Gummy bears are a classic treat for all ages. Many people have fond memories of eating these sweet treats on road trips, at Halloween, and just as a regular sweet snack. As people become more aware of different diets and what is right for them, more questions are coming up as to how gummy bears may or may not fit into your nutritional requirements.
Gummy bears are not exclusively gluten-free. While there are many gluten-free brands, such as Black Forest, other popular brands, such as Haribo Gummy Bears, contain gluten ingredients. When looking for gluten-free gummy bear alternatives, Lily’s Gummy Bears, Smartsweets Gummy Bears, and Yum Earth Gummy Bears all provide delicious gluten-free (and healthier) gummy bear snack options.
Let’s get into all things gummy bears, including their nutritional profile, why not all gummy bears are gluten-free, and how the alternative brands measure up.
Contents
What is gluten?
You’ve probably heard the term “gluten” and “gluten-free” more times than you can count. But what is gluten?
Gluten is a protein that is found in the majority of wheat products. Gluten essentially acts as the glue that holds together wheat, barley, spelt, farro, bulgar, rye, and many more grain products together.
It is often the component that makes wheat product “chewy.” If you’ve ever had gluten-free pasta or bread products, you may have noticed the texture is a bit grainier than gluten-containing products. Many people do not mind this, and the taste of gluten-free products is often enjoyable.
Gluten occurs naturally in grains, so it cannot be stripped way. This means that if a grain contains gluten naturally, you can’t modify it to make a gluten-free products. This is also why you don’t see gluten-free wheat products, and instead see alternatives such as chickpea and almond flour.
Gummy candies, such as gummy bears, are a prime candidate for gluten because gluten syrup helps aid to their gummy texture. However, with the popular demand for gluten-free products, many brands are making adjustments.
Are gummy bears gluten-free?
So, while Haribo Gummy Bears contain gluten, that doesn’t mean that gummy bears inherently contain gluten. In fact, many brands are gluten free.
The main reason that certain brands contain gluten is because of the inclusion of glucose syrup, which is derived from wheat.
When it comes to gummy bears, it’s important to read the ingredient list for each brand. You may think two products are similar, then look at the ingredient list and realize they have completely different ingredients—some of which may contain gluten.
The good news is, many gluten-free products are certified gluten-free and label themselves as such, often on the front of the package. If you see this indicator, you can feel confident in your choice.
Are Haribo gummy bears gluten free?
Unfortunately for many, Haribo Gummy Bears changed in the past few years. “The original recipe since 1922” is not quite so. The new ingredient glucose, made from wheat or corn, promptly eliminated this snack from both the celiac and wheat allergy community. Many people were unaware of this ingredient change, with the addition only being realized after people with gluten or wheat intolerances experienced stomach cramps, among other symptoms.
Things to Watch Out For
Though brands vary, the ingredients stay roughly the same between among many brands with minor adjustments. You will likely see sugar, gelatin, a sugary syrup (such as corn or glucose syrup), starch, flavoring, and citric acid.
- Gluten-free certified: even if you look at the ingredients and they are gluten free, if the facility is not certified gluten-free there may be cross-contamination.
- Cross-contamination: this is when the product may have come in contact with gluten during manufacturing. If it is labeled as gluten-free without being certified, it could contain up to 20ppm of gluten in the product. For many people who just try to limit or loosely remove gluten from their diet, this low amount of gluten is not a problem. However, if you are allergic to gluten or have a severe intolerance, it is important to check for certification.
Gummy Bear Nutrition Information
The most popular brand of gummy bears, by far, is Haribo gummy bears. When you go to a local grocer or food store, Haribo is likely the brand that will catch your eye. But what is the nutritional information? We’ve looked into the popular snack to find these answers.
Haribo Gummy Bears
Nutrition Facts (per 17 pieces, 39 grams g):
- Calories: 140
- Protein: 2 grams
- Carbohydrates: 33 gram (12% DV)
- Fat: 0 grams (0% DV)
- Cholesterol: 0mg (0% DV)
- Sodium: 10 mg (0% DV)
Ingredients:
- Corn syrup
- Sugar
- Gelatin
- Dextrose
- Citric acid
- Starch
- Artificial and natural flavors
- Fractionated coconut oil
- Carnuba wax
- Beeswax coating
- Artificial colors (yellow 5, red 40, blue 1)
Black Forest Classic Gummy Bears
Nutrition Facts (per 9 pieces, 30 grams g):
- Calories: 100
- Protein: 1 gram
- Carbohydrates: 23 gram (5% DV)
- Fiber: 0g (0% DV)
- Sugar: 14g
- Fat: 0 gram (0% DV)
- Cholesterol: 0mg (0% DV)
- Sodium: 0 mg (0% DV)
Ingredients:
- Corn syrup
- Sugar
- Gelatin
- Modified food starch (corn)
- Citric acid
- Apple juice from concentrate
- Sodium citrate
- Natural and artificial flavors
- Coconut oil*
- Colors (black carrot juice, beta-carotene, spirulina extract, turmeric)
- Carnauba wax*
- *Adds a trivial amount of fat
Gluten-free Gummy Bear Alternatives
If you have found that your favorite brand contains gluten, and you are looking for an alternative, you are in luck. There are many brands on the market that have made adjustments to traditional recipes and do not contain gluten. Some of our favorites are:
Lily’s Gummy Bears Sweet Fruity Friends
Nutrition Facts (per 1 pouch/51 gram):
- Calories: 70
- Fat: 0 gram (0% DV)
- Carbs: 42 gram (15% DV)
- Fiber: 25 gram (88% DV)
- Sugar: <1 grams (0 grams of added sugar)
- Protein: 0 grams
- Sodium: 105 mg (5% DV)
- Iron: 0 mg (0% DV)
- Potassium: 0 mg (0% DV)
Ingredients:
- Soluble corn fiber (non-GMO)
- Allulose (non-GMO)
- Pectin
- Citric acid
- Sodium citrate
- Natural flavors
- Palm oil (sustainably sourced)
- Coconut oil
- Color added (apple, blackcurrant, carrot, lemon, pumpkin, radish, saffron concentrates)
- Carnauba wax
- Stevia extract
Yum Earth Gummy Bears
Nutrition Facts (per 1 snack pack, 19.8 grams):
- Calories: 70
- Protein: 1 gram
- Carbohydrates: 15 gram (5% DV)
- Fiber: 0g (0% DV)
- Sugar: 12g
- Fat: 0 gram (0% DV)
- Cholesterol: 0mg (0% DV)
- Sodium: 0 mg (0% DV)
Ingredients:
- Organic rice syrup
- Organic cane sugar
- Gelatin
- Organic corn starch
- Apple juice concentrate
- Citric acid
- Colored with concentrates (carrot, apple, blackcurrant, pumpkin, radish, lemon, paprika)
- Natural flavors
- Organic sunflower oil
- Organic carnauba wax
Smartsweets Gummy Bears
Nutrition Facts (per 1 bag, 50 grams):
- Calories: 110
- Protein: 4 grams
- Carbohydrates: 36 gram (13% DV)
- Fiber: 9g (32% DV)
- Sugar: 4g
- Fat: 0 gram (0% DV)
- Cholesterol: 0mg (0% DV)
- Sodium: 70 mg (3% DV)
Ingredients:
- Non-GMO soluble tapioca fiber
- Allulose
- Isomalto-oligosaccharides (vegetable source)
- Gelatin
- Malic acid
- Citric acid
- Natural peach, apple, lemon, and raspberry flavors
- Fruit and vegetable juice (For Color)
- Coconut oil
- Carnauba wax
- Stevia leaf extract
Albanese Gummi Bears
Nutrition Facts (per 9 pieces, 32 grams):
- Calories: 100
- Protein: 1 gram
- Carbohydrates: 22 gram (8% DV)
- Sugars: 14 grams
- Fat: 0 grams (0% DV)
- Cholesterol: 0mg (0% DV)
- Sodium: 20 mg (1% DV)
Ingredients:
- Corn syrup (from corn)
- Sugar (from beets)
- Water
- Gelatin
- Citric acid
- Natural and artificial flavors
- Pectin (derived from fruit)
- Vegetable oil (coconut, canola) and carnauba leaf wax (to prevent sticking)
- FD&C yellow #5
- FD&C red #40
- FD&C yellow #6
- FD&C blue #1*
- Yellow #5 – E102
- Red #40 – E129
- Yellow #6 – E110, & Blue #1 – E133*
- *Coconut oil is highly refined and is not considered an allergen
Related Questions
Are gummy bears dairy-free?
Yes! Most brands of gummy bears are dairy-free. However, as always, we recommend double checking the label to be safe. Brands often change their recipes, so it’s important to always be vigilant, especially if on a strict diet.
Are gummy bears keto friendly?
Gummy bears are not a good choice for those on a keto diet. Gummy bears are 94% carbohydrates, which means you cannot eat very many and stay in ketosis. In fact, 17 gummy bears contain around 33 grams of net carbs, which is already above the amount of carbs recommended for most people on a keto diet.
Are gummy bears vegan?
Most gummy bears are not vegan, because they contain an animal-derived product called gelatin. It helps to thicken the product and help it hold its shape. As gummy bears require holding a specific form, it is difficult to make without gelatin. However, some brands have succeeded.