KitKats are a popular chocolate covered wafer bar that are enjoyed by many as a sweet treat. However, for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, determining if KitKats are safe to eat can be tricky.
What is Celiac Disease?
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes damage to the small intestine when gluten is ingested. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. For those with celiac disease, consuming gluten triggers an immune response that attacks and damages the villi in the small intestine. The villi are small, finger-like projections that line the small intestine and absorb nutrients from food. When the villi become damaged, the body is unable to properly absorb nutrients which can lead to symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and malnutrition.
Celiac disease affects approximately 1% of the population worldwide. It is a serious medical condition that requires following a strict lifelong gluten-free diet. For those with celiac disease, consuming even small amounts of gluten can cause significant intestinal damage over time.
What About Gluten Sensitivity?
In addition to celiac disease, some people have non-celiac gluten sensitivity. These individuals do not have the autoimmune response seen in celiac disease, but they do experience gastrointestinal and other symptoms when ingesting gluten. Gluten sensitivity is not as well understood as celiac disease, but it is estimated to impact anywhere from 0.5% to 13% of the population.
For those with non-celiac gluten sensitivity, symptoms may include bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, anxiety, and skin rashes after consuming gluten. While the condition is not as serious as celiac disease, following a gluten-free diet can improve symptoms significantly.
Are KitKats Gluten-Free?
Unfortunately, original KitKats are not considered gluten-free. According to the manufacturer, KitKats contain wheat flour as an ingredient. Wheat contains gluten, so KitKats are off limits for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
Some key facts about gluten and KitKats:
- KitKats contain wheat flour, which contains the gluten protein.
- The manufacturer states that KitKats are produced in facilities that also process other products containing gluten.
- There is potential for cross-contamination with gluten due to shared equipment and facilities.
- The manufacturer cannot guarantee that any KitKat product is 100% gluten-free.
For these reasons, those following gluten-free diets are advised to avoid consuming original KitKats.
Are There Any Gluten-Free KitKat Options?
While original KitKats contain gluten, there are some gluten-free KitKat options available:
1. Gluten-Free KitKat Bars
The manufacturer produces gluten-free KitKat bars that are modified to be made without wheat. The gluten-free KitKats use ingredients like rice flour, tapioca starch, and maize starch instead of wheat flour. According to the company, testing shows these gluten-free KitKat bars contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten. This falls below the FDA standard for gluten-free foods.
2. Mini KitKats
The mini KitKat bars that come in the snack size packets are gluten-free. However, these mini KitKats are produced on shared equipment with products containing gluten. So there is a risk of cross-contamination.
3. KitKat Minis
The individually wrapped KitKat minis that are bite-sized are certified gluten-free. These mini KitKats come in flavors like milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and white chocolate.
So in summary, the full-size gluten-free KitKat bars, mini snack size KitKats, and KitKat minis are gluten-free options for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. But precautions may still need to be taken due to potential cross-contamination.
Are Other KitKat Flavors Gluten-Free?
When it comes to other KitKat flavors like KitKat Chunky, KitKat Crispy Mint, or KitKat Gold, these contain gluten from wheat flour according to the manufacturer. So original KitKats along with these various flavors are not gluten-free friendly.
However, some region-specific KitKat flavors may be produced gluten-free. For example, the KitKat Ruby chocolate available in certain areas is gluten-free. But the best practice is to check the ingredients list and contact the manufacturer when in doubt if a special flavor is gluten-free.
What About KitKat Ingredients?
Given that KitKats contain gluten, those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity need to avoid consuming them. But here is an overview of the ingredients in original KitKats for additional awareness:
- Milk chocolate – contains sugar, cocoa butter, chocolate, skim milk, lactose, milkfat, soy lecithin, artificial flavor
- Wheat flour – contains gluten
- Sugar
- Palm oil
- Cocoa butter
- Whey powder – contains milk proteins
- Emulsifiers – soy lecithin, E476
- Raising agents – sodium bicarbonate, ammonium bicarbonate
- Natural flavoring
As shown, wheat flour is clearly listed among the ingredients. And the manufacturer states on the label that KitKats contain wheat and are made on shared equipment with milk, soy and peanuts.
What About Homemade KitKats?
Those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity may wonder if homemade KitKats are an option. There are many gluten-free KitKat copycat recipes available online that substitute the wheat flour for gluten-free flours. These recipes suggest using rice flour, tapioca flour, almond flour or coconut flour instead.
Homemade KitKats using gluten-free ingredients would be an option for avoiding gluten. However, there are a few considerations:
- Difficult to replicate the exact same KitKat taste and texture
- Time consuming to make at home
- Risk of cross-contamination if kitchen is not fully gluten-free
- Challenging to form the layered wafer bars
So while homemade KitKats with gluten-free ingredients may be possible, it likely won’t replicate the real thing. Those with celiac or gluten sensitivity may be better off choosing a different gluten-free candy bar instead.
Are Other Chocolate Bars Gluten-Free?
While original KitKats contain gluten, there are many other chocolate bar options that are safe to eat on a gluten-free diet. Here are some popular gluten-free candy bars:
| Gluten-Free Candy Bars | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Snickers | Peanuts, sugar, milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, chocolate, milk, lactose, soy lecithin, artificial flavor), corn syrup, palm oil, skim milk, lactose, egg whites, artificial flavor |
| Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups | Milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, chocolate, milk, lactose, soy lecithin, PGPR), peanuts, sugar, dextrose, salt, TBHQ |
| Milky Way | Milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, chocolate, milk, lactose, soy lecithin, artificial flavor), nougat (corn syrup, sugar, palm oil, evaporated milk, eggs, artificial flavor), caramel (corn syrup, sugar, milk, butter, salt, artificial flavor) |
| Three Musketeers | Milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, chocolate liquor, milk, lactose, soy lecithin, PGPR), corn syrup, sugar, palm oil, whey, lactose, artificial flavoring |
| Twix | Cookie (enriched wheat flour, sugar, soybean and palm oil with TBHQ for freshness, cocoa, chocolate liquor, baking soda, salt, soy lecithin, vanilla), caramel (corn syrup, palm oil, sugar, skim milk, salt, butter, artificial flavor), milk chocolate (sugar, cocoa butter, milk, chocolate, lactose, soy lecithin, salt, artificial flavor) |
As shown in the table, mainstream candy bars like Snickers, Reese’s, Milky Way, and Three Musketeers do not contain gluten-based ingredients. However, it is still advisable for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity to check the label and contact the manufacturer to confirm the absence of gluten for any candy bar.
Are KitKats Processed in a Gluten-Free Facility?
No, KitKats are not processed in a gluten-free facility according to the manufacturer. The facilities that produce KitKats also process other products that contain gluten. So there is a risk of cross-contamination through shared equipment.
The brand states that equipment and surfaces are thoroughly cleaned between production cycles. However, the cleaning processes cannot completely eliminate the possibility of traces of gluten. So those who are highly sensitive should be aware that consuming KitKats carries some low risk of exposure.
Can Trace Amounts of Gluten Cause Issues?
For those with celiac disease, even trace amounts of gluten can trigger symptoms and intestinal damage. The gluten-free diet requires strict avoidance of gluten. Research shows that for most with celiac disease, consuming less than 10mg of gluten per day is unlikely to cause significant histological abnormalities in the small intestine.
However, there is variation among individuals as far as the threshold level that may cause issues. Some celiac patients can tolerate up to 50mg gluten daily, while others may react to ingesting just 5mg. So there is no universally “safe” threshold.
For those with gluten sensitivity who do not have celiac disease, trace amounts may be tolerated without causing significant issues. But individuals need to evaluate their own tolerance levels. Overall, those following gluten-free diets need to be cautious about potential cross-contamination with gluten.
Do KitKats Have Advisory Warnings?
Yes, the manufacturer places advisory statements on KitKat packaging to warn those with gluten-related disorders. Here are some examples of the labeling cautions:
- “Manufactured on shared equipment that processes peanuts, tree nuts and wheat”
- “Made in a facility that also processes milk, soy and egg”
- “May contain wheat and soybeans”
So the brand does disclose that KitKats are produced in facilities with other major allergens. This warnings are intended to alert consumers to potential cross-contact risks.
Can Celiacs Safely Eat KitKats?
Based on the available information, those with celiac disease should avoid consuming any variety of original KitKats. The inclusion of wheat flour and the risk of gluten cross-contamination make KitKats unsafe for those requiring a strict gluten-free diet.
While the manufacturer has created some specialty gluten-free KitKat products, these may still pose some low risk depending on individual sensitivity levels. Overall, it is advisable for those with celiac disease to steer clear of all KitKat products aside from those that are clearly labeled gluten-free to avoid problems.
Can Those with Gluten Sensitivity Have KitKats?
For those with non-celiac gluten sensitivity, limited consumption of KitKats may be tolerated depending on individual reactions. Some people with gluten sensitivity can handle trace amounts without major issues. However, it is still advised to choose gluten-free candy bars when possible to prevent potential symptoms.
Those with gluten sensitivity should evaluate whether enjoying an occasional original KitKat is worth the potential for gastrointestinal discomfort or other problems. Consuming gluten-free KitKats or other gluten-free candies is recommended as a safer option.
Should Those with Wheat Allergy Avoid KitKats?
Yes, those with a wheat allergy will need to avoid KitKats entirely due to the wheat-based ingredients. Wheat allergy requires eliminating all food sources of wheat to prevent allergic reactions.
KitKats clearly state on the label that they contain wheat. The wheat flour used in making KitKats could trigger an allergic reaction in those with wheat allergy. So it is essential for those with this allergy to steer clear of all varieties of KitKats.
Conclusion
KitKats are a chocolate covered wafer bar that unfortunately cannot be part of a gluten-free diet. Original KitKats contain gluten from wheat flour, and the manufacturer confirms the risk of cross-contamination. So those with celiac disease must strictly avoid consuming any form of KitKats unless they are specifically labeled gluten-free.
Individuals with non-celiac gluten sensitivity may potentially tolerate trace amounts of gluten from KitKats. But gluten-free candy bars are the safest choice. Anyone following a gluten-free diet should be cautious of advisory labels warning of the potential for wheat exposure.
While original KitKats are off limits, the brand has created some gluten-free versions using alternative flours. Those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity can look for the gluten-free KitKat options. But for those requiring a wheat-free diet, all KitKat products should be avoided.
