I can’t take credit for this list, as it is borrowed from Gina Clowes, Allergy Moms Blog (http://www.allergymoms.com/modules/wordpress/index.php?p=1017). Here is a great list to help plan for safe halloween candy!
There is no such thing as a completely “safe” candy or snack. What is safe for one child could be harmful to another.
However, we all need a place to start. The treats listed below are free of many (but not all) of the major allergens. Check the labels and the websites, and call manufacturers to find out if they are safe for your child.
Keep in mind: Ingredients change without notice; different sizes of the “same” candy can have different ingredients, and different versions of the same candy always have different ingredients. Precautionary labels (ie. “may contain”) are voluntary.
Read the label every time. When in doubt, call the manufacturer or do without.
Happy Halloween!
- Airheads www.airheads.com Multi-colored and flavored taffy strips.
- Bottlecaps www.wonka.com Soda flavored candy. (Root beer, orange etc.)
- Divvies www.divvies.com Chocolate ghosts, Halloween jelly beans, caramel and kettle corn, all made to share!
- Dots www.tootsie.com Candy corn dots are safe for many too!\
- Gum Dums www.dumdumpops.com These, (along with Smarties) are food allergy family favorites as they are safe for a variety of allergies.
- Enjoy Life Chocolate Bars www.enjoylifefoods.com Three varieties. My kids love the crispy rice milk chocolate.
- Frito Lay www.fritolay.com Regular Lay’s potato chips, Ruffles, Tostitos, and Fritos are safe for many allergies.
- Fun Dip www.wonka.com Candy stick + candy dip = Fun!
- Gimbals Jelly Beans www.gimbalscandy.com Very allergy aware company.
- Hot Tamales www.hottamales.com Similar to Mike & Ikes with cinnamon flavor.
- Hubba Bubba Bubble Gum www.wrigley.com My kids love the bubble tape version.
- Jolly Ranchers www.hersheys.com/jolly-rancher Sticks and hard candy.
- Jujubes (and Jujyfruits) http://www.farleysandsathers.com Great for decorating cakes and cookies too.
- Lemonheads www.ferrarapan.com Small size and jaw breaker size.
- Life Savers (hard candies & gummies) www.life-savers.com My kids love the gummy variety.
- Mike & Ike www.mikeandike.com Popular movie candy.
- Necco Wafers www.necco.com Oldie but goodie shows up a lot at Halloween.
- Nerds www.wonka.com My son and his friends love these sugary nuggets.
- Nik-L-Lip www.tootsie.com Those cute little wax bottles with colored sugar water inside.
- Pez www.pez.com Fun, convenient and safe for most allergies. A clever Pez dispenser is good for trading unsafe candy.
- Pixy Stix www.wonka.com Messy but fun. Teens like the larger size.
- Pure Fun www.organiccandy.com Tasty way to avoid dyes and gmo’s.
- Razzles www.tootsie.com First it’s a candy, then it’s a gum!
- Skittles www.skittles.com A “safe” candy that is a Halloween favorite.
- Smarties (US version) www.smarties.com These are a favorite for many allergy moms. Safe for many allergies. Smarties pops are good too!
- Sour Patch Kids www.sourpatch.com Tangy, sweet-sour gummy candy.
- Spree (regular only) www.wonka.com Chewy variety contains egg.
- Starburst www.starburst.com Another allergy mom favorite.
- Surf Sweets http://www.surfsweets.com Organic gummy bears, worms and jelly beans free of dyes and all common allergens.
- Swedish fish www.swedishfish.com These little red fish are another Halloween favorite.
- SweeTarts www.wonka.com Regular only as chewy sweetarts contain egg.
- Wack-o-wax (wax lips) www.wonka.com Red lips or the vampire teeth anyone?
- Warheads www.warheads.com Super sour candy not for the faint of heart.
- Yummy Earth www.yummyearth.com Organic lollipops, drops and other dye-free candy.
Happy Halloween!!
We publish a comprehensive list of common, supermarket available snacks that are free of peanuts, tree nuts, eggs and sesame seeds: http://snacksafely.com/snack-guide. Many school districts are adopting this list as their “approved list”.
Also be sure to read our open letter to parents entitled “Why Your Child Can’t Bring Peanut Butter to School (and What You Can Do About It)”. It frames the issue of allergen bans and provides a strategy for transitioning a child from peanut butter to a safer alternative. We encourage you to personalize it and forward it to the parents at your school: http://snacksafely.com/2011/11/why-your-child-cant-bring-peanut-butter-to-school/