Licorice vs Gummy Bears:
Which Is Gluten-Free?
Two candy-bowl staples. Traditional licorice contains wheat flour, while most gummy bears are gluten-free: always check the brand.
Gummy Bears is the safer celiac choice — Gummy Bears is gluten-free, while Licorice depends on the brand or preparation.
Verdicts last reviewed July 2026 · based on FDA gluten-free labeling rules and Celiac Disease Foundation guidance
Gummy Bears is the safer celiac choice — Gummy Bears is gluten-free, while Licorice depends on the brand or preparation.
Licorice
Most licorice candy contains wheat flour as a primary ingredient. Some brands like YumEarth make gluten-free licorice alternatives.
Watch out for:
- Wheat flour is a primary ingredient in most licorice
- Twizzlers and Red Vines contain wheat
- Licorice root extract is GF, but licorice candy is not
Gummy Bears
Yes. Most gummy bears — including Haribo Gold-Bears — are gluten-free, since they are made from gelatin and sugar, not wheat.
Watch out for:
- A few specialty/imported gummies use wheat-based ingredients
- Novelty "gummy" products may add wheat components
- Shared manufacturing (no gluten ingredients in standard bears)
Gluten-free swaps
Instead of Licorice:
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