Kids are heading back to school, which means classroom treat time is ramping up. Food allergies are a growing concern in schools. Finding allergy-friendly, crowd-pleasing, store-purchased snacks isn’t easy. But, it’s not impossible.

The Top 8

Eight foods trigger 90% of allergic reactions. They are:

• Eggs
• Fish (bass, cod, flounder)
• Milk
• Peanuts
• Shellfish (crab, lobster, shrimp)
• Soy
• Tree nuts (such as almonds, cashews, walnuts)
• Wheat

Allergy-friendly Shopping Tips

As you shop, keep in mind:

• Food manufacturers are required to list the Top 8 and allergy warnings on food labels.
• Allergic reactions differ from child to child. There’s no guarantee that a treat from our list – or any other– will meet the needs of every child.
• Different varieties, colors or shapes of a food may not be allergy-free. The Peeps^® brand is a good example.
• Food manufacturers can change their ingredients and processing systems without warning.
• The FDA doesn’t require manufacturers to say if their products contain gluten.
• The FDA doesn’t require manufacturers to say if they make their products in a facility that also processes foods containing allergens.

The List

The treats listed below are free of the Top 8 allergens.

• Candy
  • DOTS Gumdrops
  • Fruit leathers
  • Fruit snacks
  • Jolly Rancher^® Hard Candy
  • Life Savers Gummies^®
  • Marshmallows
  • Peeps^® marshmallows
  • Push Pops^®
  • Ring Pops^®
  • Skittles^®
  • Smarties^®
  • Sour Patch Kids^®
  • YumEarth^® brand
• Cookies
  • Enjoy Life^® brand
• Fruit
  • Applesauce
  • Apple slices
  • Fruit cups
  • Fruit trays
• Snacks
  • MadeGood^® Crispy Squares
  • SkinnyPop^® Popcorn

The good news, especially for people with allergies, is that the number of allergy-friendly foods is increasing all the time and more readily available. If you can’t find the treats above in your local stores, try online.

Of course, non-edible treats are always a hit with kiddos, too. Not to mention, healthier!