Assessing Gluten Content In Now & Laters: Fact-Checking Manufacturer Statements

Now and Laters’ gluten content and the manufacturer’s warnings are worth considering.¹

These are serious questions for anyone with gluten sensitivity, celiac disease, or even for those who willingly avoid gluten, so it’s of the utmost importance to read the fine print carefully, always do your due diligence, and clarify any mixed signals the brand, Ferrara Candy Company has published on their site.²

Below we review every flavors ingredients, nutritional value, and what the manufacturer has to say about various allergens including gluten.

Is Now & Later Candy Gluten-Free?

While some sources argue that some additives and flavorings inside Now and Laters contain gluten, this is unfounded and disproven by Now and Later’s parent company. Even the FDA claims that any approved artificial additives such as food colorings are perfectly safe for consumption.³ It is true that gluten can be disguised in processed foods, mainly being used to add flavor and retain structure, but this does not apply to Now and Laters.⁴

Source: Merrimon via Canva.com⁵

The Ferrara Candy Company’s website informs consumers that because products without allergens are produced in the same areas as products that do contain allergens, they cannot declare any of their products as completely gluten free. This is due physical factors contaminating food, resulting in cross contamination.⁶

Despite the fact that the Ferrara Candy Company fails to provide a “gluten free” disclaimer for their Now and Later gluten free products, a deeper look into their product ingredients confirms that Now and Laters are in fact gluten free.

What Ferrara Says About “Are Now & Laters Gluten-Free?” & Product Allergens

Amidst the widespread confusion surrounding whether Now and Laters are gluten-free, the best source of clarification is directly from the manufacturer. The Ferrara Candy company addresses three direction questions related to gluten and their products on their FAQ page. Here’s what they had to say:

• Does Ferrara Process or Package Products Containing Allergens?

Ferrara prints a “Contains” manufacturer warning on their packages for any products which contain any of the Big 8 Allergens.⁷ If there is no “Contains” statement printed on the package, the product is said to be allergen free.⁸ However, it is important to be aware of Ferrara’s “Made In” statement, even if the package does not state allergens. The “Made In” statement serves to highlight the fact that any candy produced in their factories has the potential to be cross-contaminated.

• Does Ferrara Manufacture Products Containing Corn Gluten?

Ferrara states that they do produce candies which contain corn gluten. However, it is also stated that Ferrara purposefully does not provide a comprehensive list of allergen or gluten-containing products, due to the constant changes found in packing and manufacturing environments. Consumers are advised to refer to their individual package for detailed ingredients and allergen statements.

• If I Have Celiac Disease, Can I Eat Any of Your Products?

Ferrara admits that some of their products contain gelatin but does not specify which ones in their answer. It was also noted that because of the various factories and production plant environments, Ferrara will not provide a comprehensive list of gelatins on their website.

Consumers with Celiac Disease may wish to undertake the 21 day no junk food challenge to identify other food choices to avoid as health conscious consumers.

With six Now and Later versions and more than double that of flavors available for purchase, health conscious consumers need a closer look at the labels. Keep reading to find out which Now and Later varieties contain ingredients which might trigger adverse health reactions.

A Look at Now & Later Candy Ingredients & if They’re Healthy

Unlike Ferrara’s Gobstopper products which are known for hiding their flavors mysteriously, Now and Later packaging boldly splashes its fruity flavors on the front. Some sources make the claim that certain artificial flavorings used in Now and Laters contain gluten, but there is no hard evidence. While certain ingredients such as food coloring and additives may differ between the Now and Later versions, the following core ingredients can be found in every variety:

• Corn Syrup
• Sugar
• Palm Oil
• Citric Acid
• Salt
• Artificial Flavors
• Soy Lecithin (Emulsifier)

Corn Syrup is the number one ingredient in every Now and Later candy. While corn syrup is only 30-50% “as sweet” as sugar, it is an essential ingredient for Now and Laters because corn syrup prevents sucrose crystals from linking together.⁹ Because of this, Now and Later consumers get to enjoy the chewy and smooth texture they have come to expect.

However, corn syrup has been associated with a rise in obesity and other health issues, so moderation is key. Much like hidden gluten, corn syrup is so prevalent in “health foods” that conscious consumers are asking themselves whether Honey Nut Cheerios are recommended for losing weight. Consumers seeking weight loss but also wishing to avoid gluten and sugar, the quest for the best cereals for weight loss arises.

Keep investigating regarding the gluten content of Now and Laters and scroll down to see a list of calories and sugar contents for each of the Now and Later varieties.

Nutritional Value of Each Type of Sugar Free Now & Laters

Now and Laters, much like its Tootsie Roll cousin, are a branch of the “taffy” candy family offering a wide range of flavors and products. Specifically, Now and Laters come in 6 different versions, with each variety being sold in bundles of “mixed flavors” or “single flavor” options:

• Now and Later Originals
• Now and Later Morphs
• Now and Later Shell Shocked
• Now and Later Extreme Sour
• Now and Later Splits
• Now and Later Chewy

Specific amounts of calories, fats, proteins, and sugars will differ slightly among the Now and Later varieties, but the differences are minute. As a rule of thumb, all Now and Later products will contain:

• 100-120 Calories per serving (39g)
• 1-1.5 grams of Fat per serving (39g)
• 15-20 grams of Sugar per serving (39g)
• 0 grams of Protein per serving (39g)

Now and Later does not reveal carbohydrate information on their website, surprisingly. However, many retailers selling Now and Laters reveal the nutritional label on their products, which shows Now and Later candies to contain 27-29 grams of carbohydrates per serving (39g).¹⁰

Original

• Fats: 1g
• Carbs: 26g
• Proteins: 0g
• Calories: 120g
• Sugars: 18g

Morphs

• Fats: 1g
• Carbs: 26g
• Proteins: 0g
• Calories: 120g
• Sugars: 18g

Shell Shocked

• Fats: 1.5g
• Carbs: 29g
• Proteins: 0g
• Calories: 120g
• Sugars: 20g

Extreme Sour

• Fats: 1g
• Carbs: 26g
• Proteins: 0g
• Calories: 120g
• Sugars: 18g

Splits

• Fats: 1g
• Carbs: 26g
• Proteins: 0g
• Calories: 120g
• Sugars: 19g

Chewy

• Fats: 1g
• Carbs: 26g
• Proteins: 0g
• Calories: 120g
• Sugars: 19g⁶

Original Now & Laters

While the six different varieties of Now and Laters contain different coloring and preservatives, they all share the same base of ingredients and differ minimally in nutritional values.

Calories: 120
Carbs: 28g
Fats: 1g
Protein: 0g
Sugar: 18g

Original Flavors:

• Banana
• Watermelon
• Strawberry
• Cherry
• Apple
• Grape
• Blue Raspberry
• Pineapple
• Tropical Punch
• Mango Guava
• Strawberry Kiwi
• Mandarin Orange

Shell Shocked Now & Laters

This variety of Now and Laters differs in that it contains the most preservatives out of any variety, and that Shell Shocked and Sour Shell Shocked Now and Laters are only sold in mixed bags.

Calories: 120
Carbs: 28g
Fats: 1g
Protein: 0g
Sugar: 18g

Shell Shocked Flavors:

• Apple
• Cherry
• Strawberry
• Grape
• Banana

Sour Shell Shocked Flavors:

• Sour Apple
• Sour Cherry
• Sour Watermelon

Extreme Sour Now & Laters

The Extreme Sour Now and Laters comes in mixed bag or single options, and what sets them apart is that this variety contains egg whites and potato starch.

Calories: 120
Carbs: 28g
Fats: 1g
Protein: 0g
Sugar: 18g

Extreme Sour Flavors:

• Extreme Sour Watermelon
• Extreme Sour Apple
• Extreme Sour Cherry

Splits Now & Laters (Gluten Free Flavors)

The Splits Now and Laters pack a more flavorful punch than the aforementioned varieties, offering both mixed bags and single options for these dually-flavored chews.

Calories: 120
Carbs: 26g
Fats: 1g
Protein: 0g
Sugar: 18g

Splits Flavors:

• Lemon-Lime
• Lemon-Strawberry
• Lemon-Blue Raspberry

Chewy Now & Laters (GF Flavors)

Sold in two different mix options and ten single choices, you can rest assured these extra chewy sugary squares are still gluten free- just with more to chew on.

Calories: 120
Carbs: 26g
Fats: 1g
Protein: 0g
Sugar: 18g

Chewy Flavors:

• Apple
• Strawberry
• Grape
• Cherry
• Banana
• Wild Berry
• Watermelon
• Blue Raspberry
• Pineapple
• Mango
• Pink Lemonade

Morphs Now & Laters Gluten Free Flavors

Morphs Now and Laters contain the highest amount of food coloring additives compared to its counterparts, which is no surprise due to the colorful contrast caused by different flavors in the chew.

Calories: 120
Carbs: 26g
Fats: 1g
Protein: 0g
Sugar: 18g

Morphs Flavors:

• Mixed Mango and Cherry
• Strawberries and Lemon-Lime
• Watermelon Grape
• Blue Raspberry

Additional Gluten Free Taffies & Candies

The Ferrara Candy Company contains 28 brands of various candies in their portfolio, and just like their Now and Later brand, the others do not contain gluten. From mouth puckering Sweet Tarts to stretchy Laffy Taffy strips, consumers can find gluten free options ranging from hard blocks to stretchy ropes.

Source: AnVyChicago via Canva.com¹¹

Here are a few other gluten-free taffy favorites from Ferrara and others:

Taffies

With a consistency somewhere between a peppermint and a gummy bear, these popular gluten free taffies are sure to be found in trick-or-treater’s candy buckets this year:

• Laffy Taffy (Ferrara Candy Company)
• Laffy Taffy Sour (Ferrara Candy Company)
• Now and Laters (Ferrara Candy Company)
• Tootsie Rolls Chocolate (Tootsie Rolls Industry)
• Tootsie Rolls Fruit Chews (Tootsie Rolls Industry)
• Airheads (Perfetti Van Melle Company)
• Sour Patch Kids (Mondeléz International Incorporation)
• Starbursts (The Wrigley Company)
• Saltwater Taffy (Taffy Town Company)

Other Candies

For those curious about the gluten content of Now and Laters, there are numerous taffy varieties to explore. Additionally, a wide range of other candy types and brands offer gluten-free options that are safe for consumption. Here are some Halloween favorites:

• Brach’s Candy Corn (Ferrara Candy Company)
• Brach’s Candy Pumpkins (Ferrara Candy Company)
• Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (Hershey Company)
• Nerds (Ferrara Candy Company)
• Fun Dip (Ferrara Candy Company)
• Skittles (Mars Wrigley Company)

Conclusion

There will always be the possibility of cross contamination when foods are manufactured, but consumers sensitive to gluten may rest assured when unwrapping their Now and Later treats because the answer to whether Now and Laters are gluten-free is affirmative, Now and Laters are gluten free and are not made in a factory with gluten; however they’re not certified gluten free per the manufacturer warnings.

Frequently Asked Questions