You may need to eat a gluten-free diet if you have been diagnosed with celiac disease or have a gluten intolerance. Gluten is found in wheat, barley, rye and cross-contaminated oat products. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups do not contain wheat, barley, rye or oats and may be considered gluten-free, though they are not labeled as such. If allergens are a concern for you, buy candies that are specifically labeled "gluten-free" that you can safely enjoy.
Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Ingredients
The ingredients of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups include milk chocolate, peanuts, sugar, dextrose, salt and TBHQ. TBHQ is tertiary butyl hydroquinone, a stabilizer that prevents oils from becoming rancid. The milk chocolate ingredient contains sugar, cocoa butter, chocolate, non-fat milk, milk fat, lactose, soy lecithin and PGPR. PGPR is used mostly in chocolate production as an emulsifier. None of these ingredients contain gluten.
Alternatives
Because Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are not specifically labeled "gluten-free," you may feel safer choosing an alternative. People that have celiac disease or a gluten intolerance may also be susceptible to other food allergies as well, including allergies to milk and peanuts. Several companies produce allergen-free products, including candies and peanut butter cups. You can also opt to make peanut butter cups at home. By making these cups yourself, you can avoid consuming questionable ingredients like TBHQ, which has been implicated by parents in the behavioral problems of children, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. There are peanut butter cup recipes online that can be made with allergen-free ingredients. You can, for example, substitute sunflower seed butter for peanut butter and almond milk for cow's milk.
Contamination
If you are avoiding gluten because you have celiac disease or are sensitive to gluten, it may be best to avoid Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Consuming gluten due to contamination can cause uncomfortable symptoms not unlike the symptoms of celiac disease. If you have a gluten intolerance and unwittingly consume it, you may experience digestive upset, cramping, bloating and diarrhea. Individuals with celiac disease or a gluten intolerance may also have an increased appetite and cravings, night blindness, weakness, fatigue, energy loss, tooth enamel defects, back pain and muscle cramping when consuming gluten.
Buying Gluten-Free Candy
When purchasing candies, including peanut butter cups, it's wise to choose products that are labeled "gluten-free." The packaging should also not indicate that production occurred in a facility that also processed wheat. This way, you can avoid cross-contamination and be sure that you are not jeopardizing your gluten-free diet. Labeling products "gluten-free" is strictly voluntary and has been regulated by the FDA in order to help individuals who have food allergies. These labels can help you be sure that you are purchasing products that do not contain gluten ingredients or are cross-contaminated with gluten.
References
- Celiac Sprue Association: Treatment of Celiac Disease
- Celiac Sprue Association: Gluten-Free Labeling
- Be Free For Me: Peanut Butter Graham Candy Cups
- Hershey's: Milk Chocolate Reese's Ingredients
- Hershey's: Frequently Asked Questions
- Center for Science in the Public Interest: Parents' Comments About Their Children's Sensitivity to Food Dyes
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