Is Heartburn relief chews Gluten Free?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I look beyond the marketing claims and dive straight into the formulation. The active ingredient here is Calcium Carbonate (300mg), which is the workhorse for neutralizing stomach acid. It is naturally gluten-free. The real question for those with dietary restrictions lies in the inactive ingredients, which often contain fillers and binders.

Looking at the list, there are absolutely no red flags for gluten. We don't see Wheat Starch, Modified Food Starch (which can be ambiguous), or flour derivatives. Instead, the binders are Acacia (gum arabic) and various starches derived from corn, such as Corn Starch and Corn Syrup. Corn is a gluten-free grain, making these safe for a gluten-free diet.

However, there are other ingredients of note. The product uses Sorbitol and Sugar as sweeteners and texturizers. It also contains a suite of artificial colors, specifically FD&C Yellow No. 5 (Tartrazine), Blue No. 1, and Red No. 40. While these are gluten-free, Tartrazine is known to cause sensitivity in some individuals, particularly those with asthma.

Finally, the fats used are Hydrogenated Coconut Oil and Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil. These are used to create the chewy texture and shelf stability. While they are gluten-free, they contribute to the overall fat content. The inclusion of Shellac (a glazing agent) is standard for chewable tablets to give them a shiny finish and is derived from the lac bug, making it non-vegan but gluten-free.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, these chews are best viewed as a medicinal delivery system rather than a health food. The primary nutritional component you are ingesting aside from the calcium is sugar. The ingredient list explicitly mentions Sugar and Corn Syrup high up in the order, indicating a high concentration. This is necessary to mask the chalky taste of the calcium carbonate, but it means these chews contribute to your daily sugar intake.

Fat content is present due to the Hydrogenated Oils and Medium Chain Triglycerides. While the serving size is small, these are calorie-dense ingredients. If you are strictly counting calories or monitoring lipid intake, this is a factor to consider, though the dosage is likely small enough to be negligible in a standard diet.

For those on a low-sodium diet, the product is actually quite good. It contains only 1 mg of Sodium per chew. Many antacids are high in salt, which can affect blood pressure, so this specific formulation is a better choice for heart health in that regard. It fits well within daily limits, provided you don't exceed the recommended dosage.