Quick Answer
Most fruit snack gummies are gluten-free, but it’s important to check the ingredients list. Many popular brands specifically state “gluten-free” on the packaging. The main ingredients in fruit snacks are fruit purees, corn syrup, and sugar. None of these contain gluten. However, some gummies may have ingredients derived from wheat, barley, rye or oats, which do contain gluten. If you have celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity, be sure to read labels carefully before consuming fruit snacks.
What are fruit snacks and gummies?
Fruit snacks, often referred to as fruit gummies, are chewy, candy-like snacks that are made to resemble dried fruit or fruit juice. They are marketed as a convenient, tasty way for kids and adults to get some of their daily fruit intake. However, most fruit snacks contain only a small percentage of real fruit juice or puree.
The main ingredients in most fruit snacks are:
- Corn syrup or cane sugar – Gives fruit snacks their sweetness
- Gelatin or pectin – Provides the chewy, gummy texture
- Fruit juice concentrates – Usually around 5-10% of the total product
- Food coloring – Gives the snacks bright fruit-like colors
- Natural and artificial flavors – Enhances the taste of fruit
- Citric acid – Adds tartness similar to real fruit
Popular brands of fruit snacks include Welch’s, Motts, Annie’s Organic, Hello Kitty, and Scooby Doo. They come in fun shapes like hearts, stars, dinosaurs, Spiderman, Disney princesses, and more. This makes fruit snacks an appealing choice for putting in school lunches or giving as an after-school snack.
Fruit gummies have a similar chewy, candy-like texture to fruit snacks. However, they tend to contain even less real fruit juice. The main ingredients are glucose syrup, sugar, gelatin or pectin, food coloring, and natural and artificial flavors. Popular brands of fruit gummies include Albanese, Black Forest, Haribo, and Hi-Chew.
Are fruit snacks and gummies gluten-free?
The majority of fruit snack gummies are gluten-free. This is because the main ingredients – corn syrup, sugar, gelatin/pectin, and fruit juice – do not naturally contain any gluten.
Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley, rye, and oats. People with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity cannot tolerate gluten and must follow a strict gluten-free diet. For these individuals, it’s extremely important to only consume foods and products that are certified gluten-free, as even small amounts of gluten can cause issues.
Many popular brands of fruit snacks explicitly state “gluten-free” on the packaging, making it easy to identify them as safe options. Companies like Motts, Annie’s, and Welch’s have gluten-free labels on all their fruit snack products.
However, it’s still important to carefully read the ingredients on any fruit snacks, even if they don’t contain obvious gluten-containing grains. Some gummies may include ingredients derived from wheat, barley, rye or oats, such as:
- Maltodextrin
- Dextrin
- Modified food starch
- Hydrolyzed wheat protein
- Hydrolyzed barley protein
These ingredients would make the fruit snacks unsuitable for a gluten-free diet. When in doubt, contacting the manufacturer is the best way to confirm if a product contains any hidden sources of gluten.
Many people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity find it safest to only buy snacks that are certified gluten-free. This involves the company testing the product to verify it has less than 20 parts per million of gluten. Certified gluten-free products will have a certification label from organizations like the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) or the Celiac Support Association (CSA).
Good fruit snack options for a gluten-free diet
Here are some of the top gluten-free fruit snack brands and products:
Welch’s
- Fruit Snacks
- Fruit ‘n Yogurt Snacks
- Fruit Rolls
- Pixie Sticks Powdered Fruit Snacks
All Welch’s fruit snacks are labeled gluten-free and are certified by the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO).
Motts
- Fruit Flavored Snacks
- Fruit Roll-Ups
- Fruit By The Foot
Motts states that all their fruit snacks contain 0g of gluten and are safe for those with celiac disease.
Annie’s Organic
- Bernie’s Farm Fruit Snacks
- Fruit Bunny Snacks
Annie’s fruit snacks are certified gluten-free by the GFCO. They are also free from synthetic colors and flavors.
Hello Kitty
- Fruit Flavored Snacks
- Organic Fruit Flavored Snacks
Both varieties of Hello Kitty fruit snacks are labeled gluten-free.
Scooby Doo
- Fruit Flavored Snacks
Scooby Doo fruit snacks are certified gluten-free by the CSA.
Albanese
- Gummi Bears
- Worms
- Other gluten-free gummy candies
Albanese specializes in gummies and all their products are gluten-free. They have a wide assortment of gummy shapes and flavors.
Haribo
- Goldbears
- Happy Cola
- Twin Snakes
- Other gluten-free gummy candies
Haribo has a line of certified gluten-free gummies in fun shapes like bears, cola bottles, snakes, and rings.
Black Forest
- Organic Fruity Bears
- Organic Worms
- Organic Peaches & Raspberries
Black Forest’s organic gummy candies are all gluten-free and vegan.
Hi-Chew
- Fruit Chews
- Sours Chews
- Tropical Chews
Hi-Chew chewy fruit candies are gluten-free according to the manufacturer Morinaga.
Risks of gluten cross-contamination
While many major brands now offer gluten-free labeled fruit snacks and gummies, there is still a small risk of gluten cross-contamination during manufacturing.
Gluten-free products are produced on shared equipment with gluten-containing items. Tiny amounts of wheat, barley or rye could get into the fruit snacks if the equipment is not properly cleaned between production runs.
For people with celiac disease, who must avoid any gluten exposure, choosing certified gluten-free brands that test for cross-contamination is ideal. Motts, Welch’s, Annie’s, Hello Kitty and other leading brands take careful precautions to prevent any gluten issues.
However, people with less severe gluten sensitivities may be able to tolerate the minuscule, trace amounts of gluten that could come from shared equipment. Many find popular brands of fruit snacks to be safe for their needs, even if they aren’t certified gluten-free.
Of course, it depends on the individual, so it’s best to try a small amount first to see if any symptoms develop.
Homemade gluten-free fruit snacks
Making homemade fruit snacks is an easy way to control all the ingredients and avoid any risk of gluten cross-contamination. Here is a simple recipe:
Ingredients
- 1⁄2 cup 100% fruit juice (like orange, apple, grape)
- 1 tablespoon honey or corn syrup
- 1 (3 ounce) packet gelatin or pectin powder
- Silicone molds in fun shapes
Instructions
- Pour the fruit juice into a small saucepan. Add the honey or corn syrup.
- Sprinkle the gelatin over the top and let sit for 5 minutes to allow the gelatin to soften.
- Heat on low, stirring frequently, until the gelatin is fully dissolved, about 2-3 minutes.
- Remove from heat and carefully pour the liquid into the silicone molds.
- Refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.
- Remove the homemade fruit gummies from the molds and enjoy!
The fruit juice provides natural sweetness and flavor. Gelatin gives the gummies their chewy texture, similar to store-bought versions. And the silicone molds allow you to make fun shapes like stars, hearts, or dinosaurs. Feel free to use natural food coloring to brighten the gummies too.
This easy fruit snack recipe avoids any risks of gluten contamination. Plus you can use higher quality ingredients compared to mass-produced versions. It makes a tasty gluten-free snack for kids and adults alike.
Finding other gluten-free candy and sweet snacks
In addition to fruit snacks, there are many other gluten-free candy options for those on a gluten-free diet:
Chocolate
Many chocolate bars and chips are naturally gluten-free, like Hershey’s, Ghirardelli, Enjoy Life, Hu, and Lily’s. Always check labels since some chocolate contains malt or barley ingredients.
Skittles
The popular chewy fruit candies from Mars are gluten-free. Good news – this includes regular Skittles, Wild Berry Skittles, Sour Skittles, and Tropical Skittles.
Starburst
The fruity chews from Wrigley are gluten-free according to the company. Enjoy Original Starburst, Sour Starburst, FaveREDs, Tropical, and other assorted flavors.
Swedish Fish
These colorful fish-shaped chews from Mondelez are gluten-free and gelatin-based, like many gummies.
Jelly Belly
Almost all classic Jelly Belly jelly beans are gluten-free, except for those containing wheat-based flavorings like Licorice, French Vanilla, and Cappuccino.
SmartSweets
This brand makes plant-based, low sugar gummy candies in gluten-free flavors like Peach Rings, Sour Blast Buddies, Rainbow Reds, and Sour Squirms.
YumEarth
YumEarth offers a variety of gluten-free organic lollipops, gummies, licorice, and sour candies. Their treats are made without corn syrup or artificial ingredients.
Double checking the label of any candy is still important, as ingredients can change and manufacturing processes vary. Many brands also make some gluten-free varieties and some that contain gluten. But there are plenty of tasty, gluten-free sweet treats available for snacks or dessert.
The bottom line
Most mainstream fruit snacks and gummy candies are gluten-free. Popular brands specifically formulate their products without gluten-containing ingredients and label them “gluten-free” for consumers who need to avoid gluten. However, some gummies may contain hidden sources of gluten like maltodextrin or hydrolyzed wheat protein, so checking the ingredients list is still important. Making homemade fruit snacks is an easy way to control all the ingredients and avoid cross-contamination. There are also many other gluten-free candy options like chocolate, Skittles, Swedish Fish, SmartSweets, and YumEarth. With all these tasty choices, following a gluten-free diet while still enjoying sweet treats is certainly possible.
