Gluten-free diets have become increasingly popular in recent years, with more and more people adopting them for medical or lifestyle reasons. For those avoiding gluten, checking labels and researching products is an important part of managing their diet. Candy, in particular, often contains hidden sources of gluten that aren’t immediately apparent from the ingredients list. One candy that often comes up in discussions around gluten-free status is Wint O Green Life Savers.
What is gluten?
Gluten is a general name for the proteins found in wheat, rye, barley and triticale. It acts as a glue that helps foods maintain their shape, acting as a binding agent. For most people, gluten poses no problem. But for those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, it triggers an abnormal immune response that causes damage to the small intestine. This can lead to symptoms like diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain, vomiting and constipation. A gluten-free diet, avoiding all foods and drinks with gluten, is the only treatment for celiac disease. People with non-celiac gluten sensitivity may also feel better avoiding gluten, though it’s not as strictly necessary for them.
Are Wint O Green Life Savers certified gluten-free?
Wint O Green Life Savers are not certified gluten-free. Neither the packaging nor the Life Savers website indicates the candies are a certified gluten-free food. The Celiac Support Association notes they should be considered likely gluten-free, but not certified.
For a food product to be labeled certified gluten-free, it must contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten. Manufacturers must test their products to ensure they fall under this limit. Certified gluten-free labels provide assurance for those requiring a strict gluten-free diet. Products without certification could potentially contain trace amounts of gluten, because there is no independent testing verification.
What ingredients are in Wint O Green Life Savers?
According to the Life Savers website, Wint O Green Life Savers contain the following ingredients:
- Sugar
- Corn syrup
- Dextrose
- Natural and artificial flavors
- Color added
- Aspartame
- Acesulfame potassium
- BHT (preservative)
The full ingredient list does not appear to contain any ingredients derived from gluten-containing grains. Often, the main source of hidden gluten in candy is malt flavoring, barley malt or ingredients containing wheat starch. Wint O Green Life Savers do not contain these or any other typically glutenous ingredients.
Are the facilities gluten-free?
Life Savers does not make any claims about their facilities being gluten-free. Since the candies are not certified gluten-free, cross-contamination is possible at facilities that also process gluten-containing foods. Some amount of gluten could make its way into the Life Savers through shared equipment, though likely at low levels if present at all.
What do the main health organizations say?
Major celiac disease and gluten-free diet organizations consider Wint O Green Life Savers gluten-free, though not certified. Here are their assessments:
Celiac Support Association
The Celiac Support Association lists Wint O Green Life Savers as likely gluten-free, though they advise checking each package of candy on a case-by-case basis. They remind people to be cautious of possible cross-contamination.
Gluten Intolerance Group
The Gluten Intolerance Group includes Wint O Green Life Savers in their list of gluten-free candies. However, they note that gluten-free consumers must determine their level of comfort with items that are not certified gluten-free.
Celiac Disease Foundation
The Celiac Disease Foundation considers Wint O Green Life Savers to be gluten-free based on their ingredient list. But they note the lack of third-party certification.
Are other Life Savers gluten-free?
According to the Gluten Intolerance Group, the following varieties of Life Savers are also considered gluten-free:
- Butter Rum Life Savers
- Five Flavor Life Savers
- Sours Life Savers
- Orange Life Savers
- Assorted Fruit Life Savers
Again, none of these varieties are certified gluten-free. The same caveats apply – they are made on shared equipment with gluten-containing products. Those with celiac disease or sensitivity should use their own judgement on including them in a gluten-free diet.
Are there any gluten-free labeled Life Saver products?
Life Savers does produce some candy products that are labeled gluten-free. These include:
- Life Saver Gummy Berries
- Orange Life Saver Gummies
- Assorted Life Saver Gummies
- Sour Life Saver Gummies
These gummy products specifically say “gluten-free” on the packaging. So they have presumably been tested to verify they fall under the less than 20 ppm gluten standard.
What if you have celiac disease?
For those with celiac disease, it’s generally recommended to only consume foods and drinks with a certified gluten-free label. While Wint O Green Life Savers are likely safe in trace amounts, there is some small risk of cross-contamination. Those with celiac disease need to be incredibly strict with their gluten-free diet, so uncertified products may not be worth the risk.
Of course, personal choice comes down to individual comfort levels. Some with celiac disease may determine that the very low chance of trace gluten is unlikely to cause issues if they consume Life Savers occasionally. Anyone with celiac should discuss these kinds of grey area products with their doctor to determine if they can fit into their diet.
For non-celiac gluten sensitivity
People avoiding gluten for non-celiac gluten sensitivity generally have more leeway with potential trace gluten exposures. While any detectable gluten can still trigger symptoms, most people don’t necessarily have to be as strict as those with celiac disease. The small chance of cross-contamination with Wint O Green Life Savers is unlikely to pose an issue for many with gluten sensitivity. But again, it’s wise to individually assess your own reaction to potential trace gluten exposures.
For a wheat allergy
Those avoiding gluten due to a wheat allergy should be safe consuming Wint O Green Life Savers. Since there is no wheat in the ingredients, the chance of any meaningful gluten cross-contamination is extremely low. Wheat allergy precautions generally only need to avoid foods containing wheat as an ingredient.
For a gluten-free diet by choice
People without a medical need who follow a gluten-free diet by choice generally do not need to stress about potential trace exposures like with Wint O Green Life Savers. Going gluten-free for lifestyle reasons is a personal choice, and most people see benefits even if 100% avoidance isn’t feasible.
Contacting the manufacturer
If you need absolute certainty about the gluten-free status of Wint O Green Life Savers, contacting the manufacturer is an option. You can call their Consumer Relations line at 1-800-651-2564. They should be able to definitively confirm if any gluten sources are used in facilities manufacturing Wint O Green Life Savers.
Look for new certifications
It’s also possible that Wint O Green Life Savers could eventually obtain gluten-free certification, even if they currently lack it. Check periodically for any updated labels or announcements of certification. Consumer demand has led many brands to gain formal gluten-free labels over time.
Try other gluten-free candies
For gluten-free consumers who are uncomfortable with the uncertainties around Wint O Green Life Savers, there are plenty of other clearly gluten-free candy options, including:
- Skittles
- Starburst
- Jolly Ranchers
- Twizzlers
- Swedish Fish
- Sour Patch Kids
- Haribo gummy bears
Choosing candies with gluten-free labeling ensures you can enjoy these sweet treats without guesswork or uncertainty. There’s no reason to take risks with potential gluten exposure when so many delicious sweets are guaranteed gluten-free.
The bottom line
While Wint O Green Life Savers don’t contain any gluten ingredients, they also aren’t certified gluten-free. For celiacs and others highly sensitive, there may be some small risk of cross-contamination. But most mainstream gluten-free organizations consider Wint O Green Life Savers generally safe for most avoiding gluten. People managing gluten-free diets should weigh their personal sensitivity and tolerance to make an informed decision.
Conclusion
Wint O Green Life Savers remain a bit of a grey area in the gluten-free world. While their ingredients appear safe, the lack of third-party certification means risk of trace gluten can’t be ruled out completely. Those with celiac disease may want to exercise more caution, while less sensitive individuals can likely enjoy Wint O Green Life Savers in moderation. Until the company pursues gluten-free certification, a small question mark will remain for strict gluten-free adherents. But for many, the tiny chance of exposure is worth it to enjoy these nostalgic gluten-free-friendly candies.
