Last updated on May 9th, 2024
Fact Checked March 3, 2024
Yay jelly beans! Remember guessing the flavor and matching colors to the flavor chart? Hunting for plastic eggs and then opening them to count the sweet jelly beans inside? Did you ever sneak shiny jelly beans from the candy dish when the grownups weren’t looking? Except now you’re the grownup and you have to research if there’s gluten in jelly beans. No fun. But don’t worry—we’ve got your back with the ultimate guide to gluten-free jelly beans.
UPDATE: Beginning in 2023, most jelly bean manufacturers have limited access to important ingredients because of snags in the supply chain. Last year some popular gluten-free brands didn’t even make it to the shelves. In 2024 most major companies are back in stores, but many private labels are out of production for the time being.
With this shift in the jelly bean world, it’s more important than ever to check labels for wheat warnings and gluten ingredients because manufacturing practices may have changed.
Gluten-Free Jelly Beans:
While most jelly beans are free from gluten ingredients, there’s often a chance for cross contact with wheat on shared equipment and at repackaging facilities. Depending on your level of gluten sensitivity, when a package is not marked gluten free, you might want to contact the company directly or skip this round of jelly beans.
Ultimate Jelly Bean Guide by Brands:
Big Win Jelly Beans
Rite Aid’s Big Win jelly beans may contain wheat.
Blain’s Farm and Fleet Jelly Beans
Blain’s Farm and Fleet Jelly Beans may contain wheat.
Brach’s Jelly Beans
Brach’s jelly beans are manufactured where wheat is used for other products.
Claussen Jelly Beans
Claussen pickle-flavored jelly beans are manufactured in a facility that processes wheat.
Dare Real Hoppy Jelly Beans: Gluten Free
Delightful! All Dare Candy Co. jelly beans are gluten free!
Dunkin’ Jelly Beans
Dunkin’ jelly beans are manufactured in a facility that processes wheat.
Gimbal’s Jelly Beans: Gluten Free
Go for it! Gimbal’s jelly beans are gluten free!
Gold Emblem Jelly Beans
CVS’s private label Gold Emblem jelly beans are packed in a facility with products containing wheat.
Great Value Jelly Beans
Walmart’s Great Value jelly beans may contain traces of wheat.
Haribo Jelly Beans
Haribo Jelly Beans may contain traces of gluten.
Howe Jumbo Jelly Beans
Howe Jumbo Jelly Beans are packaged in a facility that also processes wheat.
Jelly Belly Jelly Beans: Gluten Free *
Jackpot! Jelly Belly jelly beans are gluten free!
* However, be on the lookout for repacks by secondary companies—they might be packaged on equipment that also processes wheat. Jelly beans packaged in-house by Jelly Belly are celiac safe.
Jolly Rancher Jelly Beans
Jolly Rancher distributor Hershey labels their gluten-free products, and Jolly Rancher jelly beans are not labeled gluten free. Although they don’t include known sources of gluten in their ingredients, you should assume there’s a chance of gluten cross contact .
Just Born Jelly Beans: Gluten Free
Jump for joy! Just Born Jelly Beans are gluten free!
Kirkland Jelly Belly Jelly Beans
This is an example of Jelly Belly repackaging mentioned above. Kirkland’s containers of Jelly Belly jelly beans come with a warning that they were processed on equipment that also packages products that contain wheat.
Nerds Jelly Beans
Nerd jelly beans, including Bumpy and Big Chewy varieties, are made in a facility where wheat is used to produce other products.
Now and Later Jelly Beans
Now and Later jelly beans are manufactured in a facility where wheat is used in the production of other products.
Peeps Jelly Beans
It doesn’t look like manufacturer Just Born offers Peeps jelly beans in 2024, but if you come across some, their site suggests you check the package for the words gluten free.
Russell Stover Jelly Beans
Russell Stover jelly beans may contain wheat.
Scripture Candy Jelly Beans
Scripture Candy doesn’t make their own candy: they purchase candy from various suppliers from around the world and then use their own packaging. Most of their jelly beans are manufactured in facilities that also process wheat, and they disclose it on the back of the packaging.
Skittles Jelly Beans
Although Skittles are labeled gluten free, bags of Skittle jelly beans do not carry the same designation, signaling a chance of cross-contact with wheat. Mars Wrigley doesn’t disclose allergen information on their site, but encourages customers to read product packaging. Gluten-free candy will be marked as such. Check the label for the words gluten free. If you don’t see them anywhere, it’s a pass.
Starburst Jelly Beans
Starburst jelly beans are also made by Mars Wrigley. If the words gluten free are missing from the bag then they have potential for cross-contact with gluten.
SunRidge Farms Jolly Beans
SunRidge Farms Jolly Beans contain wheat starch.
Surf Sweet Jelly Beans: Certified Gluten Free
So good! Surf Sweets jelly beans are certified gluten free!
Sweetart Jelly Beans
Sweetart jelly beans are manufactured in a facility where wheat is used in the production of other products.
Treat Street Jelly Beans
Treat Street jelly beans, which you may find in a windup bunny dispenser, are produced in a facility which also processes wheat.
Trolli Sour Brite Jelly Beans
Trolli jelly beans are made in a facility where wheat is used in other products.
WarHeads Jelly Beans
WarHeads Jelly Beans are manufactured on equipment that processes wheat products.
Welch’s Jelly Beans
Welch’s jelly beans are manufactured by Frankford Candy company, which lists allergen warnings on the packaging. Watch out for statements like, manufactured on shared equipment that processes wheat, or manufactured in a facility that processes wheat. The last package we check stated it was manufactured in a facility where wheat is used.
Yankee Traders Jelly Beans
Yankee Traders Jelly Beans may contain traces of wheat.
YumEarth Jelly Beans: Gluten Free **
Yes! YumEarth jelly beans are gluten free!
** Heads up, though, their website discloses that they’re manufactured at a facility that contains wheat (but the wheat is manufactured on a different line), and packaged at a facility that contains wheat. However, the facilities followed Allergen Control programs to keep the candy free from gluten.
The Takeaway
Hopefully this list will help in your jelly bean research. Remember to check the labels because manufacturing practices and ingredients are always changing, especially now with snags in supply chains. Listen to your gut, and reach out to the manufacturer if you need more clarification.
What are we missing? If you wonder about gluten in another brand you don’t see here, or if you find the gluten status of any jelly beans has changed, leave a comment below. Let’s build the jelly bean list to keep everyone healthy and gluten free!
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