Cadbury Fruit & Nut Chocolate Becoming Gluten Free - ‘May Contain Wheat’ Warning To Be Removed

If you’re coeliac or follow a strict gluten free diet, you’ll know the frustration of spotting a Cadbury Fruit & Nut Bar… only to see ‘may contain wheat’ on the label.

For years, Cadbury Fruit & Nut products have sat firmly in the not suitable for a gluten free coeliac diet category due to precautionary allergen labelling.

But now, there’s a significant update.

This year, and last, the Fruit & Nut Easter Egg didn't carry a may contain, however those eagle eyed enough spotted that this year the bars inside had a may contain, like any other Fruit & Nut Bar. So many Coeliacs, myself included contacted Mondelez who own Cadbury to find out what was going on, but from previous events like this and speculation that processes had changed, I had an incline what I would get back off Mondelez. Especially as this same scenario happened only last year too with Freddo.

Here’s the full response from Mondelez regarding Cadbury Fruit & Nut and gluten free labelling:

Following improvements within our factory, we have removed the potential for our Cadbury Dairy Milk Fruit and Nut bars to come into contact with wheat. Subsequently, we have been working towards removing the wheat declaration from our packaging.

At the moment, some bars on sale and the bar inclusion of some Eggs still include an outdated ‘may contain wheat’ statement. We are very sorry that this discrepancy has caused some confusion and concern. We would like to reassure you that the information on the outer packaging is correct, and we have taken steps to ensure that the bars will be updated accordingly.

Mondelez replied back confirmed that indeed, Cadbury Dairy Milk Fruit & Nut products are moving towards becoming gluten free and suitable for coeliacs, with the removal of the ‘may contain wheat’ warning.

This isn't the first time this action has been taken by Cadburys, over a year ago Bournville lost it's may contain after a factory change and early last year Freddo also changed, with new packaging taking over 9 months to fully roll out.

👉 The same gluten free update happened with Freddos last year, read more here
Freddo loses may contain warning

For coeliacs, precautionary allergen labelling like ‘may contain wheat’ is a major factor in deciding whether a product is gluten free.

It indicates a high risk of cross contamination with gluten, as by FSA guidelines this labelling should only be used when there is "real risk" of contamination. It is not legally required, but widely used especially by bigger companies. Generally coeliacs avoid may contains as normally advised by their gastro consultants (though of course there are people who don't avoid may contains)

So when a brand removes this warning, especially a brand renowned for using may contains properly, it is a good sign that the product will be safe, and as with Freddo, and also previously, Bournville, this seems to be exactly what is happening here.

Just like what we saw with Freddo, Mondelez have confirmed the outer packaging is the one to trust on Easter Eggs and multipacks. So if the inner bars still say ‘may contain wheat’, that’s just old packaging, the product itself is no longer considered at risk of cross contamination. I cannot confirm this this applies only to small bars or ALL sizes - Bournville is applied to all so could be the same here too but they haven't yet clarified this point.

With this now being the second Cadbury product that this has happened to within a year, and also Bournville before that, it will be interesting to see if any other products follow suit and become Coeliac safe. I know I would love to see it happen with Caramel bars!

So, if you miss Fruit & Nut....tuck in, yes there is a may contain until the packaging is changed (which takes an age!) but rest assured it is confirmed by the manufacturer that is now doesn't apply!