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Are Starburst Vegan?

By PhilippeIngredient checks Reviewed Oct 2026 · US and UK recipes
THE VERDICTNo (in the US)

US Starburst aren't vegan. The Original Fruit Chews contain gelatin, Starburst Gummies contain gelatin, and Starburst Minis use confectioner's glaze. In the UK and Ireland, Starburst fruit chews are made without gelatin.

Starburst is the candy that catches vegans out most often, because the answer depends on where you buy it. In the US the original fruit chews contain gelatin. In the UK and Ireland they don't.

Which Starburst are vegan?

Product Status What decides it
Original Fruit Chews (US) Not vegan Gelatin.
FaveREDs and other fruit chew flavors (US) Not vegan Same gelatin-based recipe.
Starburst Minis (US) Not vegan Confectioner's glaze. They use pectin instead of gelatin, but the shell is coated in shellac.
Starburst Gummies (US) Not vegan Gelatin.
Plant-based gummies (US) Vegan Gelatin-free version launched in 2021. Check the bag.
Starburst fruit chews (UK and Ireland) Vegan No gelatin or glaze.

US Starburst Original ingredients

The first part of the US ingredient list tells you most of what you need: sugar, corn syrup, hydrogenated palm kernel oil, citric acid, tapioca dextrin and gelatin. The gelatin rules them out for vegans and vegetarians alike. The rest of the list (flavors, colors, starch) is plant-based or synthetic.

Why UK Starburst are different

The UK and Irish recipe doesn't use gelatin, while the US recipe still does. Mars Wrigley makes them for different markets with different ingredient lists, even though the packs look almost the same. If you're in Ireland or the UK, check for the vegetarian or vegan wording on the pack, then enjoy them.

Vegan alternatives to Starburst

If you want a fruity chew without gelatin, Skittles, Airheads bars and Twizzlers are all vegan in the US.

FAQ

Why do US Starburst have gelatin?
Gelatin gives the chews their soft, springy bite. The UK recipe gets a similar texture without it, but Mars Wrigley hasn't changed the US recipe.
Are Starburst vegetarian?
Not in the US, because gelatin is made from animal skin and bones. UK Starburst fruit chews are vegetarian.
Did Starburst make a vegan gummy?
Yes. In 2021 Starburst launched gelatin-free plant-based gummies in the US. Availability has been patchy, so check the bag for the 'plant based' wording and a gelatin-free ingredient list.

Keep checking

Are Skittles Vegan?YESAre Airheads Vegan?SOMEAre Twizzlers Vegan?YESAre Mike and Ikes Vegan?NO

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.