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Are Altoids Vegan? (Everything You Need To Know)

By PhilippeIngredient checks · Updated Oct 2026 Reviewed Oct 2026 · US recipe
THE VERDICTDepends on the tin

Classic Altoids aren't vegan. The Curiously Strong Mints in the 1.76 oz tins (Peppermint, Wintergreen, Spearmint, Cinnamon, Strawberry) contain gelatin. Altoids Arctic sugar-free mints don't: their ingredients are sorbitol, flavors, magnesium stearate, sweeteners and color.

Altoids are a good example of why you have to read the tin, not the brand. The famous Curiously Strong Mints contain gelatin, which surprises a lot of people. The sugar-free Arctic line doesn't.

Which Altoids are vegan?

Product Status What decides it
Curiously Strong Mints: Peppermint, Wintergreen, Spearmint, Cinnamon, Strawberry (1.76 oz tin) Not vegan Gelatin.
Altoids Arctic sugar-free mints: Peppermint, Wintergreen (1.2 oz tin) Vegan No animal-derived ingredients listed.
Altoids Arctic Strawberry Check the label Same base as Arctic; check the red color isn't carmine.
Sugar-Free Smalls Check the label Reported as gelatin-free, but availability varies.
Limited editions and multipacks Check the label Look for gelatin.

What's in a classic Altoids tin

The cinnamon mints list just five ingredients: sugar, gum arabic, artificial flavor, gelatin and Red 40. The peppermint version follows the same pattern with peppermint oil.

Ingredient Status Why
Sugar Grey area US cane sugar may be filtered with bone char.
Gum arabic Vegan A natural gum from acacia trees.
Natural or artificial flavor (peppermint oil, cinnamon) Vegan
Gelatin Not vegan Made from animal skin and bones.
Red 40 (cinnamon) Vegan Synthetic dye.

Why do Altoids have gelatin?

Altoids are pressed mints: powdered sugar and flavor are compressed into a tablet. Gelatin works as a binder that holds the powder together, gives the mint its firm, chalky snap and stops it crumbling in the tin. It's only a small amount, but it's enough to rule classic Altoids out for vegans and vegetarians.

Gum arabic, a plant gum, can do a similar job, and many vegan mints use it alone or with plant-based starches instead.

What's in Altoids Arctic

Ingredient Status Why
Sorbitol Vegan A sugar alcohol made from corn or fruit sugars.
Natural and artificial flavors Vegan Mainly mint oils.
Magnesium stearate Vegan Can be animal or plant-based. Mint makers told the VRG they use vegetable sources.
Acesulfame K, sucralose Vegan Synthetic sweeteners.
Blue 1 Lake Vegan Synthetic color.

Arctic mints are made a different way, with sorbitol instead of sugar, so they don't need gelatin to hold together.

A short history of Altoids

Altoids date back to around 1780 in London, and were originally sold as a lozenge for stomach upsets. They were made for many years by Callard & Bowser, including at a factory in Bridgend, Wales, before production moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Today the brand belongs to Mars and is made by Wrigley. Altoids Arctic launched in 2014, replacing Eclipse mints.

The ethical grey areas

Strict ethical vegans sometimes avoid Altoids altogether. Artificial colors and sweeteners have been tested on animals, and Mars Wrigley's wider range includes plenty of non-vegan products. Those concerns don't involve animal ingredients, so they don't change our verdict, but it's worth knowing if you shop by company as well as by ingredient. See vegan vs cruelty-free.

How to check any mint for gelatin

  • Read the ingredient list for gelatin or gelatine.
  • Watch for carmine or cochineal in red and pink mints.
  • Shellac or confectioner's glaze sometimes coats shiny mints.
  • Carnauba wax and gum arabic are plant-based.

Vegan mint alternatives

If you want a gelatin-free mint in the classic style, choose Altoids Arctic, or look for mints that list gum arabic or carnauba wax and no gelatin. Many sugar-free mints in tins are made with sorbitol or xylitol and are vegan, but always check.

The bottom line

Classic Altoids contain gelatin and aren't vegan or vegetarian. Altoids Arctic are the vegan option from the same brand.

FAQ

Are Altoids vegan?
The classic Curiously Strong Mints aren't, because they contain gelatin. Altoids Arctic sugar-free mints have no animal-derived ingredients.
Why do Altoids have gelatin?
Gelatin acts as a binder. Altoids are pressed from powdered sugar, and a little gelatin helps the powder hold together into a firm mint with Altoids' chalky snap.
Is the gelatin in Altoids pork or beef?
Mars Wrigley doesn't specify. Gelatin is commonly made from pig or cattle skin and bones, so classic Altoids aren't suitable for vegetarians, and anyone avoiding pork should treat them with caution.
Are Altoids Arctic vegan?
Their ingredient list has no animal-derived ingredients. Magnesium stearate can come from animal or plant fat, but in a 2016 survey of mint makers the Vegetarian Resource Group found almost all use plant-based stearates, and Mars Wrigley reportedly confirmed a vegetable source.
Are Altoids Arctic Strawberry vegan?
Arctic flavors share the same base recipe, so they're vegan unless the label lists carmine (a red dye from insects). Check the color on any strawberry or red mint.
Are Altoids vegetarian?
The classic tins aren't, because gelatin comes from animal skin and bone. Arctic mints are.
Can you still buy Altoids in the UK?
Altoids were originally British and were made in Wales, but production moved to the US, and today they're mostly found in the UK as imports.
Are Altoids cruelty-free?
Not by the strictest standard. Some colors and sweeteners used in mints have been tested on animals, and Mars Wrigley sells many non-vegan products. Whether that matters is a personal choice.

Keep checking

Are Skittles Vegan?YESAre Jolly Ranchers Vegan?SOMEAre Tums Vegan?SOMEAre Blow Pops Vegan?YES

Sources and how we checked

We reviewed the ingredient information below in Oct 2026. Recipes change, so check the pack, especially if you have an allergy.

Spotted a recipe change? Tell us and we'll re-check.