Godiva Chocolates are a great example of a Valentine’s Day staple. These chocolates come in a myriad of flavors that other brands may not carry, and many people are impressed at the minimal price point at which they can produce their chocolate. The Godiva chocolate company history is extensive, but third-party companies may be the key to figuring out why Godiva’s chocolates became such a holiday staple. If you are following a gluten-free lifestyle you may be wondering, are Godiva’s chocolates gluten-free?
Godiva chocolates are not safe for gluten-free consumption. Some of their chocolates contain wheat, while others have potentially been exposed to cross-contamination during manufacturing. The best gluten-free and healthier alternatives to Godiva’s chocolates are Lily’s Milk Chocolate Caramels, RED Milk Chocolate Bar, Pascha’s Organic Vegan Dark Chocolate Bar 70% Cacao, and Honey Mama’s Lavender Rose Bar.
In this article, we will explore the benefits and cons of chocolate, ethics in chocolate sourcing and practices by chocolate companies such as Godiva, how to find gluten-free chocolate, and healthier alternatives Godiva. To check out the gluten content for more of your favorite snacks, check out these articles on candy corn and Toblerone for the Halloween season.
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Are Godiva’s Chocolates Healthy?
There has been a lingering debate surrounding chocolate companies and their propensity to upsell their materials while simultaneously cheapening the products that they are using in their chocolates. Marketing is truly a double-edged sword- 8 pieces of chocolate for 15 dollars is an impressive retail price for not much ingredients-wise. Godiva isn’t the only chocolate brand that has participated in this, however, as the list contains:
- Godiva
- Hershey’s
- Ghirardelli
- Russell Stover
- Nestle
- M&M/Mars
The reason that these chocolate brands tend to be more unhealthy than others is due to the constant use of GMOs, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Partially Hydrogenated Oils, Artificial colors, and preservatives.
High Fructose Corn Syrup
High fructose corn syrup is commonly found in candy but is often linked to more weight gain than conventional sugars. Refined sugar isn’t the most healthy on its own, but it should 100% be preferred over chemically refined sugars that are not only addictive but actively harmful to our health.
GMOs
Genetically Modified Organisms are a bit of a hot topic in the nutritional field. It is not as directly harmful as high fructose corn syrup, but it is preferable to chemically refined sugars being eaten daily. What you should watch out for with GMOs is potential toxicity and carcinogens, which could pose a significant threat to your health. A good sign of GMO presence in chocolate is the presence of Soy Lecithin, as soy is usually a modified ingredient. It is used in chocolates as a way to bind the ingredients together.
Partially Hydrogenated Oils
Also known as trans fat, partially hydrogenated oils have been linked to heart disease over multiple studies. Increasing your daily intake of trans fat by 2% every day massively inflates an already growing risk of heart disease in young people. It can play off a genetic side as well, inflating up to a 23% chance of a higher risk of heart disease.
Miscellaneous Preservatives and Colors
Chocolates have been adding miscellaneous colors and preservatives, which overshadows the natural antioxidant properties of the chocolate. The constant dyes and additives also present a lot of allergy issues, making it even less accessible than chocolate already is.
Are Godiva’s Chocolates Gluten-Free?
Godiva’s Chocolates are not gluten-free. Most of their chocolates have a form of wheat in them, and the ones that don’t are at a high risk of cross-contamination, which makes both unsafe for people on gluten-free diets. In fact, on their website, they make it very clear that none of their products are safe for people with gluten intolerance or who rely on gluten-free diets to get through the day. The ingredient that seems to make these not safe for gluten-free diets is the thickener that they use for the mousse-like substances in their chocolates, rather than in the chocolate itself.
Unfortunately, Godiva’s chocolate that do not contain gluten also may not be safe. The possibility of cross-contamination within Godiva’s factories is likely, making none of their products safe for gluten-free consumption by their own admission. This means that none of their lines are redeemable to be gluten-free.
Does Godiva Offer Any Certified Gluten-Free Products?
Yes! The following products by Godiva are certified gluten-free.
- Flourless Chocolate Torte Baking Mix with Dark Chocolate Ganache
- Godiva Raspberry Chocolate Torte Baking Mix with Raspberry Glaze
- Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake (offered at The Cheesecake Factory)
Is Godiva an Ethical Brand?
Unfortunately, a lot of the chocolate industry relies on the exploitation of cacao farmers. They have consistently failed to take responsibility for the awful conditions in which their chocolate is made, and not innovating the industry on a social and environmental level.
Godiva has spoken out on these issues but has mostly placed responsibility on other companies. An official spokesperson for Godiva has said that since they purchase from third parties, they have a significant disadvantage on the scorecards offered by ethical farming initiatives such as Be Slavery Free. Ultimately, it’s your choice whether you still want to support Godiva after these findings, but it is far from what is considered an ethical brand.
Gluten-Free Alternatives to Godiva Chocolate
With Godiva not having any safe products for those with gluten intolerance, it can be hard to find a good alternative to the widely renowned brand. Luckily, there are more chocolatiers who are willing to abandon gluten-filled ingredients in order to make sure that everybody can enjoy their chocolate.
Red Milk Chocolate bar has the same creamy taste as a full fat bar of chocolate, but uses fine cocoa beans and stevia extract in order to get the same sweet flavor. With 30% less calories than a traditional chocolate bar, this will act perfectly to satisfy all of your chocolate cravings or to gift to a friend for valentines day.
Nutrition Facts (Per 33g):
- 120 Calories
- 9g Total Fat
- 5g Saturated Fat
- 0g Trans Fat
- 5mg Cholesterol
- 45mg Sodium
- 21g Total Carbohydrates
- 1g Dietary Fiber
- 4g Total Sugars
- 0g Added Sugars
- 10g Sugar Alcohol
- 3g Proteins
Ingredients:
- Polydextrose
- Maltitol
- Erythritol
- Cocoa Butter
- Chocolate Liquor
- Whole Milk Powder
- Milk Fat
- Skimmed Milk Powder
- Soya Lecithin’s
- PGPR
- Carrageenan
- Natural and Artificial Flavors
- Stevia Extract
Lily’s Milk Chocolate Caramels
Lil’s Milk Chocolate Caramels are a perfect example of a sustainable business that actively gives back to the community at large. They like to ensure that every product is botanically sweetened, rather than using refined sugars or other artificial flavors that will affect the healthiness of the product.
Their gluten-free and Non-GMO products are farmed using fair trade practices that benefit sustainable farmers. Lily’s sweets also takes the time to give a percentage of their earnings to those fighting against childhood cancer and other life threatening diseases.
Nutrition Facts (Per 28g):
- 110 Calories
- 8g Total Fat
- 5g Saturated Fat
- 0g Trans Fat
- 5mg Cholesterol
- 25mg Sodium
- 17g Total Carbohydrates
- 8g Dietary Fiber
- 1g Total Sugars
- 0g Added Sugars
- 4g Erythritol
- 1g Protein
Ingredients:
- Milk Chocolate
- Whole Milk Powder
- Milk Fat
- Organic Soy Lecithin
- Sunflower Lecithin
- Stevia Extract
- Vanilla Extract
- Caramel
Honey Mama’s Lavender Rose Bar
Floral flavors are a huge culinary trend as of recently, being added into everything from your daily cup of coffee to the finest of foods. Honey Mama’s Lavender Rose Bar was ahead of this curve, made with essential lavender oil and topped with red rose petals.
The magical taste plays floral flavors off of each other, making a spring inspired sweet taste that will have you craving more.
Nutritional Facts (Per 1 Piece):
- 117 Calories
- 75 Calories from Fat
- 9g Total Fat
- 5g Saturated Fat
- 42mg Sodium
- 10g Total Carbohydrates
- 2g Dietary Fiber
- 7g Sugars
- 2g Protein
Ingredients:
- Single Origin Alkalized Cocoa
- Lavender Oil
- Dried Rose Petals
- Raw Organic Honey
- Coconut Meat
- Unrefined Coconut Oil
- Himalayan Pink Salt
Pascha’s Organic Vegan Dark Chocolate Bar: 70% Cacao
Pascha’s organic chocolate bars boast the claim that they will fix your chocolate craving while being entirely healthy, and they back that up with whole ingredients, no sugar, lower calories, as well as being completely plant-based. These bars are also naturally gluten-free and full of a rich, almost customizable flavor.
For those looking for a healthy way of fixing their cravings, this organic way comes in 100%, 85%, and 70% cacao depending on what you need nutritionally. This contains no peanuts, no nuts, no wheat, no soy, no dairy, and no emulsifiers.
Nutrition Facts (Per 27g):
- 130 Calories
- 11g Total Fat
- 7g Saturated Fat
- 0g Trans Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 0mg Sodium
- 13g Total Carbohydrates
- 2g Dietary Fiber
- 0g Total Sugars
- 0g Added Sugars
- 2g Protein
Ingredients:
- Organic Chocolate Liquor
- Organic Erythritol
- Organic Cocoa Butter
- Organic Stevia Extract
Enjoy Life Ricemilk Chocolate Bars
Enjoys life rice milk chocolate bars are a perfect alternative to valentines candy. The surprisingly sweet chocolate bar has a creamy texture perfectly replicable of dairy-filled milk.
This chocolate bar is Non-GMO, nut-free, soy-free, gluten-free, kosher, halal, and paleo-friendly, making their chocolate bars extremely accessible.
Nutrition Facts (Per 1 Package):
- 170 Calories
- 11g Total Fat
- 7g Saturated Fat
- 0g Trans Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 25mg Sodium
- 19g Total Carbohydrates
- 1g Dietary Fiber
- 15g Total Sugars
- 15g Added Sugars
- 1g Protein
Ingredients:
- Cane Sugar
- Cocoa Butter
- Unsweetened Chocolate
- Dried Rice Syrup
- Salt
Related Questions
Are Godiva’s Chocolate Prices Inflated?
While this is entirely up to interpretation, they are widely considered inflated due to the quality of the ingredients versus the price of the chocolate itself. This is completely up to personal taste, however. The average price of Godiva commercially is $15 per 8 pieces of chocolate, which is more expensive than most other chocolate brands.
Is Godiva Chocolate Closing?
Yes, all of the in-person stores in the United States and Canada will be closing by March. However, Godiva’s Chocolates will continue being sold commercially.