With an eye on the food allergy community as a unique group of consumers since 2008, we're on a quest to find and share ways to continue enjoying the good things in life.


02 March 2009

Must Get Gummies

Okay, maybe I am behind the times here. Have you tried Surf Sweets yet? I haven't seen them in any stores near me, but those Surf Sweets people have got my number on Twitter. All day long, I get little Surf Sweets messages that whisper sweet nothings to me about gummy bears and worms and...I am going to have try them now. (Do not doubt the power of Twitter!) I visited the Surf Sweets website and they sound good, fun and food allergy friendly. What more could I ask for?

If you haven't heard of them, listen to this:
  • "Made with organic fruit juice and sweeteners
  • natural colors and flavors...
  • free of corn syrup and GMOs
  • made in a nut free facility
  • gluten free"
According to the FAQs, they are free of "wheat, dairy, soy, eggs, tree nuts, nuts, fish, and shellfish." I emailed to inquire about a few additional allergens. Their reply: "Although we don't have sunflower seeds, poppy seeds or sesame in our facility, our products and other products in the facility are made with organic sunflower oil." In terms of their food allergy friendliness, it sounds like Surf Sweets picks up where Gimbals left off. They have gummy worms, gummy bears, sour worms, jelly beans, fruit bears and gummy swirls.

For those of you who are more on top of candy than I am, what do you think? Do you like Surf Sweets? Do your kids like them? How are they priced?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

When they say "natural colors and flavors" and also fruit juices, does the product actually say what those natural flavors and fruit juices are?

Unknown said...

I don't have any here and have not tried them yet but if you visit their website, they do seem to list ingredients in fairly good detail. Here is the ingredient list for Gummy Worms: Ingredients: Organic Tapioca Syrup, Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Gelatin, Organic Grape Juice Concentrate,Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Colors Added (including Black Carrot Juice Concentrate, Turmeric, Annatto),Natural Flavors, Organic Sunflower Oil, Carnauba Wax.

I should mention that the owner is amazingly responsive. I received an email response to a question within minutes this morning. That's almost unheard of! I am impressed so far...

Unknown said...

BTW, I forgot to say thanks, Angela, for your comment and very good question! It is frustrating when labels say "natural flavors" but don't get any more specific than that.

Anonymous said...

I haven't tried Surf Sweets brand of gummies, but my daughter always gets a box of gluten free fruit juice sweetened gummies when we go to the health food store... and she's not ever gluten or sugar sensitive! She just loves the taste, and I like them because I can have a few too. Sorry I can't remember the name of that brand, but we'll be going to the health food store in a couple of days and I'll fill ya in on the details then if you want.