Gluten-free sweets (candies, cakes, etc.) can be difficult to find, as many candies contain gluten in the form of wheat, barley, or rye. Some candy manufacturers have started producing gluten-free options, but these can be more expensive and harder to find than regular candy – especially in countries hit by economic crises such as Lebanon.
People with celiac disease have to be very careful about what they eat, as even small amounts of gluten can cause serious health problems. In addition, a considerable number of coeliacs also happen to be lactose-intolerant.
Reading labels at stores is not a fun activity. Those with serious gluten sensitivities are looking for clearly-marked GF products, labeled with terms like “Certified gluten free” (and that differs by the country of production). Such labels ensure that sourcing, production and distribution environments are not cross-contaminated with other gluten-containing ingredients. Some brands will write on their websites that some of their products do not contain gluten, but they would not mention on the product itself that it is gluten free in order to waive their responsibility if cross-contamination happens and the consumer gets sick.
I have compiled below a list of the products I have found or consumed in Beirut/Lebanon over the past few years:
Gluten-Free Chocolate Bars
Toblerone — one of my favorite gluten-free candy bars — widely available in Lebanon. It comes in different flavors and sizes.
- Toblerone
Quoting their website: “Our chocolate bars don’t contain any gluten ingredients.” - Kinder – Chocolate Bars, Chocolate Mini, Kinder Surprise
Check their UK website for details about each product - Reese’s – Peanut Butter Cups
As categorized by the hersheyland website - Hershey’s – Kisses
As categorized by the hersheyland website - Some Nestlé products
Check out healthline website for details - Crunch – Chocolate Bar
All the Crunch chocolate-flavored bars I have seen are labeled “Certified gluten free”, but always double check. - Freakin Healthy – Chocolate Chip Cookies, Protein Balls, etc.
Their packaging either says “Gluten free” or “No gluten” - Rice Up – Brown Rice Bars, Brown Rice Rolls with Belgian Chocolate
Check out their website and product labels - Lindt
Their website FAQ states: “We do not declare any of our products to be free of gluten.” However, several of their products don’t contain gluten ingredients
Gluten-Free Biscuits / Cookies / Wafers
Dr Schär — a heavenly brand for all those affected by gluten sensitivities. It produces a wide range of GF products, from sweets to bread and chips.
- Dr Schar
- Nairns
- Santiveri Noglut
- Lea Life
- Bites of Delight – “suitable for celiac disease” per their website
- Balviten
Gluten-Free Ice Cream, Spreads and Desserts
- Alpro – Silky Smooth Chocolate Dessert
“Gluten free. Naturally lactose free & dairy free.” – Alpro website - Nutella
It is GF according to their mother company’s website - Danway Iceberg – Ice cream, Milk Shake, Hazelnut Spread
See their GF products here - Domo – Custard, Cake Mix
Check out their GF range here
Buying Gluten-Free Desserts from Restaurants and Patisseries in Lebanon
- The Glow Paradise – fully GF
- Sea Slim Gluten Free – fully GF
- Elevate Gluten-Free – fully GF
- Gluten Free May – fully GF
- Oh My Gelato! – their closed ice cream jars are labelled “gluten free” but the store handles gluten-containing ingredients too
- Salata – may not be safe for coeliacs
- Fleuron – may not be safe for coeliacs
- Tamarat – may not be safe for coeliacs
- Douaihy‘s GF Cake – may not be safe for coeliacs
- Kiss The Spoon – may not be safe for coeliacs
Beware of
- Taqa product range – in their own words: “We are not a gluten free bakery.”
- Nutshell – Butters and Spreads
This blog post does not contain sponsored information. Please keep in mind that product ingredients or production environment might change over time, so always proceed with caution. If you need guidance or if you have feedback, feel free to contact me.
