Allergy-Safe Halloween Candy 2011, Part 2

by Kelley Lindberg


Last week, I told you about some places online to order your allergen-free Halloween candy. This week, I’ll tell you about the candy I found in stores locally.

But first… an update on the Great 2011 Candy Corn Hunt. If you’re looking for nut-free candy corn, I found the Sunrise candy corn this week at the Dollar Tree – a huge bin of it, and each bag is only $1. I had my husband and son join me in an entirely non-scientific survey to compare the Sunrise candy corn with Smith’s Kroger brand candy corn, and we all agreed that the Sunrise candy corn has a better flavor (more honey flavor).

Also, many thanks to Daniella for tracking down the Jelly Belly Candy Corn. She contacted the Jelly Belly company to find out about the ingredients and manufacturing processes. If I understand all of her correspondence correctly, their candy corn contains soy protein, and it’s manufactured on shared equipment with milk, wheat, tree nuts, and coconut, but they say their manufacturing and cleaning processes are very stringent. If you’re allergic to soy, avoid them. If you’re allergic to milk, wheat, tree nuts, or coconut, whether or not you want to eat them depends upon your comfort level with possible cross-contamination, taking into account their assurances that their manufacturing processes are allergy-aware and stringent. For the complete information that Daniella received from the company, see Daniella’s blog post on her Smart Allergy blog.

As an alternative to candy corn, the Dollar Tree also has gumdrops shaped like pumpkins, called Gummy Candy Pumpkins. They’re not individually wrapped, but would be fun on safe cupcakes, etc. They contain corn, but are free from the other Big 8. They come 25 gumdrops to a bag, for $1.

Now, on to the Halloween candy I found in local stores. This year, I hit Sam’s Club, Smith’s, Target, and Dollar Tree. The biggest disappointment this year is that Wonka candy is increasingly unsafe – old standbys like Nerds now have egg warnings. Wonka is very good about labeling their candy individually, so be sure you read the labels before your kids consume it.

Remember, this is just a sampling of what’s out there. Double-check every label before you buy anything (I may have missed something or made mistakes as I scribbled my notes while standing in the aisles). If you find a mistake, let me know! Also, if you find a great source for safe candy, let me know that, too.

Remember that many manufacturers have multiple factories, so different sizes or packaging may have different factory warnings. Read every label every time.

First I’ll list candies that don’t list corn as an ingredient (because there aren’t very many of them). Then I’ll list the candies and treats that do contain corn, but are free from some or all of the Top 8 allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish). I've also thrown in a few non-candy ideas, like cookies or Slim Jims.

By the way, EVERYTHING on this entire list is nut-free and peanut-free. That's where I started, then I broke them down by the other allergens. I hope it helps simplify your Halloween season!

Corn-free as well as free from Top 8 (These candies don’t list corn syrup in their ingredients, so they may be safe for corn-allergic kids – please double-check ingredients):

• Smarties (Target, 67 pcs per bag, $2.49 I think; or Smith’s has a 71-pc bag for $2.79 or a 180-pc bag for $6.99) [Note: Dollar Tree sells “Smarties in a Pouch” that contain corn]
• Pixie Stix (Target, 120 per bag, $2.49 I think; or Smith’s has a 150 bag for $2.50 and a 250 bag for $4.99)
• Giant Pixy Stix (Sam’s Club, 50 giant stix for $11.78)
• Bob’s Sweet Stripes Soft Mint Candies (red & white peppermints) (Sam’s Club (290 per bag, $6.64)
• Whistle Pop candy (doesn’t list corn, but does list “glucose syrup”) (Dollar Tree, 25 pops for $1)
• Candy Jewelry (doesn’t list corn, but does list “glucose syrup”), (Dollar Tree, 15 pcs for $1)
• Spongebob Gummy Krabby Patties (doesn’t list corn, but has “glucose syrup” and beef gelatin) (Dollar Tree, 10 for $1)

Corn-free, but contains Soy warning:

• Marvel Superhero Halloween Candy (Walmart, 35 boxes per bag, $4.98; or Target, 52 pcs per bag for $2.49) [Note that I found Marvel Heroes candy sticks at Dollar Tree that contain corn, so read labels carefully]
• Bakers & Chefs Starlight Mints (contains “glucose syrup” and traces of soy); (Sam’s Club has 620 for $6.78

Corn-free, but contains Wheat and Egg warning:

• Wonka Nerds (Sam’s Club, $13.18)

Everything from here on down contains corn ingredients:

Free from Top 8 (Wheat, Peanut, Tree Nut, Milk, Egg, Soy, Fish, Shellfish):

• Betty Crocker Halloween Fruit Snacks; (Sam’s Club has 48 pouches for $7.48; Walmart has 25 pouches for $4.96)
• Kellogg’s Fruity Snacks (contains coconut oil) (Sam’s Club, 24 per box, $6.98)
• Great Value Fruit Smiles (Walmart has 42 pouches for $5.28)
• 24 Halloween Candy Sticks (Sam’s Club has 24 for $8.98)
• 24 Halloween Lollipops (Sam’s Club has 24 for $8.98)
• Skittles (Walmart has bag of 20 for $1.98; Target has bag of 21 for about $2.49, Smith’s has bag of 21 for 2/$6)
• Starbursts (Walmart has bag of 32 for $198; Target has bag of 32 for about $2.49, Smith’s has bag for 48 for 2/$6)
• Skittles and Starbursts Assortment (Sam’s Club has 172 per bag, $9.88, or Walmart has a bag of 45 for $4.48)
• Skittles, Starbursts, and LifeSaver Gummies assortment (Target has 180 for $13.99)
• Dum-Dums (Sam’s Club has 360 per bag, $8.08, or Smiths has 300 for $6.99, or Target has 350 for 9.99 or bags of 48 for about $2.49, or Dollar Tree has 26 for $1)
• Marvel Heroes Candy Sticks (Dollar Tree, 22 for $1)
• Jolly Rancher (Sam’s Club has 5 lb bag of 378 pcs for $10.48) [Note: in an assortment bag at Walmart, the Jolly Ranchers were listed has containing corn and soy]
• Jolly Rancher Lollipops (Target has 18 per bag for about $2.49)
• LifeSavers (Sam’s Club, 24 rolls for $8.74)
• Baby Bottle Pops (Sam’s Club, 20 for $10.78)
• Laffy Taffy (Sam’s Club has 145-pc tub for $5.72, Target has a bag of 32 for about $2.49; Smith’s has bag of 32 for $2.50)
• Hot Tamales (Sam’s Club has 24 vending-sized packs for $14.17)
• Mike & Ike (Sam’s Club has 24 vending-sized packs for $14.17, Target has bag of 21 small pouches for about $2.49)
• Sour Patch Soft & Chewy (Target has bag of 16 for about $2.49)
• Sour Patch Kids (Sam’s Club has 24 vending-sized packs for $13.32)
• Swedish Fish (Sam’s Club has 24 vending-sized packs for $13.05, Target has bag of 16 small pouches for about $2.49)
• Swedish Fish & Sour Patch Kids Assortment (Target has bag of 115 for $9.99)
• Dots (Smiths has bag of 17 mini-boxes for $2.50; Dollar Tree has bag of 6 mini-boxes for $1)
• Haribo Gummy Bears (contains coconut) (Smiths has a bag of 44 for $4.99)
• Life Savers Spooky Shapes Gummies (Target has bag of 12 for about $2.49)
• Bubble Babies Sour Gum Balls (contains coconut), (Dollar Tree has bag of 62 for $1)
• Mini Sour Dudes Straws (Dollar Tree has bag of 10 for $1)
• Gummy Candy Insects (Dollar Tree has bag of 15 for $1)
• Gummy Body Parts (Dollar Tree has bag of 15 for $1)
• Gummy Pirate Choppers (Dollar Tree has bag of 12 for $1)
• Grave Gummies (contains coconut) (Dollar Tree has pkg of 12 for $1)
• Smarties in a Pouch (Dollar Tree has bag of 35 pouches for $1)
• Comix Mix Candy Sticks (Dollar Tree has bag of 22 for $1)
• Push Pops (Sam’s Club has 24 for $10.62)

Contains Soy or Soy Warning (but free from other 7 top allergens):

• Wrigley’s Gum (Doublemint, Big Red, Juicy Fruit, Spearmint); Sam’s Club (40 5-stick packs for $7.14)
• Marvel Superhero Halloween Candy (Walmart, 35 boxes per bag, $4.98; or Target, 52 pcs per bag for $2.49)
• Hubba Bubba Bubble Tape (Sam’s Club, $8.88)
• Laffy Taffy Ropes (Sam’s Club, 48 ropes, $9.52)
• Jolly Rancher Fruit Chews (Sam’s Club has 12 for $6.72)
• Marvel Superheroes Halloween Lollipops (Walmart has bag of 65 for $4.98)
• Jolly Rancher Snack-Size Fruit Chews (Walmart has bag of 40 for $1.98)
• Kool-Aid Bursts drinks (Walmart has 6-pack for $1)
• Star Wars Lollipops (Target has bag of 26 for about $2.49)
• Big Chew Fruit Flavored Bubble Gum (Dollar Tree has bag of 88 pcs for $1)
• Double Bubble Bubble Gum (Dollar Tree has bag of 30 for $1) [Note: The bag of 380 from Sam’s Club also has a milk warning]

Contains Wheat or Wheat warning (but free from other 7 top allergens):

• Super Ropes (Sam’s Club has 30 for $10.98)
• Wonka Super Shockers (Sam’s Club has 24 vending-sized pkgs for $13.18)
• Sour Punch Straws (Sam’s Club has 24 for $10.46)
• Red Vines (Sam’s Club, 15 bags for $6.88)
• Twizzler Rainbow Snack Size (Walmart has bags of 33 for $1.98)
• Airheads Chewier Mini Bars (Target has bags of 30 for about $2.49)

Contains Milk or Milk warning (but free from other 7 top allergens):

• Ring Pops (Sam’s Club has 40 for $11.43)
• Sixlets (tiny cellophane tubes of 6 round candy-coated chocolate flavored balls): (Dollar Tree has bags of 20 for $1)
• Exploding Candy (Dollar Tree has bags of 25 pouches for $1)

Contains Egg or Egg warning (but free from other 7 top allergens):

• Wonka Stretchy & Tangy Laffy Taffy in 3 Flavors (Sam’s Club has 24 for $13.18)
• Now & Later (Target has bags of 36 for about $2.49)

Contains Soy and Wheat or warnings (but free from other 6 top allergens):

• Twizzlers (Sam’s Club has a tub of 180 ind. wrapped for $7.24)
• Twizzler Nibs (Sam’s Club has 36 vending-sized pkgs for $19.88)
• Twizzler Snack Size Twists (Target has bags of 60 for about $2.49, Smith’s has bags of 60 for 2/$4; Walmart has bags of 60 for $1.88))
• Twizzler & Jolly Rancher Assortment (Sam’s Club, 225 for $9.98)
• Airheads (Sam’s Club: 90 for $8.98)
• Airhead Extremes (Sam’s Club has 18 for $8.62
• Utz Pretzel Treats (Sam’s Club, 70 bags of Halloween-shaped pretzels, contains wheat and barley, made on equipment that processes soy and sesame seeds, $6.98)
• Keebler Crème-Filled Sugar Wafers (cookies, contain barley, too) (Sam’s Club has 24 pkgs for $8.48)
• Oreo cookies (Sam’s Club has 30 pkgs for $9.56)
• Austin Zoo Animal Crackers (Sam’s Club has 36 bags for $7.78)
• Chex Mix (Sam’s Club has 36 bags for $9.78)
• Slim Jim Meat Sticks (also contains beef and chicken), (Sam’s Club has box of 100 individually wrapped sticks for $14.82)

Contains Wheat and Milk or warnings (but free from other 6 top allergens):

• Charms Blow Pops (Sam’s Club has bags of 100 for $8.86, Walmart has bags of 50 for $4.48, Target has bags of 23 for about $2.49)
• Charms Mini Pops (Dollar Tree has bags of 26 for $1)

Contains Milk and Soy or warnings (but free from other 6 top allergens):

• Double Bubble gum (Sam’s Club has 380 for $6.88) [Note: the Double Bubble Gum from Dollar Tree and from Target doesn’t have a milk warning, so they may use multiple factories. Check labels carefully before eating]
• Kraft Caramels (Walmart has bags of 50 for $1.98)

Contains Wheat and Egg or warnings (but free from other 6 top allergens):

• Wonka Nerds Ropes (Sam’s Club has 24 for $13.18)
• Wonka Nerds (doesn’t appear to contain corn) (Sam’s Club has them for $13.18, Target has bags of 27 for about $2.49, Smith’s has bags of 27 for 2/$4)

The following candies come in big assortment bags, which you might find in your child’s trick-or-treat bags:

• Columbina candies – Dollar Tree sells many varieties of candy from this company, and all have a factory warning for Peanuts, Egg, Tree Nuts, Soy, Milk, and Wheat
• Wonka Nerds from the Wonka Mix-Ups bag (Sam’s Club) contain corn, wheat, and egg
• Wonka BottleCaps from the Wonka Mix-Ups bag (Sam’s Club) contain wheat and egg
• Wonka SweeTarts from the Wonka Mix-Ups bag (Sam’s Club) contain wheat and egg
• Wonka Spooky Nerds from the Wonka Monster Treats bag (Walmart) contain corn, wheat, and egg
• SweeTarts Skulls and Bones from the Wonka Monster Treats bag (Walmart) contain wheat and egg (no corn)
• SweeTart Chews – contain corn and soy
• Howlin’ Laffy Taffy from the Wonka Monster Treats bag (Walmart) contain corn and soy
• Twizzler Pull N Peel from various assortments bags contain corn and wheat (no soy)
• Apple Stix from the Jolly Rancher & Twizzler assortment (Walmart) contain corn and soy
• Tiger Pops – packaging lists all allergens
• Lemonheads contain only corn, but are usually found in assortment bags that include warnings for all the allergens on the overall packaging
• Jawbreakers contain only sucrose (doesn’t list corn), but packaged in an assortment that lists all the allergens in a factory warning
• Warheads – contains corn, but comes in an assortment listing all allergens in a factory warning
• Bazooka Gum-Filled Pops – lists only corn, but comes in an assortment listing all allergens in a factory warning
• Cry Baby Sour Gumballs – contains corn
• Double Bubble twist-wrap gum and gumballs – both contain corn with a soy warning
• Jolly Rancher Candy Stix – contain corn and soy

Non-Food Treats:
Don’t forget, you don’t have to hand out candy to your trick-or-treaters. You can also hand out non-food treats like:

• Bat or Spider Rings (Walmart has 100 for $1.94)
• Halloween bouncy balls (Walmart has 12 for $2.44, or http://www.orientaltrading.com/ has lots of varieties)
• Vampire teeth (Walmart has 16 for $1.44)
• Halloween-colored bracelets (Walmart has 30 for $1.94, http://www.orientaltrading.com/ has tons, or party stores have these, too)
• Halloween pencils or erasers(Walmart has 12 for 94 cents)
• Glow Sticks (Dollar Tree, 12 for $1)