As a coeliac, it can be difficult to find chocolate treats that are safe to eat. Many popular chocolate brands contain ingredients derived from wheat, barley and rye which must be avoided on a gluten-free diet. Cadbury is one of the most well-known chocolate brands, but are Cadbury chocolates actually suitable for coeliacs?
What is coeliac disease?
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disorder where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine. Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley and rye. When a person with coeliac disease eats gluten, their body mounts an immune response that attacks the small intestine. This causes inflammation and damage to the villi – the small, finger-like protrusions in the intestine that absorb nutrients.
Some of the common symptoms of coeliac disease include:
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain and bloating
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
- Anemia
However, symptoms can vary greatly among individuals with coeliac disease. Some people have digestive symptoms, while others may have issues like joint pain, headaches or skin rashes.
Coeliac disease is estimated to affect 1 in 100 people worldwide. However, many people remain undiagnosed. The only treatment for coeliac disease is following a strict lifelong gluten-free diet. This means avoiding foods and products containing wheat, barley, rye and often oats.
What ingredients make foods unsafe for coeliacs?
Here are some of the main ingredients and additives to avoid on a gluten-free diet:
- Wheat – This includes wheat flour, wheat bran, wheat germ, durum wheat, semolina and more.
- Barley – Barley malt, pearl barley, barley flour and extracts.
- Rye – Rye flour, rye malt.
- Oats – Oats are often contaminated with wheat or barley. Some coeliacs may tolerate pure, uncontaminated oats but many need to avoid them.
- Malt – Malt is usually made from barley.
- Beer – Most beer is made from barley and not gluten-free.
- Additives – Additives like malt extract, malt flavoring and caramel coloring can contain gluten.
- Flavors – Natural and artificial flavors may contain gluten.
- Hydrolyzed wheat protein – Used as a flavor enhancer.
- Modified food starch – Can be derived from wheat.
- Vegetable protein – May contain wheat gluten.
It’s important to read ingredient lists carefully and look for potential hidden sources of gluten. When in doubt, contact the manufacturer to inquire about how a product is made.
Are Cadbury chocolates gluten-free?
The majority of Cadbury chocolate products sold worldwide do contain gluten and are not suitable for a gluten-free diet. This is because many classic Cadbury chocolate products contain barley malt as an ingredient.
Here are some examples of popular Cadbury chocolate bars that contain gluten:
| Cadbury Product | Contains Gluten? |
|---|---|
| Cadbury Dairy Milk | Yes |
| Cadbury Crunchie | Yes |
| Cadbury Twirl | Yes |
| Cadbury Wispa | Yes |
| Cadbury Flake | Yes |
| Cadbury Marvellous Creations | Yes |
| Cadbury Mini Eggs | Yes |
The ingredient lists for these bars contain “barley malt extract” or “malt extract”, which indicates the presence of gluten. Barley malt provides that signature Cadbury chocolate flavor but renders these products unsuitable for a gluten-free diet.
Why is barley malt a problem?
Barley malt is made from barley grain that has been allowed to sprout. The sprouted barley contains gluten proteins. While the sprouting process breaks down some of the gluten, barley malt still contains enough gluten to trigger issues for those with coeliac disease or a sensitivity.
Some celiacs may be able to tolerate small amounts of barley malt but it’s unclear what amount is safe. To be cautious, most with coeliac disease need to avoid it altogether.
Are there any Cadbury chocolates safe for coeliacs?
While most classic Cadbury products contain barley malt, Cadbury does offer some gluten-free options:
Cadbury Bournville
Bournville dark chocolate is gluten-free. The plain Bournville dark chocolate bars do not contain any ingredients with gluten.
However, some Bournville products like Bournville with orange or Bournville with roasted almonds do contain barley malt. Always check the ingredients list to be sure.
Cadbury Highlights
Cadbury Highlights are individually wrapped chocolate squares that come in different flavors like praline and hazelnut. The ingredient lists state that they are gluten-free.
Cadbury Mini Eggs Go Free
While regular Cadbury Mini Eggs contain barley malt, Cadbury makes a gluten-free version called Cadbury Mini Eggs Go Free. These are produced in a facility free of gluten and contain no barley malt.
Cadbury Dairy Milk with Daim
Cadbury Dairy Milk with Daim contains almonds and crunchy caramel pieces inside Dairy Milk chocolate. It is produced in a gluten-free facility and is labelled gluten-free.
Always double check the label when buying, as ingredients can change. But among the Cadbury brand, these few options should be suitable for a gluten-free and coeliac-friendly diet.
What about cross-contamination risks?
Even if a chocolate product from Cadbury has no gluten-containing ingredients, there is still a risk of cross-contamination occurring during manufacturing.
Many Cadbury products are made in facilities that also process gluten. Trace amounts of gluten could make their way into gluten-free chocolates through shared equipment.
Those with celiac disease or who are highly sensitive need to consider the potential for cross-contact. There is no way to be 100% sure that any product is completely free of traces of gluten.
How sensitive is too sensitive?
The level of caution someone needs to take depends on their sensitivity:
- People with celiac disease need to be very strict and should only choose chocolate labeled “gluten-free” that has been produced in a dedicated facility. Even small amounts of cross-contamination can trigger health issues.
- Those with a wheat allergy must also be very cautious and aware of cross-contact risks.
- People with a non-celiac gluten sensitivity may be able to tolerate occasional, small amounts of cross-contamination.
Consult your healthcare provider about your level of sensitivity if unsure.
Other coeliac-friendly chocolate brands
While Cadbury has limited gluten-free options, there are many other alternative chocolate brands that offer a wider range of gluten-free treats. Here are some popular brands to look for:
Ghirardelli
Ghirardelli makes gluten-free chocolate chips, baking chocolate and chocolate bars. Their products are labelled “gluten-free” and produced in dedicated facilities.
Enjoy Life
Enjoy Life Foods has an entire line of allergy-friendly foods including gluten-free chocolates. They avoid cross-contamination by using dedicated facilities and equipment.
Pascha
Pascha Organic Chocolates offers 55+ gluten-free chocolate products including chips, bars, bombs and assortments.
Equal Exchange
Equal Exchange chocolate chips and baking bars are certified gluten-free.
Taza
This company makes stone-ground chocolate using gluten-free ingredients.
ChocZero
ChocZero sells keto-friendly chocolate bars sweetened with monk fruit. They are labelled gluten-free.
Hu Kitchen
Hu Kitchen makes paleo, vegan chocolate bars that do not contain gluten.
Is Cadbury suitable for your gluten-free diet?
Classic Cadbury chocolate bars that contain barley malt are unsuitable for coeliacs and others on a strict gluten-free diet. However, some Cadbury products like Bournville dark chocolate are labelled gluten-free and produced in a facility free of gluten ingredients. These options should be safe, but always check labels carefully.
For greater variety, those with coeliac disease may prefer exploring dedicated gluten-free brands that offer many different chocolate options and take steps to avoid cross-contamination.
The bottom line
Most mainstream Cadbury chocolate bars contain gluten from barley malt and are not suitable for people with coeliac disease or gluten intolerance. But some Cadbury products are now labelled gluten-free, like Bournville dark chocolate and Cadbury Highlights. These have no gluten-containing ingredients and are made in facilities free from gluten. However, those who are highly sensitive should use caution due to the risk of cross-contamination. Thankfully there are many other excellent gluten-free chocolate brands available that offer plenty of delicious options.
