6 Types Of Vegan-Friendly Candy You Will Want To Try

Candy is a delicious gooey treat that can do no wrong in the eyes of most children, but for vegans, junk food lovers are out of luck when it comes to their favorite sweets. Many traditional candies are made with animal products or byproducts which makes them not suitable for vegans to eat. But don’t worry! The vegan community has stepped up and created a guide for vegan sweets and plenty of candy options that every vegan will enjoy. Here are six tasty types of vegan-friendly candy you’ll definitely want to try.

Sour Patch Kids

Sour Patch Kids are American Sour Chewy Delights, the original variety of sour gummy candy. The brand is owned by Mondelēz International through its subsidiary, Ferrara Candy Company in North America; in Europe, it is made under license by August Storck KG. As of 2013, the confectionery market in the US was dominated by three companies: Mars (the maker of M&M’s), The Hershey Company (the maker of Reeses and Twizzlers), and Nestlé (the producer of Kit Kat). But they all have one thing in common; they do not make any candy that is vegan friendly. So what can you eat? Sour patch kids are created with sugar, modified cornstarch, citric acid, and natural and artificial flavors.

Sour Patch Kids are a vegan-friendly candy that you will love. They are made with natural flavors and colors, and they do not contain any animal products or byproducts. Sour Patch Kids are also gluten-free, making them a great pick in your gluten free pick n mix selection. It is also an excellent choice for those with dietary restrictions. So next time you go to the movies and want some candy for the show, remember that Sour Patch Kids are vegan-friendly!

Gummy Bears

The history of Gummy bears is unknown but they are thought to have been first created in the 1940s. Haribo company is responsible for creating gummy bears in 1922 which became popular worldwide in the 1970s due to their popularity in Sweden. The candy was then bought by Sifers who made them even more famous in America. Gummy bears come in many different flavors such as cherry, strawberry, raspberry, lemon, orange, lime, grapefruit, and cola. 

The ingredients of Gummy bears: Sugar, glucose syrup, water, modified corn starch, citric acid, natural flavoring, fruit and plant extracts (e.g. carmine), glazing agents (vegetable oil, beeswax), emulsifier: sunflower lecithin. Gummy bear production has inspired the creation of CBD and delta 8 gummies and other candy-flavored cannabis edibles. Gummy bears are vegan-friendly because they do not contain any animal products or byproducts. They are also gluten-free. Gummy bears can be found in most convenience stores and supermarkets.

Starburst

Starburst was first created in the United Kingdom by Forrest Mars Jr. in 1967. The company is now owned by The Wrigley Company which is based out of Chicago, Illinois. Starburst comes in many different flavors such as strawberry, grape, orange, lemon, lime, and cherry. There is also a flavor known as “frosted ice” which is a mixture of all the flavors. 

The ingredients of Starburst: Corn syrup, sugar, hydrogenated palm kernel oil, dextrose, maltodextrin, modified food starch, citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, color added, red 40 lake, blue 1 lake. Starburst candies are vegan-friendly because they do not contain any animal products or byproducts. They are also gluten-free. Starbursts can be found at most convenience stores and supermarkets.

Twizzlers

Twizzlers were first introduced to the public in 1929 by the Shelfers company. The Betty Crocker Company purchased the rights to make and sell Twizzlers candies in 1982. Twizzlers come in many different flavors such as cherry, strawberry, blackberry, blue raspberry, peach, watermelon, grape, green apple, and sour apple. There are also a few other flavors that include “sugarless” varieties of each flavor listed above except for grape and sour apple. 

The ingredients of Twizzlers: Corn syrup (glucose-fructose), cornstarch modified food starch (from wheat flour), maltodextrin from corn, sugar, dextrose, and/or glucose and fumaric acid. Twizzlers are vegan-friendly because they do not contain any animal products or byproducts. They can be found in most convenience stores and supermarkets.

Swedish Fish

 Swedish fish are fun fish candies that are well known. They are red gummy fish with a chewy texture and fruity flavor. Each fish is approximately 1-inch long, making them great for parties or events! However, they are sold in limited quantities, so it may be difficult to find them.

Swedish Fish are vegan-friendly, which means that no animal products were used during the process of making this tasty treat. Additionally, no animal testing occurred while developing the product! The ingredients include sugar, glucose syrup (derived from corn), contains 2% or less of the following: gelatin, modified cornstarch, natural and artificial flavors; colors added (red 40 lake, yellow 5 lake), lactic acid (which is found naturally in yogurt and other dairy products), citric acid.

Jolly Ranchers

Jolly Ranchers are a common candy, which is available in many stores around the world same as Futmax. The company that makes Jolly Ranchers was originally called Henry Heide and Company until they changed their name to Leaf Confectionery Corporation in 1976. They started out making hard candies and later diversified into gums and other sweet foods.

The ingredients of Jolly Ranchers: Sugar, corn syrup, modified food starch, less than 2% of the following: citric acid, malic acid, natural and artificial flavors (includes Red 40), fractionated coconut oil (contains one or more of the following: palm kernel oil, palm oil), sodium caseinate (milk protein) Whey protein concentrate, dipotassium phosphate – preserve freshness, titanium dioxide (color), Red 40 lake, Blue 1 lake.

The Jolly Ranchers website does not have any information about veganism or being dairy-free. However, the ingredients show that there is no animal product in the candies. Jolly Ranchers are hard candies that come in many flavors including watermelon, grape, apple, cherry, and blue raspberry. They are available at most convenience stores and supermarkets.

The candy and sweets industry is growing and adapting to the changing needs of consumers. Shared here are the six types of vegan-friendly candy that you will want to try. There are plenty of other vegan-friendly candies available for you to discover and try out. Whether you are looking for a sweet treat or something to satisfy your sweet tooth, these candies are sure to do the trick. So what are you waiting for? Go out and try some today.