Are Hi-Chews Gluten Free? (Find Out Now!)

Hi-Chews are a chewy, sweet and fruity treat with a texture like taffy, but firmer. They are a bit tart but have a mellow flavor. They can be compared to Mambas or Starburst, but are they gluten-free?

Yes, Hi-Chews are gluten-free. As of 2012, the company says their fruit chews are produced on equipment that doesn’t process anything containing gluten. However, the packaging does not carry a gluten-free label on any of the Hi-Chew Fruit chews varieties. The best gluten-free and healthier alternatives are Zaffi Taffy Clean Teeth Taffy and Project 7 Gummy Bears.

In this article, we’ll look into whether natural and artificial flavorings can contain gluten. We will also investigate the ingredients in Hi-Chews and discover some healthy alternatives to the delicious gummy snack. Let’s dig in!

Contents

What Is The History of Hi-Chews?

These taffy-like chewy candies were first tried out on the public by a Japanese candy company called Morinaga & Company. The first version of Hi-Chews was developed in 1956 and were strawberry-flavored chews. They returned to the market as HI-CHEW in 1975. Their popularity grew in Japan and spread across the world, eventually becoming a hit in the United States and other countries, as well.

Are Hi-Chews Healthy?

Hi-Chews are high in sugar, and they’re known to be terrible for your teeth because they’re so sticky. They are also high in carbohydrates compared to the amount of nutrients per serving. So, really, they’re not that healthy of a snack choice, much along the lines of Sour Patch Kids.

Are Hi-Chews high in sugar?

Hi-Chews have a high amount of sugar, especially for the number of calories they provide. The first three ingredients in Hi-Chews are forms of sugar, and they stick to your teeth and gums, contributing to cavities. The average person with a 2,000 calorie diet should be consuming no more than 50 grams of sugar per day, so take that into account when you consider whether you should limit the number of Hi-Chews you eat.

Are there harmful chemicals in Hi-Chews?

Hi-Chews are made mostly of sugar, gelatin, flavoring and coloring. They do contain citric acid, which the Academy of General Dentistry has linked to the erosion of your teeth. Some colors like Red 40 have been linked to attention disorders and other conditions.

Can Natural Flavorings Contain Gluten?

Rarely, natural flavorings can contain gluten because they are occasionally derived from barley or rye. It’s not often you’ll find a natural flavoring that does contain gluten, though. Most of them are gluten-free. If barley malt is used in the ingredients, the flavoring will usually be labeled ‘malt flavor’.

Are Manufacturers Required to Test For Gluten?

No, product manufacturers don’t have to test for gluten. There are many products on the market that are not labeled gluten-free and are not tested for gluten. FDA requires that if a product claims to be “gluten-free” on the packaging, then it must contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten. That rule does not apply to labels like “wheat-free”. Check the ingredients on product labels, even products that are labeled “gluten-free” to ensure they will meet your dietary requirements.

Hi-Chews Nutritional Information

Hi-Chews Original Mix Fruit Chews

Ingredients:

Glucose Syrup
Sugar
Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil
Gelatin
Malic Acid
Citric Acid
Natural and Artificial Flavors
Sucrose
Fatty Acid Esters
Sorbita Tristearate
Spirulina Extract for color
Fruit Juice for color
Vegetable Juice for color
Grape Juice Concentrate
Apple Juice Concentrate
Mango Juice Concentrate
Beta-carotene for color

Nutrition Facts (per 31 g. serving):

Calories – 130
Total Carbohydrates – 25 g
Total Fat – 3 g / 4%
Sodium – 0 mg / 0%
Sugars – 19 g
Protein – 0 g

Hi-Chews Superfruit Mix Fruit Chews

Ingredients:

Glucose syrup
Sugar
Vegetable Oil
Gelatin
Chia Seeds
Natural and Artificial Flavors
Citric Acid
Malic Acid
Fruit Juice Concentrate for color
Vegetable juice concentrate for color
Kiwi Puree
Maltodextrin
Apple Juice Concentrate
Dragon Fruit Juice
Sucrose Fatty Acid Esters
Sorbitan Monostearate
Acai Extract
Honey
Purple Carrot Juice Concentrate
Soy Lecithin

Nutrition Facts (per 31 g. serving):

Calories – 130
Total Carbohydrates – 26 g
Total Fat – 3 g / 4%
Sodium – 0 mg / 0%
Sugars – 19 g
Protein – 0 g

Hi-Chews Yogurt Mix Fruit Chews

Ingredients:

Glucose Syrup
Sugar
Vegetable Oil
Gelatin
Natural and Artificial Flavors
Lactic Acid
Malic Acid
Sucrose Fatty Acid Esters
Strawberry Juice Concentrate
Fruit Juice Concentrate for color
Vegetable Juice Concentrate for color
Carrot Juice Concentrate for color Black Currant Juice Concentrate for color
Soy Lecithin

Nutrition Facts (per 31 g. serving):

Calories – 130
Total Carbohydrates – 25 g
Total Fat – 3 g / 4%
Sodium – 0 mg / 0%
Sugars – 19 g
Protein – 0 g

Healthier Gluten-Free Hi-Chew Alternatives

Zaffi Taffy Clean Teeth Taffy

These tart, sweet candies are labeled gluten-free and vegan and contain no artificial colors. We don’t love the use of palm oil, but these are sweetened with only Xylitol and Erythritol. For more taffy ideas, check out the article Is Salt Water Taffy Vegan?.

Ingredients:

Maltitol Syrup
Palm Oil
Erythritol
Xylitol
Citric Acid
Mono & Diglycerides
Sunflower Lecithin
Salt
Beetroot Juice
Natural Flavor
Ascorbic Acid
Stevia

Nutrition Facts (per 30 g. serving):

Calories – 70
Total Carbohydrates – 20 g
Total Fat – 3 g / 4%
Sodium – 50 mg / 2%
Dietary Fiber – 0 g / 0%
Sugars – 0 g
Protein – 0 g

Lily’s Gummy Bears Sweet Fruity Friends

These gummy bears are gluten-free, non-GMO verified, and have no sugar added.

Ingredients:

Soluble Corn Fiber
Allulose
Pectin
Citric Acid
Palm Oil
Coconut Oil
Color Added (apple, blackcurrant, carrot, lemon, pumpkin, radish, saffron concentrates)
Carnauba Wax
Stevia Extract

Nutrition Facts (per 51 g. serving)

Calories – 70
Total Carbohydrates – 42 g
Total Fat – 0 g / 0%
Sodium – 115 mg / 5%
Dietary Fiber – 0 g / 0%
Sugars – < 1g
Protein – 0 g

Project 7 Gummy Bears

These gummy bears are not labeled gluten free but contain no gluten ingredients.

Ingredients:

Soluble Corn Fiber
Allulose
Cane Sugar
Citric Acid
Pectin
Sodium Citrate
Natural Flavors (lemonade, strawberry, kiwi-lime, elderberry, tropical, watermelon0grapefruit)
Colored with Fruit and Vegetable Concentrates
Sunflower Oil
Turmeric and Spirulina Extracts for Color
Stevia Extract
Carnauba Wax

Nutrition Facts (per 49 g. serving)

Calories – 60
Total Carbohydrates – 38 g
Total Fat – 0 g / 0%
Sodium – 95 mg / 4%
Dietary Fiber – 19 g / 68%
Sugars – 3 g
Protein – 0 g

Smart Sweets Candy Sourmelon Bites, Watermelon

This is a very popular gluten-free White Chocolate brand because it is labeled very clearly as gluten-free. It is made from just four ingredients – salted anchovies, salt, water and sugar – and contains no added MSG.