Most Hershey's chocolate products are naturally gluten-free because chocolate itself contains no gluten. However, not all Hershey's products carry an official gluten-free certification, and cross-contamination during manufacturing is a concern for people with celiac disease or severe gluten sensitivity.
Hershey's produces some items in facilities that also handle gluten-containing ingredients, which means trace amounts of gluten could potentially be present. The company does manufacture certain products in dedicated gluten-free facilities or on dedicated lines, and these are typically labeled as gluten-free.
To determine if a specific Hershey's product is safe for a gluten-free diet, check the product label for:
- An official "Gluten-Free" certification mark
- "May contain gluten" or cross-contamination warnings
- The manufacturer's statement about allergen handling
Products like plain Hershey's milk chocolate bars, Kisses, and Cocoa powder are often gluten-free, but individual items vary. Some specialty items like certain candy bars with cookie or grain ingredients clearly contain gluten. Hershey's website and customer service can provide definitive information about specific products and their manufacturing processes, which is the safest approach for anyone with gluten sensitivity.