Do Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Have Gluten? – Gluten Content Test

Pack of 36 Reese Peanut Butter Cups 1.5 Ounce Packages

As of this posting, 8/16/16, The Hershey Company lists “Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups – All Except Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Unwrapped Minis and Seasonal Shaped Items” on their dietary needs web page, under US Gluten Free products.  Emphasis mine, see link below.  Double check this page or contact the manufacturer to verify timely information.

To put that to the test, I performed a GlutenTox test. GlutenTox allows you to choose between 5 and 20 PPM.  I performed this test at the 20 PPM (parts per million) sensitivity level.

First… I sourced an entire box of 36 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.  Required for this test? No.  Required to fulfill a childhood dream? Yes. 🙂

I also used a mortar and pestle to help create a uniform sample for testing.

This was a bittersweet moment.  Kind of fun, kind of… “what are you doing to that Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup?”

This is what a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup looks like after it has been subject to a mortar and pestle.

The test stick has two lines, the one on the left is the blue control line and should always become visible.  There is another possible line just to the right of that, that one is red.  That becomes visible if gluten is detected at the selected concentration.  As you can see in this photo only the control line is visible.  According to this result the sample I tested has a lower than 20 PPM gluten content.

Each GlutenTox test comes with single use pipettes, extract solution, dilution solution, sample scoop and a test stick.  The testing process is relatively simple and the instructions are clearly written.  This test gives you some flexibility as you have the choice between testing at 20 PPM (parts per million) or 5 PPM.  Under 20 PPM allows manufacturers to label certain foods as gluten free.

Update 1/2017: I’ve started to see some Reese’s packages actually labeled gluten free.

Also:

• The Hershey Company – Dietary Needs
• REESE’S Peanut Butter Cups (1.5-Ounce Packages, Pack of 36)
• Resource Post: Manufacturer and Store Gluten Free Lists
• GlutenTox

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A note about gluten content tests: These are performed in non-lab environments with small samples.  Processes and ingredients change over time.  Tests found on Gluten Free Finds should not be considered authoritative in nature.  Always check product labels and consult manufacturers for additional information on ingredients and processes.