Mars are one of the biggest candy and chocolate producers in the States so I contacted them to ask about the gluten free status of their products. Mars UK had emailed me a list of their ‘safe’ products so I figured that their North American counterparts were likely to do the same…..
Snickers are gluten free!
My email to Mars North America:
I am Coeliac and therefore can only eat gluten free products. I live in Scotland but will be travelling throughout the United States this summer and was wondering whether you could provide me with a list of your products, which are safe for me to eat? Thanks, Laura
Their response was unhelpful to say the least…
Dear Ms. Emmerson,
In response to your email regarding MARS CHOCOLATE NORTH AMERICA.
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 The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network advises consumers to rely on ingredient labels, not lists that can become outdated when products change.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 Chocolate North America
Oh, of course, my friends, I can just look at the label. Why didn’t I think of that? Erm?!!? I guess I won’t be eating any Mars candy this summer! I do find it strange that Mars in the UK were able to provide me with a list of which products are safe for coeliacs.
UPDATE (07/07/2010): I called Mars North America to ask one of their customer service people if they could provide me with any further information on Mars’ gluten free products since their email suggestion of reading the label isn’t something I feel comfortable relying on.
I was surprised and impressed that I was able to get the information I was looking for without even speaking to a real person, especially after the crapppy email response. A recorded message said to press 3 for information on products that do not contain peanuts, tree nuts, milk, egg, gelatin or gluten. The following message then said to press 1 for a list of products that do not contain gluten.
“The following products do not contain gluten…all m&m’s products, all milkyway products with the exception of the milkyway bar, snickers and snickers dark bars, all dove chocolate products, munch bar. As always please read the label for the most accurate information.”
I’m not sure why they couldn’t have provided me with this list in their email but at least now I have the information. I’m guessing that by all m&m’s they mean with the exception of the new pretzel ones…
With gluten free buddies!
Related Posts
-
Gluten Free Nestle
I called Nestle North America to find out which of their candy products are gluten free. This is the list I was given…. Nestle Baby Ruth Nestle Nips Nestle O’Henry! Nestle Raisinets Nestle Sno-caps Nestle Bit-o-honey Nestle Butterfinger Nestle Goobers Nestle Milk Chocolate Wonka Pixy Stix Wonka Laffy Taffy Wonka Fundip I asked if they
Read the rest of Gluten Free Nestle
jo
Jul 23rd, 2010i believe they contain gluten in trace amounts, so don’t overdo it
Wendy
Feb 26th, 2011I am extremely, extremely careful about all Mars products. When we moved overseas I found out that they are fairly dishonest/misleading about their packaging process. For example, over here their bars are technically gluten-free, but the molds they use are coated in flour to prevent sticking. Eating a Galaxy bar made me very sick. I say this as a celiac who isn’t very sensitive. On that particular bar, gluten wasn’t listed with the potential allergens, but after I got sick I found microscopic print that said something like, “manufactured in a plant where wheat is present” – so the same package says it is gluten free and not gluten free, at the same time. Their manufacturing varies from location to location… and they aren’t very forthright about it.
Last time I ate a package of mini M&Ms that was manufactured in the middle east, I was in the bathroom for two days. I’m pretty anti-Mars these days.
Which is sad because I *love* the Bounty bars.
Laura
Apr 4th, 2011@Wendy. Where in the world are you? The UK or the US?From my experience it’s always best to check with the manufacturer in the country you are in to discover if the products they make are safe. It seems so silly that Mars products in one country could be safe and then not safe in another but sadly this appears to be the case.
You say the molds they use contain flour to prevent sticking? That’s terrifying! Where is this? I must contact MARS UK to see what they have to say. I eat Snickers and Butterfinger bars in the US from time to time and I’ve been fine but I can’t remember the last time I ate their products in the UK. More research is needed..
Laura
Apr 4th, 2011Wait, I guess I did already contact Mars UK. How could I have forgotten?!?
http://glutenfreetraveller.com/is-that-gluten-free/mars-celebrations-gluten-free/