Friday, October 16, 2009

Surf Sweets Gummy Treats

Fruit snacks have been my go-to food allergy emergency snack/dessert item for YEARS.

Gummy treats:
  • look like candy
  • come in cute, portable packages
  • have expiration dates that are months away
  • can ride around in the bottom of your purse or diaper bag for months and never become: stale, crumbled, squished
  • are dairy free
  • are recognized and accepted by your child's peers
  • do not carry the disappointment/stigma of Mom's Purse-Smashed Carob Flax Seed Bars
I know what you're going to say. "But, Blah blah blah cavities blah blah blah corn syrup blah blah blah fruits of the devil blah!"

Now we don't have to fight anymore because Surf Sweets just released a line of naturally sweetened, corn-syrup free gummy treats. And! They are gluten-free, dairy-free, allergy-friendly treats produced in a dedicated nut-free facility. I first heard of them from Kelsey, and when Alisa offered a chance to review them for Go Dairy Free, I shoved the other reviewers out of my way. Virtually speaking.


2.75 oz. package

We sampled:
Gummy Bears
Sour Berry Bears
Sour Worms
Jelly Beans

The Gummy Bears taste just like, well, gummy bears. The Sour Berry Bears and Sour Worms are not quite as sour as the usual Sour Patch Kid-type treat. Two of my children don't like sour candies and they liked these. The third child wished they were a bit more sour. Also, the sour candies have a firmer consistency, like those candy citrus slices your great-aunt always gave you when you visited her. The jelly beans are the consistency of regular jelly beans, with really fresh fruit flavors. They have several other new candies available, too. They are all vegetarian and some are vegan.


.9 oz. package

Ingredients:
Gummy Bears: 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

Sour Berry Bears: Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Tapioca Syrup, Organic Grape Juice Concentrate, Pectin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Malic Acid, Asorbic Acid, Colors Added (Black Carrot Juice Concentrate), Natural Flavors.

Sour Worms: Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Tapioca Syrup, Citric Acid, Pectin, Sodium Citrate, Ascorbic Acid, Colors Added (Black Carrot Juice Concentrate, Turmeric, Annatto), Natural Flavors.

Jelly Beans: Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Tapioca Syrup, Organic Grape Juice Concentrate, Pectin, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Colors Added (including Black Carrot Juice Concentrate, Turmeric, Annatto), Natural Flavors, Confectioner’s Glaze, Carnauba Wax, Organic Sunflower Oil.

The candies are all available in 2.75 oz. packages. Suggested retail is $1.99.
The Gummy and Sour Berry Bears are also available in .9 oz packages. Suggested retail is $.79.
Amazon has some good bulk deals here.

This review was written for Go Dairy Free. Images courtesy of Surf Sweets.

9 comments:

  1. I love gummies! I am actually spoiled because I live about a mile from Ferrera Pan Candy Factory which makes fruit snacks (gummies) and lemon heads, red hots, boston baked beans, etc...

    The candy factory is only a few BLOCKS from my Mom's house and you can walk out on her porch and smell what they are making.

    I love these healthy ones though! Thanks for sharing

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  2. Yum. I love gummy candy, so much so that I cannot buy it for Halloween treats, as I would consume the entire box before Halloween.

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  3. I've never been a gummy person but I think Bug might just love these.

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  4. Gummies are good for everything. My company mascot, Jack, has multiple food allergies (thankfully not to sugar!) and I use these to decorate desserts for him...they are a favorite!
    Thanks.

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  5. Huge fan of gummy candy..HUGE.

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  6. Fruit snacks are the bomb. Also, fruit by the foot.

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  7. I'm so glad to hear you liked these! We haven't tried them yet, but they are filed away in my mind for future reference.

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  8. Thanks for sharing. I'll have to try them out! Did you know that Frito Lay now warns on their website that their dairy-free chips are made on the same line and can contain traces of dairy? I have a friend who's son reacted (he's only allergic to dairy) to Lay's potato chips. Ugh!

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  9. sound like a healthier option than jelly beans!! will have to be on the lookout for them :)

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