“Chocolate makes you happy.” That counts for most people large or small. However, for 5% of Germans this is only partly true, because this 5% suffer from food allergies. So, if you do not belong to the majority whom chocolate makes happy, then perhaps it is because you have not yet found the bar that suits you. We hope to be able to change this by advising you of possible allergens that are generally present in chocolate as well as those in specific varieties of RITTER SPORT.

Tyramine

The biogenic amine, tyramine, is present in all chocolate. It results from the breakdown of proteins during the fermentation of cocoa beans. Biogenic amines are biologically, highly active substances that can lead to allergy-similar symptoms. For people who are sensitive to tyramine it can raise blood pressure and blood sugar, which in turn excites musculature and triggers migraines. Tyramine is also present in cocoa butter.

Histamine

As the name suggests histamine is also a biogenic amine that alongside salami, cheese, sauerkraut, tinned fish, and red wine, is also found in chocolate. Approx. 1% of the population, mostly women, suffers from a histamine intolerance (see also: Strawberry Yoghurt).

Soya

Emulsifying agents not only make chocolates more fluid but also provide that pleasant feeling when chocolate melts in the mouth. Because RITTER SPORT places such a high value on good ingredients, only pure, GM free, vegetable emulsifying agents made from soya beans go into our squares. Soya allergies particularly affect the very young section of the population.

Children who have a dairy milk allergy often also develop a soya milk allergy. If you are also amongst the affected and must stick to a soya-free diet, then try our RITTER SPORT Fine Extra Dark Chocolate 71% Cocoa, which we produce without the use of soya lecithin.

Milk

Except for our Fine Extra Dark Chocolate 71% Cocoa, Dark Chocolate, Marzipan, and Peppermint varieties, RITTER SPORT chocolate also contains a lot of good milk. That is not so good for dairy milk allergy sufferers. They suffer a hypersensitive reaction to proteins contained in milk. Alpha lactalbumin, beta lactoglobulin and casein are the protein components in cow's milk that most frequently trigger allergies. These allergens possess very different characteristics. For example, cooking reduces the allergic power of lactalbumin and lactoglobulin, making them tolerable for most lactalbumin (and/or lactoglobulin) allergy sufferers. In contrast, casein is heat resistant. Casein allergy sufferers have to, therefore, avoid many more foodstuffs than lactalbumin allergy sufferers. Not every dairy milk allergy sufferer reacts to all components, but in cases of doubt they should nevertheless avoid products containing milk.

Lactose (so-called milk sugar) is also found in milk. People who suffer from a lactose intolerance should, for this reason, likewise avoid chocolates that have been produced with milk chocolate.

Nuts

Nuts are a relatively common and strong allergen. For nut allergy sufferers, allergic reactions often take the form of swelling in the mucous membrane in the mouth and throat area. Depending on the sensitivity of the allergy sufferer, this can be severe and life-threatening.

The hazel bush is one of RITTER SPORT’S most important suppliers of ingredients. Its fruit is what makes the following varieties so crunchily delicious: Praline, Dark Whole Hazelnuts, Whole Hazelnuts, White Whole Hazelnuts, Rum Raisins Hazelnuts, Raisins & Hazelnuts, Mini varieties, and Schokowürfel.

The hazel bush is a member of the birch family. Both the pollen and the nuts possess the potential to trigger an allergy. Many people, in particular birch pollen allergy sufferers therefore suffer allergies during flowering time or after eating raw hazelnuts. This is a cross reaction of the immune system to pollen and food. This is also known as a “pollen associated food allergy”. The roasting of nuts in RITTER SPORT chocolates causes allergy-triggering proteins to lose some of their allergen activity. In contrast to nuts that have not been roasted, some hazelnut allergy sufferers can, therefore, tolerate roasted nuts.

Allergy suffers should, however, always ask a doctor before submitting to the pleasure of our chocolates. The almond is, like the hazelnut, also an indehiscent fruit - as well as berries and citrus fruits. This unfortunately means that nut allergy sufferers should take care when it comes to RITTER SPORT Whole Almonds and RITTER SPORT Marzipan!

To RITTER SPORT Alpine Milk Chocolate

A portion of hazelnut mass is added to our Alpine Milk Chocolate for an even creamier taste experience. Nut allergy sufferers should therefore rather stick to our Fine Extra Dark Chocolate 71% Cocoa, Dark Chocolate or Peppermint. But please be careful: They could also possess traces of nuts.

To RITTER SPORT Milk Chocolate with Peanuts

Despite its name, the peanut is not really a nut. In botanical terms it is actually a leguminous plant. For this reason, it contains a lot of protein. Because its shell remains closed it is, morphologically speaking, thrown in among the nuts.

An intolerance to peanuts is considered to be the most dangerous food allergy there is. This is because of its high protein content. Children, particularly, are often allergic to peanuts. Even tiny quantities of peanuts can trigger an allergic reaction and, in the worst cases, lead to death by asphyxiation.

Peanut allergy sufferers must therefore avoid all food containing even only traces of peanuts. Many manufactured products contain peanuts as additives. Our RITTER SPORT Milk Chocolate with Peanuts is obviously not suitable for peanut allergy sufferers. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that no traces of peanuts are also present in our other varieties.

To RITTER SPORT Coconut

Here is some good news! Despite its name, the coconut does not have anything in common with nuts. The coconut is a stone fruit, like the cherry, peach, and the olive. Coconut allergies occur rarely.

Therefore, nothing really stands in the way of enjoying RITTER SPORT Coconut. Nevertheless, for nut allergy sufferers it still means: take care! Unfortunately, we cannot completely rule out traces of nuts here either.

To RITTER SPORT Marzipan

Our marzipan contains invert sugar syrup. This consists of both fructose and glucose. People who suffer from an fructose intolerance (fructose malabsorption) are unable to break down fructose (fruit sugar). This is probably due to an error in the fructose transport system from the intestine to the blood, meaning that the fructose remains in the intestine. Depending on the degree of intolerance, the sufferer must therefore keep to a more or less strict fructose free diet, in which the fructose/glucose ratio in food represents an important criterion. Because marzipan is made of almonds, caution is here likewise also required by nut allergy sufferers (see also: “nuts”).

To RITTER SPORT Cornflakes and Butter Biscuit

Wheat allergy sufferers, or people with coeliac disease / coeliac sprue, suffer from an intolerance to wheat protein (also known as gluten). The digestion of wheat proteins creates the fission products prolamin and glutelin in the intestine. Prolamin fraction can cause coeliac disease in genetically predisposed people. Gluten occurs in, among other things, wheat, rye, barley, oats, and spelt.

Wheat can be found in the shortbread biscuits in our RITTER SPORT Butter Biscuit.

The delicious cornflakes in our RITTER SPORT Cornflakes consist of gluten-free maize, but they also contain barley malt. Barley contains gluten-rich cereals. When barley is processed into malt, the malt contains less gluten than barley. Nevertheless, people who are allergic to gluten should preferably abstain.

To RITTER SPORT Raisins & Hazelnuts , Rum Raisins Hazelnuts, and RITTER SPORT Rum

A further possible cause of allergies are sulphur compounds used as preservatives. We only use unsulphured sultanas in our RITTER SPORT Raisins & Hazelnuts, Rum Raisins Hazelnuts, and RITTER SPORT Rum. This means pure, easy-going pleasure.

To RITTER SPORT Strawberry Yoghurt

Strawberry Yoghurt contains freeze-dried real strawberry pieces, which is particularly delicious, but not completely harmless for some chocolate fans. The consumption of strawberries causes an increased release of histamines. For some people, particularly birch pollen allergy sufferers, this can lead to a pseudoallergic reaction and/or intolerance. Strawberries cause intolerances and/or pseudoallergies more frequently than they cause genuine allergies. The symptoms, however, resemble those of a genuine allergy, e.g. skin itching or a swelling of the lips.

To RITTER SPORT Cappuccino

Anyone who does not tolerate caffeine well should preferably abstain from our RITTER SPORT Cappuccino. It doesn't happen too often, but if only the smallest quantities are consumed, symptoms such as headaches, tachycardia, or disturbed sleep can occur.

If none of the specified points apply to you, you belong to the 95% of people who can enjoy each of our 22 RITTER SPORT chocolates without complaint. Congratulations! We are also always very happy to hear about any positive reactions caused by our chocolate.