Candy Canes! Always a fun treat around the holiday season, the candy cane has a mysterious history. No one really knows the origin of the candy can, but some believe it was created in Germany more than 250 years ago to help keep children quiet during church services. If this is true, it seems a bit illogical to think that giving a child sugar will help them stay calm! But just what is a candy cane, other than sugar? And does it meet any dietary restrictions?
Candy canes are gluten-free. Candy canes aren’t produced with any kind of wheat, barley or rye ingredients. While there are no candy canes which are currently certified as gluten-free, many brands are available which neither contain gluten ingredients and are produced in facilities which also don’t produce gluten-containing items. The best healthy and gluten-free brand is YumEarth Organic Candy Canes.
In this article we’ll discuss the importance of gluten-free labeling, popular candy cane brands, as well as healthier alternatives. Let’s dig in!
Contents
Gluten-Free Certification
For a product to be certified as gluten-free, it has to meet strict standards of gluten-free ingredients and manufacturing. There are currently three organizations which certify products and companies as gluten-free: Gluten Intolerance Group’s Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO), BRC Global Standards (BRCGS), and NSF International.
The standards of each organization’s requirements are different. The GFCO has the strictest standards, as they require foods and companies to be certified annually. This process includes reviewing all ingredients, testing the products, and inspecting the manufacturing facilities. There are also requirements for product reviews, inspections at the site, continued testing and compliance regulations, and random testings.
Why Gluten-Free?
Gluten-free certified products, and the proper labeling of such products, are extremely beneficial in helping those with celiac disease still enjoy great-tasting food. Those who have celiac disease can experience adverse health conditions, sometimes serious ones, if they eat products which contain gluten. This can also happen to people who have gluten intolerance or sensitivities.
With celiac disease, your small intestine cannot absorb nutrients from food. When you eat foods which contain gluten, your body’s immune system will start to attack the tiny bumps, or villi, which line your small intestine. The villi is what helps your small intestine move nutrients through your body, and when the villi has been attacked by the immune system, they are not there to work with this body’s process.
Those who choose to avoid gluten also do this as a way to improve their health. Many believe that our bodies were not intended to digest grain products, and so we opt for a diet of fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and dairy (including eggs), nuts and seeds, and beans.
The candy cane is so popular around the holidays that almost 2 billion are sold each year. The peppermint flavor is still the preferred variety, but there have been ones flavored to taste like bacon, pickles, and even rotisserie chicken!
So how do candy canes fit into a gluten-free lifestyle? Let’s take a look at some top brands of candy canes, and some healthier alternatives, to this fun treat.
Popular brands of candy canes
Brach’s Bobs Red and White Mint Canes
The traditional red and white striped hook-shaped candy candy, Brach’s has been making candy since the early 1900s. A fun fact, but one which has no relation to gluten-free at all, is that one of the Brach Candy Company’s administrative buildings was blown up for a special effects scene in The Dark Knight Batman movie in 2007. Something you can amaze your friends with the next time you are talking about candy canes!
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Corn syrup
- Peppermint oil
- Red 40
- Red 40 Lake
Nutritional information (1 serving = 1 piece/14 grams):
- Calories – 50
- Total Fat – 0
- Sodium – 15 mg
- Total Carbohydrates – 14 grams
- Sugars – 11 grams
- Protein – 0
There are no gluten containing ingredients used to make the Brach’s Candy Canes, however some of the ingredients they do use are questionable for your good health. We’ll talk about those later in the article.
Spangler Classic Red and White Peppermint Candy Canes
The Spangler Candy Company has been family owned and operated since 1906. Famous for its Dum-Dum lollies and Circus Peanuts, candy canes are also one of their top sellers each year, producing about 45% of the candy canes sold in the U.S.
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Corn syrup
- Natural flavor
- Red 40
- Yellow 5
Nutritional information (1 serving = 1 piece/12 grams):
- Calories – 45
- Total Fat – 0
- Sodium – 10 mg
- Total Carbohydrates – 12 grams
- Sugars – 9 grams
- Protein – 0
The Spangler brand of candy canes is also gluten-free, however it still contains ingredients which are not beneficial to your diet.
Starburst Candy Canes
While not the original flavor of peppermint, the Starburst Candy Cane is one of the top-sellers each year in the U.S. Their candy canes are free from fat, cholesterol, and sodium.
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Corn Syrup
- Fruit Juice from Concentrate (Apple, Lemon, Orange, Strawberry)
- Citric Acid
- Artificial And Natural Flavors
- Coloring (Red 40)
- Dextrose
Nutritional information (1 serving = 1 piece/12 grams):
- Calories – 50
- Total Fat – 0
- Sodium – 10 mg
- Total Carbohydrates – 14 grams
- Sugars – 10 grams
- Protein – 0
For those with celiac disease, or gluten intolerance, the Starburst Candy Canes are gluten-free to GF-20 levels (more about this later). But, the product is highly processed and contains ingredients which are described as bad ingredients.
What are GF Levels?
As previously mentioned, those who have been diagnosed with celiac disease can suffer with potentially life-threatening illnesses if they eat foods which contain gluten. There is currently no cure for celiac disease, and the only way to manage it is to avoid eating gluten.
For a product to be considered “gluten-free”, it has to have less than 20 ppm, or 20 parts per million, of gluten detected in the food. So for those concerned with gluten being in their foods, they need to look for foods which are labeled as gluten-free. This will mean that the food has met the clear standard for having a level of gluten that most people with celiac disease can tolerate.
So what’s unhealthy about these brands of candy canes?
Each of the above brands of candy canes contain the following ingredients which are considered harmful to your health:
- Sugar
- Corn Syrup
- Artificial Flavors
- Artificial Colors
The sugar in these candy cane brands is processed and refined. This type of sugar is linked with increasing your risk for obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
Corn syrup is known to increase your appetite and can also contribute unwanted calories and increase your chances of getting Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Artificial flavors and colors are not only tested on animals, but they are also linked to organ damage, cancer and birth defects.
Healthier Alternatives to Candy Canes
YumEarth Organic Candy Canes
The YumEarth brand of candy canes is free from the top 8 allergens, and contains no artificial flavors, dyes, and no high fructose corn syrup. Win-win for many dietary restrictions, including gluten-free
Ingredients:
- Organic Cane Sugar
- Organic Brown Rice Syrup
- Natural Peppermint Flavor
- Colored With Organic Fruit And Vegetable Concentrate (Radish, Apple, Blackcurrant)
Nutritional information (1 serving = 1 piece/14 grams):
- Calories – 60
- Total Fat – 0
- Sodium – 0 mg
- Total Carbohydrates – 14 grams
- Sugars – 11 grams
- Protein – 0
SweetOrganics Peppermint Flavored Organic Candy Canes
The SweetOrganics company provides delicious candy sweets with clean ingredients and which meet a wide variety of dietary restrictions. Their candy canes are gluten-free and made from all organic ingredients.
Ingredients:
- Organic Cane Sugar
- Organic Brown Rice Syrup
- Natural Peppermint Flavor
- Color added from organic fruit juice
Nutritional information: (1 serving = 1 piece/15 grams)
- Calories – 60
- Total Fat – 0
- Sodium – 0 mg
- Total Carbohydrates – 15 grams
- Sugars – 11 grams
- Protein – 0
365 by Whole Foods Market, Candy Cane Organic
Vegan and free of GMOs, the 365 Whole Foods brand of candy canes is made with better ingredients. They are manufactured in a facility which processes wheat, so the gluten-friendliness is questionable.
Ingredients:
- Organic Cane Sugar
- Organic Brown Rice Syrup
- Organic Fruit And Organic Vegetable Juice Concentrate For Color (Red Radish, Apple, Black Currant)
- Natural Flavor
Nutritional information: (1 serving = 1 piece/18 grams)
- Calories – 70
- Total Fat – 0
- Sodium – 0 mg
- Total Carbohydrates – 17 grams
- Sugars – 14 grams
- Protein – 0
Final thoughts
Candy canes are a gluten-free treat, so if you need to maintain a dietary lifestyle which avoids foods containing wheat, you can add, or keep, candy canes on your list for Santa to leave in your stocking! Be sure when checking food labels to look out for those brands which have artificial colors and flavors, high refined sugar content, and are manufactured in a facility which also processes wheat.
Related Questions
Are candy canes vegan?
Candy canes are considered to be a vegan candy, because the base ingredients are sugar, corn syrup, natural flavorings and colorings. These ingredients are typically not sourced from animals, but they can be tested on animals, as well as considered to be unhealthy. But from a definition of vegan, they are free of animal-derived ingredients.
Are candy canes good for you?
As with most candies, the candy cane has a high sugar and carbohydrate content. These two factors can contribute to weight gain, increase your risk for type 2 diabetes, and add to your chances of getting heart disease. Candy canes are “empty calories,” or those calories which come from added sugars or fats. They supply energy, but have no nutritional value, so they cannot be considered good for you.
Are candy canes toxic to dogs?
Candy canes can be found in the stockings hanging from the fireplace, as well as the Christmas tree, so curious dogs can find a way to get to them. The peppermint extracts in candy canes may not be harmful to your dog, but the sugar, especially if it is xylitol, can be deadly for your dog.