If you follow a gluten free diet, can you eat Starburst and Skittles…?
The short answer is that neither lists oats, wheat, rye, or barley as ingredients. But individuals with coeliac disease should still check labels carefully to avoid symptoms and flare-ups.
In this post, we’ll explore whether Starburst and Skittles are gluten-free and cover some tips on how to check sweets for gluten.
Are Skittles Gluten Free?
Traditional Skittles sweets in the UK don’t list any gluten-containing ingredients. The main ingredients include sugar, palm fat, glucose syrup, modified starch, flavourings, maltodextrin, dextrin, glazing agents, and colouring.
However, it’s essential to understand that Mars Wrigley doesn’t actually list Skittles as gluten-free, as they haven’t been officially certified.
So, while they don’t naturally contain gluten, there’s a risk of cross-contamination. And, because manufacturing methods can change, you should always check the label carefully to see if Skittles contain any gluten.
Other Skittles Flavours
The Skittles range has diversified over the years, with options likeSour Skittles, Skittles Giants and Chewies available. While none of these contains gluten directly, there can be some cross-contamination.
Are Starburst Gluten Free?
Starburst are some of the UK’s most popular sweets, known for their chewy texture and fruity flavours. Formerly known as Opal Fruits, they don’t contain any gluten, but aren’t officially certified as gluten-free.
The main ingredients in Starburst are palm fat, sugar, glucose syrup, citric acid, concentrated fruit juice, malic acid, modified starch, lecithin, flavourings, maltodextrin, and colourings.
Again, products that don’t contain gluten and those certified as gluten-free are different. You should always read the packaging, as the sweets may have been produced near gluten.
How to Look for Gluten-Free Sweets in the UK
UK food labelling regulations are strict, which means that it’s easier to spot ingredients that contain gluten. So, if you have celiac disease or are actively avoiding gluten, look for these ingredients:
- Barley
- Wheat
- Oats
- Spelt
- Rye
- Khorasan wheat
Most manufacturers will list these ingredients in bold type. Instead of listing gluten, they’ll list ingredients that contain it.
What do Gluten-Free Sweet Labels Mean?
For a sweet to be labelled as gluten-free, it mustn’t contain more than 20 parts per million of gluten (ppm). This is the established safe threshold for individuals with coeliac disease.
If a product has the Crossed Grain symbol trademark, this means it’s been established as gluten-free byCoeliac UK. But many sweets that don’t contain gluten won’t have this label as they don’t go through the traditional certification process.
The “May Contain” Caveat
One annoying aspect of UK food labels in the UK is the “may contain” wording, which can make everything more confusing.
For example, when a product says it "may contain wheat" or "made on a line handling wheat", intolerant individuals will naturally worry they can’t consume it.
These labels are precautionary because allergen cross-contamination may occur during the manufacturing process.
You should also remember that coeliac disease and wheat intolerances are different conditions, so warnings that something might contain wheat or other gluten-containing ingredients can have different implications.
Imported Sweets
Popular sweet brands like Skittles and Starburst often have different variations by country, and it’s easy to assume that these ingredients will be the same.
But you should check each sweet’s ingredients list before buying, as different countries may use different ingredients.
Checking imported sweets can prevent wasted spending and ensure you don’t trigger any symptoms. This is also vital for confectionery stores to know, as you have a responsibility to your customers.
Tips for Buying Gluten-Free Sweets
Whether you’re buying confectionery for personal use or running a sweet shop, check the allergens and ingredients before you decide. Here are the most important things to consider:
- Check for the Crossed Grain symbol or a gluten-free message.
- Look for other ingredients like rye, barley, and wheat.
- Check “may contain” information.
- Pay close attention to seasonal, limited-edition, and imported confectionery.
- Review the manufacturer’s information if you’re uncertain.
The Bottom Line
The current UK ingredient list for both Skittles and Starburst doesn’t list any gluten-containing ingredients, but that doesn’t mean there’s no risk of cross-contamination.
You should always check the packaging for more information, as different formulations might contain gluten.
If you’re a confectionery store owner and are concerned about unclear labels, pleaseget in touch with us today. We can offer advice and check ingredient lists for you.