website
Left Continue Shopping
Your Order

You have no items in your trolley.

Click & Collect
Gluten Free Ingredients

Which Sweets Are Gluten-Free?

There are many food allergies and intolerances that people suffer from, but one of the most misunderstood is gluten. For individuals with celiac disease, consuming gluten products can cause a host of issues, which is why the only way to improve their symptoms is to consume a gluten-free diet.

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley, which means sufferers cannot consume most bread or wheat products, but some cereals, sauces and sweets might also contain the protein. In recent years, manufacturers have stepped up their effort to provide gluten-free options for consumers, and it's easier than it seems to eliminate gluten from your diet.

This post will reveal our top picks for gluten-free sweets, and some on our list might surprise you! But first, let's take a look at why some people need to cut gluten out of their diet and the effects consuming it can have on your body.

Why Do Some People Need to Eliminate Gluten?

Celiacs lack sufficient proteins to properly digest gluten, which significantly impacts their health if they consume it. In general, people can consume small to moderate amounts of gluten without feeling the effects, but as celiacs are intolerant to the protein, it causes inflammation of the small intestine and chronic pain.

Other symptoms of celiac disease include brain fog, chronic joint pain, headaches, abdominal pain and skin rashes. Sufferers might also have regular constipation, diarrhoea or a mixture of both, which is why eliminating gluten is so important.

However, gluten can also trigger other autoimmune disorders or worsen your symptoms if you already have arthritis and thyroiditis. Some people with these conditions notice that their symptoms improve after removing gluten from their diet.

In some cases, people might cut gluten from their diet to boost their chances of weight loss, and it can work - but as bread and other high carb foods often contain gluten, we can also attribute this weight loss to lower carb consumption.

The Best Gluten-Free Sweets

Whether you know you can't eat gluten or would like to try removing it from your diet; it doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your sweet tooth. These are the best sweets for a gluten-free diet.

Skittles

Skittles are delicious and a firm favourite with adults and children alike. The colourful sweets are filled with fruity flavours and certainly live up to their 'Taste the Rainbow' slogan. Better still, these chewy delights are entirely gluten-free, so you can enjoy a sugary treat without worrying about the after-effects.

Starburst

If you were born before 1998, you'd remember when Starburst was known as Opal Fruits. The manufacturers changed the UK name to align with their US counterpart, keeping the moreish flavours.

Whether you love the strawberry, orange or lemon flavour most, you can enjoy these tasty sweets that are completely gluten-free and vegan.

Love Hearts

Who doesn't love these amazingly fizzy sweets? They might take you back to your childhood when your school friends would hand out Love Hearts on Valentine's Day, but if you haven't yet discovered these sweets, then it's about time you do.

Each comes with a nice massage, and they're suitable for gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian and nut-free diets, so you can have peace of mind that there's nothing harmful in these tasty treats.

Millions

Have you ever tried to resist Millions? If so, then you'll know they're very addictive. These tiny, chewy balls pack a real flavour punch of the bubblegum, strawberry, orange, blackcurrant and Cola varieties.

All you need to do is grab a handful and enjoy. Be prepared to do a lot of work, though, because they're incredibly chewy.

Haribo (Some Products)

Kids and grown-ups love Haribo, and for most people, it's a go-to gift. As the most famous gummy sweets brand in the world, Haribo has plenty of delicious options available, and many of them are gluten-free, including:

  • Strawberries
  • Starmix
  • Tangfastics
  • Super Kid's Mix
  • Fizzy Cola Bottles
  • Twin Cherries
  • Rattle Snakes

It's important to note that while Goldbears are gluten-free, the classic bears contain glucose from wheat, so you might want to avoid them.

Percy Pigs

It's impressive that a retail chain like Marks & Spencers became even more famous once it started selling Percy Pigs. Funnily enough, when the sweets were first launched, the bosses at M&S weren't sure they'd sell!

Percy Pigs are one of the UK's favourite sweets, and while they're expensive, the mix of foam and gummy textures is a deliciously tasty treat. With zero gluten and 100% natural flavourings, there's a reason these little pigs are so moreish.

Dulce

When it comes to gluten-free sweets, Dulce is one of the top brands in the UK. They stock a vast selection of fan favourites, including peach hearts and red twist kisses.

If you enjoy sour-tasting sweets, you'll love Dulce because they take just about every traditional flavour you can think of and turn it into a fizzy delight. Enjoy sour worms, rings, tutti-fruity bottles, watermelon slices and apple rings.

Barratt Milk Bottles

While most milk bottle sweets contain some form of gluten, Barratt has created a gluten-free version with all of the flavours and zero nasty side effects for people with celiac disease.

Both chewy and subtly delicious, these milk bottles are the perfect treat. You won't be disappointed when you open a bag!

Flying Saucers

Now for an absolute British classic; the flying saucer. This melt in your mouth gradually becomes more and more powerful, primarily due to the sherbet that tingles on your tongue.

If you're a fan of fizzy sweets, you'll love flying saucers, which are gluten-free and are a surprisingly low-calorie treat.

The Wrap Up

As you can see, gluten-free diets don't necessarily mean you have to make lots of sacrifices. Sweets are a part of most people's lives, and as long as you consume them in moderation, you can enjoy sampling new flavours and brands.

It's clear that as manufacturers begin to cater more for gluten-free diets, you'll have access to other forms of confectionery, but for now, enjoy Flying Saucers, Skittles and Dulce sour sweets without worrying about your health.