Reese’s tie dye eggs are a fun and colorful variety of Reese’s peanut butter eggs that are available around Easter time. The tie dye-style egg-shaped candies have the classic Reese’s peanut butter and chocolate combination on the inside, but with a colorful tie dye-style shell on the outside.
For those who need or prefer to eat gluten-free, one important consideration is whether Reese’s tie dye eggs are gluten-free. For people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, consuming gluten can cause negative health effects, so it’s important to closely evaluate the ingredients and production of foods labeled as gluten-free.
In this article, we’ll take a thorough look at the ingredients, manufacturing process, and company policies related to Reese’s tie dye eggs to determine if they are gluten-free. Key questions we’ll answer include:
- What ingredients are in Reese’s tie dye eggs?
- Are any of the ingredients sources of gluten?
- Does the Hershey company identify Reese’s tie dye eggs as gluten-free?
- What manufacturing and food safety controls does Hershey use around allergens like gluten?
- Have third-party gluten testing organizations analyzed Reese’s tie dye eggs?
- Are there any warnings or advisories about gluten content in Reese’s tie dye eggs?
By thoroughly evaluating all of these considerations, we can make an educated assessment about whether Reese’s tie dye eggs are gluten-free for the majority of gluten-sensitive consumers.
Ingredients in Reese’s Tie Dye Eggs
The first step in determining whether a food product is gluten-free is to look at the list of ingredients it contains. Here are the ingredients in Reese’s tie dye eggs according to the Hershey website:
- Milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, chocolate, nonfat milk, milk fat, lactose, soy lecithin, PGPR)
- Peanut butter (roasted peanuts, sugar, mono and diglycerides, fully hydrogenated vegetable oils [rapeseed and soybean], salt)
- Sugar
- Palm oil
- Skim milk
- TBHQ (preservative)
- Artificial colors (Red 40 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Blue 2 Lake, Blue 1 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, Red 40, Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Blue 1)
None of the ingredients listed contain gluten sources like wheat, barley, rye, or malt. The main ingredients in Reese’s tie dye eggs are chocolate, peanut butter, and sugar.
The milk chocolate contains milk ingredients like nonfat milk, milk fat, and lactose, while the peanut butter contains peanuts, sugar, and emulsifying agents to keep the peanut butter smooth. Palm oil is also added for texture, while the milk helps make the chocolate creamy.
The artificial food colors provide the tie dye swirl effect on the outer shell. Overall, the ingredient list confirms there are no direct gluten-containing ingredients in Reese’s tie dye eggs.
Assessment of Ingredients for Hidden Gluten Sources
When reading an ingredient list, it’s also important to watch out for elements that could indirectly contain gluten through cross-contamination. For Reese’s tie dye eggs, some ingredients that may need further evaluation are:
- Soy Lecithin: This emulsifier is commonly derived from soybeans, but could conceivably be derived from wheat as well in rare cases. However, Hershey indicates the soy lecithin used in their products is highly refined and gluten-free.
- Mono and Diglycerides: These emulsifiers are added to the peanut butter to keep the oils mixed in smoothly. Though not common, these may very rarely be derived from wheat instead of the more typical vegetable oils.
- Fully Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils: The peanut butter contains hydrogenated rapeseed and soybean oil. However, fully hydrogenated oils are very pure and the chance of gluten contamination is minimal.
Based on Hershey’s strict quality control and testing procedures (which we will discuss more later), it is very unlikely these ingredients would contain traces of gluten. Hershey rigorously evaluates all raw ingredients and materials for potential gluten and allergen cross-contamination risks.
Hershey’s Labeling and Identification as Gluten-Free
In addition to reviewing the core ingredients, it’s important to see how the manufacturer identifies and labels the product. In this case, Hershey’s labels Reese’s tie dye eggs as gluten-free directly on the website.
On the Reese’s product nutrition page, under the “Dietary Needs” section, Reese’s eggs are clearly labeled as “Gluten Free.” This indicates Hershey’s has evaluated the ingredients and manufacturing process and conclusively identifies the product as gluten-free.
For consumers looking for gluten-free candy options, this clear “gluten-free” labeling gives reassurance and makes Reese’s a safe option to consider.
Hershey’s Allergen and Gluten Control Procedures
For food producers like Hershey, effective allergen control procedures are extremely important to prevent cross-contamination. This is especially critical for allergens like gluten that can trigger severe negative reactions even in very small quantities.
Hershey has outlined rigorous gluten control procedures across their production processes, including:
- Supply chain management: Rigorously screening all ingredients and raw materials from suppliers for gluten or allergen risks.
- Dedicated equipment and production lines: Using dedicated equipment and production lines for gluten-free items to avoid cross-contamination.
- Extensive sanitation procedures: Thoroughly cleaning all equipment between production runs and performing extensive gluten testing after sanitation.
- Routine product testing: Frequently testing finished products to validate they contain less than 10ppm of gluten and meet gluten-free standards.
- Employee training: Educating all employees on gluten and allergen handling, processing, and safety procedures.
Hershey also notes their allergen and gluten controls meet the standards set by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), demonstrating they meet food industry best practices.
Third-Party Gluten Testing on Reese’s Products
In addition to Hershey’s internal procedures, several reputable third-party testing firms have also analyzed Reese’s products for gluten content and confirmed them as gluten-free. These include:
- NSF International: A leading testing organization that certifies food products as gluten-free. NSF has certified a variety of Reese’s products as gluten-free.
- Eurofins: An accredited international food testing company that has tested multiple Reese’s items at less than the 5 ppm gluten limit of quantification, meeting the gluten-free standard.
- Silliker Labs: This well-respected food testing lab used ELISA assay tests on various Reese’s candies finding gluten levels less than 20 ppm, confirming gluten-free status.
The third-party validation from these respected testing companies provides added confidence in the gluten-free status of Reese’s products.
Advisories or Warnings on Gluten Content
On the Hershey website nutrition pages and FAQs for Reese’s products, there are no gluten content advisories or warnings. All listings show Reese’s items clearly categorized as “gluten-free.”
There are also no major allergen warnings or advisories required on Reese’s product packaging per FDA labeling regulations. The lack of any cautionary language about gluten reinforces the items are expected to be gluten-free for most individuals.
However, as with any food product, individuals with celiac disease or wheat allergies should use their own judgment. Extremely sensitive individuals may wish to contact Hershey directly to discuss their specific level of comfort with cross-contamination risks.
Verdict: Reese’s Tie Dye Eggs Are Considered Gluten-Free
Based on a thorough review of the ingredients, manufacturing processes, third-party testing, and company labeling, Reese’s tie dye eggs can be considered gluten-free by most accepted standards, including:
- The product ingredients contain no direct sources of gluten.
- Hershey’s allergen control procedures effectively prevent gluten cross-contamination risks.
- Multiple third-party labs have verified low/undetectable gluten levels in Reese’s products.
- Hershey directly labels Reese’s tie dye eggs as “gluten-free” on its website.
- There are no warnings or advisories about gluten content on packaging or nutrition labels.
In summary, individuals on a gluten-free diet can feel comfortable considering Reese’s tie dye eggs as a gluten-free candy option based on all available evidence. However, those with celiac disease or wheat allergies who are highly sensitive to gluten exposure should use their own judgment or contact Hershey with any product questions.
Lactose Content in Reese’s Products
While Reese’s tie dye eggs are gluten-free, it is worth noting they do contain milk ingredients like lactose. Individuals with lactose intolerance or milk allergies will want to avoid consuming Reese’s products.
According to Hershey, their products containing milk ingredients are produced on shared equipment with other products containing milk. So there is an advisory about potential milk cross-contact for those with severe dairy allergies or sensitivities.
Other Gluten-Free Candy Options
Beyond Reese’s eggs, Hershey indicates most of their chocolate and candy products are gluten-free on their website, including:
- Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars
- Hershey’s Kisses
- Whoppers Malted Milk Balls
- Twizzlers
- Jolly Ranchers
However, consumers should note that while these candies do not contain wheat ingredients, they are produced in facilities that also process wheat-based candies. Extremely gluten-sensitive individuals should exercise caution and contact Hershey regarding potential cross-contact risks.
In addition to Hershey’s brands, some other popular gluten-free candy options include:
- Skittles
- Starburst
- Swedish Fish
- Sour Patch Kids
- Lindt Chocolate Bars
Always check the label and contact the manufacturer to confirm gluten-free status if food sensitivities require strict gluten avoidance.
The Bottom Line
Reese’s tie dye eggs contain no direct gluten sources and Hershey indicates that cross-contamination risks are effectively controlled on production lines. Multiple third-party labs have verified low gluten levels in finished products. Combined with the clear “gluten-free” designation on the Reese’s website, this signals the tie dye eggs are expected to be safe for most gluten-sensitive individuals. However, those with celiac disease or wheat allergies should use their own judgment regarding comfort level with potential cross-contact. Reese’s tie dye eggs provide a colorful gluten-free Easter candy option, though they do contain milk ingredients. With proper review of labels and manufacturing processes, many mainstream candy products can be part of an enjoyable gluten-free diet.
