The 23 Best Allergy-Friendly Halloween Candy Options for Trick-or-Treaters (and Adults) in 2023
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Did you know that one in 13 kids has a food allergy? Whether someone in your own brood is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts and the like—or you’d just like to provide allergy-free candy for trick-or-treaters this year—here are some of the best allergy-friendly Halloween candy options that everyone can enjoy (that includes staples like Swedish Fish, Skittles, and even Pixy Stix!). And to further help out kids with food allergies, each year you can place a teal pumpkin outside your home to let families know that you’re also offering non-foodie treats (hellooo, fake vampire teeth). Because it’s the ghosts that are supposed to be scary on Halloween, not the sweets.
Psst: It goes without saying that you should read the ingredient lists and labels before letting your kid dig in, but according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, you should also be aware that even if they are not listed on the ingredient label, candies can contain trace amounts of allergens if factories produce multiple products. (And “fun size” candies may be made on different equipment than their regular size counterpart, meaning brands your child previously ate without problems could cause a reaction.)
Confirming if the candy is made in an allergy-friendly facility (or which allergens might be present) can help you avoid major scares. If it’s not explicitly stated on the label (as it often is), check the company website or reach out directly.
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What Are The 9 Major Food Allergens?
Thanks to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act from 1938, all packaged food sold in the U.S. is required to identify the nine major food allergens, which cause the most severe allergic reactions triggered by foods. See the nine major food allergens, below:
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1. No Whey! Foods Milkless Chocolate Bars
Free of: dairy, fish, shellfish, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, sesame, eggs
Chocolate can often be tricky (read: off-limits) for allergy sufferers, but these bars are dairy-free, nut-free, gluten-free, egg-free, soy-free and vegan. Yes, way!
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2. Swedish Fish
Free of: dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, sesame, shellfish
The classic aquatic candies are free of the most common food allergens (that’s milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish and shellfish). Meaning that kids with these food allergies can dive in, worry-free.
Walmart
3. Gimbal’s Gourmet Jelly Beans
Free of: peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, egg, gluten, soy, fish, sesame, shellfish
These bright bites are free from the most common food allergens and they’re made with real fruit juice, so they’re practically a health food. (Just divvy them into individual baggies to keep things germ-free.)
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4. Skittles
Free of: dairy, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans
Almost all little goblins and ghouls can happily tuck into these multicolored chewy candies. They don’t contain milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat or soybeans. (And even though they contain titanium dioxide, they meet FDA standards for food safety.)
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5. Almond Joy
Free of: eggs, gluten, sesame, shellfish, fish, peanuts, wheat
While not suitable for nut allergy sufferers, these chocolate-coconut bars are a great trick-or-treat option for kids with egg allergies.
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6. No Whey! Foods No Tricks Chocolatey Coated Milkless Cookie Bars
Free of: dairy, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, eggs, sesame, wheat
Why should the other kids have all the fun? Everyone can enjoy these caramel cookie bars that are free from wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, sesame, fish, shellfish and gluten. Oh, and they’re also kosher and free from artificial dyes.
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7. Starburst
Free of: dairy, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, eggs, wheat
No kid wants to feel left out, and these guys are a Halloween candy classic (the pink and red ones that is; nobody likes the oranges) that happens to be free of the top eight allergens.
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8. Sour Patch Kids
Free of: peanuts, tree nuts, soy, fish, shellfish, dairy, wheat, sesame, eggs
These sour candies don’t contain common allergy triggers and they’re also one of our all-time favorites. (Halloween isn’t just about the sweet stuff, you know.)
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9. Nerds Candy
Free of: dairy, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, soy
Don’t let the name fool you—this candy is the coolest of the bunch and guaranteed to give a good sugar rush. It’s also free of dairy, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts and soy—just note that, as the packaging states, Nerds may contain traces of egg proteins due to the manufacturing process.
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10. No Whey! Foods Choco No Nos
Free of: dairy, fish, shellfish, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, sesame, eggs
No one said the classics were off-limits when it comes to allergy-friendly Halloween candy. These “milk like chocolatey candies” are allergy-free, gluten-free, kosher and vegan—not to mention less messy and melty than a king-size candy bar.
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11. Smarties
Free of: dairy, fish, shellfish, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, sesame, eggs
How many rolls of these sugary tablets can you eat in one sitting? The limit does not exist. Good thing they’re allergen-free, vegan and made in peanut-free facilities.
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12. Smarties Double Lollies
Free of: dairy, fish, shellfish, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, sesame, eggs
Speaking of Smarties, these sweet-tart pops contain none of the eight common allergens, and the soft texture won’t crack anyone’s molars in the meantime (just sayin’).
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13. Enjoy Life Foods Ricemilk Crunch Chocolate Bars
Free of: dairy, fish, shellfish, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, sesame, eggs
These crispy-melty chocolate bars are gluten-free and avoid 14 major allergy-triggering culprits (including dairy, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, egg and sesame, to name a few).
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14. Surf Sweets Gummy Bears
Free of: dairy, fish, shellfish, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, sesame, eggs
They’re chewy, sweet, naturally flavored and free of the top eight allergens and sesame—huzzah!
15. Dots Candy
Free of: dairy, fish, shellfish, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, sesame, eggs
Not everyone is wild about chocolate, and that’s where these gummy bites come in. These O.G. Halloween candies aren’t just free from the top eight food allergens, they’re also made in facilities that are completely peanut, tree nut and gluten free.
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16. Free 2b Chocolate Sunflower Butter Cups
Free of: dairy, fish, shellfish, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, sesame, eggs
If peanut butter is off limits, no worries. These chocolate cups are made with sunflower butter, which is peanut and tree nut allergy-friendly. (Psst: They’re also dairy free, made in allergy-safe facilities and kosher).
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17. Dum Dums
Free of: dairy, fish, shellfish, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, sesame, eggs
We’ll trade you two peach and a mystery for one root beer. As it turns out, these mini pops are free from the top eight allergens plus sesame, and their manufacturing facilities are free from peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat and sesame.
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18. Charms Blow Pops
Free of: dairy, fish, shellfish, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, eggs
Bubblegum on its own? Snooze. Bubblegum in a lollipop? Now you’re talking. These pops are a fave among all, so it helps that they’re also free from the top eight allergens and manufactured in peanut, tree nut and wheat free facilities.
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19. Mike and Ike Chewy Candy
Free of: dairy, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut, peanuts, soy, wheat
Sure, they’re irresistibly chewy and come in an array of juicy flavors, but did you know that Mike and Ikes are also a top-notch allergy-friendly Halloween candy pick? Yep, they’re dairy, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nut, peanuts, soy and wheat free.
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20. Pixy Stix
Free of: wheat, dairy, eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish
They’re basically just tubes of sour sugar, so anyone with a food allergy can have at ’em. (Just don’t come crying to us when your mouth is sore.)
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21. Tootsie Rolls
Free of: wheat, sesame, fish, shellfish, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts
While those with dairy or soy allergies should abstain, Tootsie Rolls are loved by many.
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22. Hi-Chew
Free of: peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat
They're fruity and super chewy... what's not to like?
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23. Airheads
Free of: wheat, dairy, eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, sesame
Allergies or not, these stretchy, fruity bars of taffy were always such a treat to find in your goodie bag at the end of the night.
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