M&ms

[Trillian]

I've recently started the gluten-free diet and have heard that I should phone or email companies when I want a true report if their product contains gluten. So I've started doing that.

I emailed M&M's Mars company just to be sure that M&Ms are safe because I've gotten conflicting reports... (somebody said they coat their blue ones in flour and I've also heard that if a food has a small amount of gluten, the company doesn't have to list it on the ingredient)

... this was their unfortunate answer:

______________

In response to your email regarding M&M'S CHOCOLATE CANDIES.

Thank you for your email.

The ingredient statement on each wrapper is the best source for this information. The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network advises consumers to rely on ingredient labels, not lists that can become outdated when products change.

Please feel free to contact us at 1-800-627-7852 if you have any specific product questions.

Have a great day!

Your Friends at Mars Snackfood US

MM/cl010388082A

[cruelshoes]

This company labels all their gluten ingredients, and the label will tell you if there is gluten in the product. It will be clearly indicated on the label, and not hidden in something ambiguous like "natural flavors"

What they are telling you is that they do not maintain a list of gluten-free products. This is actually a good thing. Lists are obsolete as soon as the ink is dry, but if a manufacturer has good labeling practices, you can tell at a glance if there is gluten in the product.

The only M&M product that has gluten is the Crispy one. BUT, you still have to read the label every time you buy something to make sure the ingredients have not changed.

[VioletBlue]

The collective wisdom on this board in numerous prior threads is that milk chocolate and dark chocolate plain and peanut M&M's are safe. The Crunchy ones are not. I believe those contain malt. I've eaten plain and peanut M&Ms without issue. I particularly love the dark chocolate peanut ones.

  Trillian said:

I've recently started the gluten-free diet and have heard that I should phone or email companies when I want a true report if their product contains gluten. So I've started doing that.

I emailed M&M's Mars company just to be sure that M&Ms are safe because I've gotten conflicting reports... (somebody said they coat their blue ones in flour and I've also heard that if a food has a small amount of gluten, the company doesn't have to list it on the ingredient)

... this was their unfortunate answer:

______________

In response to your email regarding M&M'S CHOCOLATE CANDIES.

Thank you for your email.

The ingredient statement on each wrapper is the best source for this information. The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network advises consumers to rely on ingredient labels, not lists that can become outdated when products change.

Please feel free to contact us at 1-800-627-7852 if you have any specific product questions.

Have a great day!

Your Friends at Mars Snackfood US

MM/cl010388082A

[kbtoyssni]

  Trillian said:

(somebody said they coat their blue ones in flour)

  cruelshoes said:

The only M&M product that has gluten is the Crispy one.

Maybe the story about them coating their blue ones in flour is because the blue cartoon character M&M is the crispy one.

[JennyC]

In addition, to their labeling policy, if you call the number they gave you and choose a couple different options there is a list of GLUTEN-CONTAINING candies from Mars. M&Ms (except Crispy) are not on there, so they are gluten free.

[Lisa]

Last year there was a discussion that M&M's were NOT gluten free in the lands down under. Since we are an international board, please check.

[Trillian]

Thank you all for your responses. I guess I was a little dejected that I didn't get a clear answer. I'll eat my favorites with joy - and check the label regularly.

Thank you again...