halloween List: Allergy-Friendly Candies and Treats

Allergic Living — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 14:30:20 +0000

Head down to the nearest Halloween candy aisle or online candy retailer and you’ll see loads of packages displaying the peanut-free symbol. And you’ll find many other top allergens out of the Halloween pile as well: literally dozens of food companies are now offering allergy-friendly or gluten-free treats, making life ghoulishly simple and safer for all.

We’ve added some new favorites to our growing list this year. Trick or treat! – Allergic Living Staff

New Raves

Organic Lollipops from YummyEarth are free of gluten, dairy, soy, peanuts and tree nuts; the unique flavors like Hot Chili and Soup Apple appeal to goblins of all ages. Visit YummyEarth (U.S.) or Yummy Earth (Canada).

Spooky Spiders from Surf Sweets are 90% organic with no artificial colors or sweeteners and will have the monsters howling. No top allergens. Check out their website for great allergy friendly Halloween recipe ideas. Mummy Gummys, anyone?

The Spider Web from Ange Gardien. Get back at scary Mrs. Spider by taking a nice big bite of chocolatey goodness. No nuts, peanuts, dairy or egg.

Happy Halloween Lollies (right) from Amanda’s Own Confections are so good it’s scary! The chocolate lollipops are dairy-, tree nut-, peanut-, egg- and gluten-free.

Vermont Nut Free has beautiful peanut- and nut-free chocolates to ease sweet cravings this Halloween. Three-inch by three-inch Crispy Jack O’Lanterns would be a perfect way to show that the Great Pumpkin has visited. Individual Witch (and Ghost and Scarecrow) Shapes are a considerable 1.2 oz. and always popular.

Not everyone has a sweet tooth. Just say “No” to the candy hangover and give out fun, no-eat treats!

Hasbro’s individual Play-Doh Pots in Halloween colors (photo, right) are sure to amuse. Do contain wheat. Find in U.S.: Walmart, Target, Toys “R” Us, Amazon.com.

Non-food ideas at Costco: Disney-themed Playing Cards or 50 Puzzle Erasers. Note: small parts; not suitable for young children.

Among Our Faves

Always read labels to make sure ingredients haven’t changed.

Amanda’s Own – See above, plus Happy Halloween Bag.
Free of: tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, gluten, dairy, sesame – click here

Ange Gardien Foods – Awesome chocolate bars and candies, with Halloween special treats.
Free of: tree nuts, peanuts, dairy and eggs – click here

Divvies – Delicious gourmet chocolate ghosts, bats and gorgeous Halloween jellybeans.
Free of: tree nuts, peanuts, eggs and dairy – click here

Gimbal’s Fine Candies – delicious gourmet jelly beans.
Free of: the top 8 allergens and no high-fructose corn syrup – click here

Hershey’s Twizzlers – A variety of great licorice products.
Free of: peanuts, tree nuts – click here

Indie Candy – The naturally gourmet sweets makers have a ghoulishly tasty product line. Ghost and bat lollipops and more.
Free of: Dairy, nuts, peanuts. No artificial colors or preservatives – click here

Nestlé Fav*Rites (Canada only) – Smarties, Kit Kat, Aero, Coffee Crisp and Kit Kat (snack sizes), peanut-free facility..
Free of: peanuts and tree nuts – click here

Pure Fun – Halloween lollipops, 6 flavors.
Free of: gluten and all top allergens – click here

Smarties (in U.S.; known as Rockets in Canada) – These melt-in-your-mouth candies are a Halloween tradition.
Free of: gluten, tree nuts, peanuts, eggs and dairy – click here

Next: Yet more safe candies!

Best Safe Candy, Bunnies for Easter

Allergic Living — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 16:15:57 +0000

AL’s editors explore what’s on offer for those avoiding some of the top allergens for Easter and Passover. Most are peanut-free, nut-free and dairy-free. We indicate when they’re free of gluten or other top allergens, too.

Updated for 2013 with files from Erin Stevenson, Website Coordinator

Available in the United States and Canada

Amanda’s Own Confections – This year offers an impressive selection, includng the stately Garden Bunny Box containing 17 individually-wrapped chocolate basket-holding bunnies. Also available are chocolate Passover and Easter lollipops. All products are gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free and nut- and peanut-free. Shop at www.amandasown.com or www.peanutfreeplanet.com.

Divvies – You may know them for their divine free-from cupcakes, but Divvies’ owners also produce gourmet candy and at this time of year, make that a high-caliber solid chocolate bunny who’s peanut-, tree nut-, milk-, egg-, and gluten-free. All your bases covered! Also available for your basket: delicious jelly beans in springtime pastels. Available at Whole Foods locations in the U.S. and Canada. For more stores visit www.divvies.com.

Gimbal’s Fine Candies – Liven up an Easter basket with jelly beans in 41 lip-smacking flavors – free of gluten and the Top 8 food allergens. Available at grocers throughout the U.S. and in Canada at select Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart and London Drugs stores. Also buy online at www.gimbalscandy.com or www.peanutfreeplanet.com.

Premium Chocolatiers – Just the thing for a teen or adult gift: Premium’s dozen Egg Truffles, fashioned from exquisite fudge that’s dairy-free, gluten-free, nut-free and egg-free. (They do contain soy.) Plus, for the younger set, there’s the big bunny holding a decorated egg, free-from foil-wrapped chocolate eggs, and a box of ganache-filled white rabbits. The company also offers a wide assortment of boxed chocolates and truffles suitable for kosher pareve diets. Order at www.premiumchocolatiers.com.

Next: More great Easter/Passover treats

Valentine’s Day: The Allergy-Friendly Candy List

Jenny Kales — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:16:34 +0000

Here’s some sweet news for all you last-minute Valentine’s Day shoppers: Supermarket and drugstore seasonal candy finds are becoming more and more allergy-friendly and gluten aware. We found several options right in the local aisles.

Updated for 2013 with files from Erin Stevenson, Website Coordinator

Available in the United States and Canada

• Double your love this Valentine’s Day by giving Divvies’ Two Hearts. These gourmet chocolate hearts can be enjoyed solo or shared with someone special. Contain soy. Available at Whole Foods locations in the U.S. and Canada. For more stores visit www.divvies.com.

• Allergy-friendly candy company Gimbal’s offers Cherry Lovers fruit chews, in charming heart shapes and made with real cherry juice. Free of the top 8 allergens, they are gluten-free and gelatin-free, plus contain no high-fructose corn syrup or trans fats. Available at grocers throughout the U.S. and in Canada at select Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart and London Drugs stores. Also buy online at www.gimbalscandy.com.

• Got fans of gummy candies on your list? All-natural, organic Fruity Hearts from Surf Sweets are available for a limited time in a seasonal heart shape. Enjoy mouth-watering cherry and watermelon flavors that are gluten-free, GMO-free and free of the Top 8 allergens.

• Class parties get a boost from Skittles Candy and Stickers, a candy kit with 25 Valentines (includes one for teacher!), along with small boxes of the original fruity candy. No peanuts, tree nuts, gluten, eggs or dairy – or gelatin.

• What would Valentine’s Day be without chocolate? Heart-shaped Valentine’s Dove Dark Chocolate Promises are dark, delicious – and nut-free. They’re gluten-free, too (but do contain milk and soy lecithin).

• Andes Crème de Menthe Mints are another great free-from chocolate option for your allergic sweetie. Wrapped in seasonal Valentine’s packaging, these luscious candy favorites are the perfect gift: no peanuts, tree nuts, eggs or gluten (but do contain milk and soy).

U.S. Only

• Kids (and kids at heart) will adore Smarties Love Hearts, the classic candy wafer with a Valentine’s twist. Free of gluten and the Top 8 allergens, each candy is imprinted with a heart design and a sweet saying. Have fun comparing love messages.

Canada Only

• In Canada, look for Canuck-style Smarties (from Nestlé Canada) in an attractive heart-shaped box with that eye-catching peanut-free logo. Also, no artificial flavors. Contains dairy, wheat and soy.

• Give kids twice the delight with a Kinder Surprise Egg. The certified peanut- and nut-free chocolate egg contains a small toy ready to assemble for an extra dash of fun & learning. No egg either, but contains dairy and soy lecithin.

Next: Online Goodie Shopping

Allergy-friendly School Snacks

Allergic Living — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 18:03:56 +0000

All kids hate to feel different and just want to fit in. So imagine how your allergic student feels when his teacher wants to give out treats during an activity, celebration or party, but has nothing for the child with allergies.

Indie Candy to the rescue! The Alabama-based company, which ships to the U.S. and Canada, has created a “Back to School Allergy-Free Bucket” that will please parents, teachers and students alike. (One of Allergic Living’s contributors said she would have given her right arm for this product when her child was in elementary school.) Each box includes cookies, gummies and lollipops, and can be customized for your child’s specific allergies. Click here for more info (and see picture, below).

Indie Candy's "Back to School Allergy Free Bucket"

But what about everyday snacks to send in your allergic child’s lunch box? We’re thrilled to report that allergy-friendly cookies have come a loooong way in recent years. As in, they’re delicious, and in most cases, you really can’t tell that you’re not eating butter, flour, milk, eggs, etc. A few examples:

• Home Free’s delectable little cookies, include chocolate chip, vanilla and oatmeal varieties, all of which are free of peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, eggs. Some flavors are gluten-free, too.

• Our taste-testers give high marks to Dr. Lucy’s selection of cookies. The Sugar Cookies, for example, are made without peanuts, nuts, wheat flour, milk or eggs – but your taste buds won’t be able to tell! (FYI, they do contain soy and oats.)

• Enjoy Life’s Crunchy Cookies. They’re gluten-free, free of the top eight allergens, and also made without casein, potato, sesame and sulfites. Of course, your kids will just like how tasty they are.

• Muffin bars will make your child the envy of the other kids in class. New from Ange-Gardien, free of most top allergens (contain soy), and in dynamic Intense Chocolate, Rasperry and Banana Chocolate flavors.

• We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the cookies by Sweet Alexis. Mmmm, chocolate chip – but free of dairy, egg, tree nut and peanut.

• Also new and impressive for Canadian customers are Tho’z Barz. These are moist and delicious, allergy-friendly snack bars. Organic and farm fresh. They don’t contain wheat, they do have oats.

Poll: Halloween Candy

Allergic Living — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:52:37 +0000