Are Swedish Fish Vegan? Yes, but Check for Beeswax (2026)

Swedish Fish are one of the classic vegan-friendly candies in the US. They've never relied on gelatin; the chew comes from corn starch. The one thing to check is the shiny coating, because a few packs have used beeswax instead of plant-based carnauba wax.

Swedish Fish ingredients

A standard US bag lists: sugar, invert sugar, corn syrup, modified corn starch, citric acid, white mineral oil, natural and artificial flavor, Red 40 and carnauba wax.

Ingredient	Status	Why
Sugar, invert sugar	Grey area	US cane sugar may be filtered with bone char.
Corn syrup	Vegan
Modified corn starch	Vegan	Sets the chew instead of gelatin.
Citric acid	Vegan
White mineral oil	Vegan	A food-grade oil that stops sticking.
Natural and artificial flavor	Vegan	No animal source reported.
Red 40	Vegan	Synthetic dye. Some vegans avoid it because of animal testing.
Carnauba wax	Vegan	Plant wax from palm leaves; gives the shine.

Bags vs peg bags: the beeswax question

The small "peg bags" sold at gas stations, convenience stores and in vending machines have been reported to use palm kernel oil and beeswax rather than carnauba wax. Beeswax is made by bees, so those packs aren't vegan.

Pack	Status	What decides it
Standard bags and theater boxes (US)	Vegan	Carnauba wax coating.
Peg bags (gas stations, vending)	Check the label	Some have used beeswax.
Swedish Fish Tails, Minis and flavors	Check the label	Different recipes.
Swedish Fish outside the US	Check the label	Made to local recipes.

Why Swedish Fish chew differently

Gelatin gummies are bouncy and elastic. Swedish Fish are set with corn starch, which gives a denser, slightly firmer chew that sticks to your teeth a little. It's the same reason Sour Patch Kids, also made by Mondelez in the US, are vegan.

A little history

Swedish Fish were created by the Swedish candy company Malaco in the 1950s for the American market, shaped like fish as a nod to Sweden's fishing industry. They're now made in the US by Mondelez. In Sweden, similar fish-shaped sweets are sold under the Malaco brand, with their own recipe.

Similar vegan candy

Sour Patch Kids are vegan in the US.
Twizzlers and Skittles are vegan.
For more gelatin-free gummies in the US, UK and Ireland, see are gummies vegan.

The bottom line

Standard bags of Swedish Fish are vegan. Glance at the last ingredient: carnauba wax is fine, beeswax isn't.

FAQ

Are Swedish Fish vegan?

Standard US bags and boxes are. They contain no gelatin and are coated with carnauba wax. Some peg bags, the small bags sold in gas stations and vending machines, have used beeswax, which isn't vegan.

Do Swedish Fish have gelatin?

No. Swedish Fish are set with modified corn starch, which is why they have a dense, slightly firm chew rather than a bouncy one.

How do I tell if my Swedish Fish contain beeswax?

Check the end of the ingredient list. 'Carnauba wax' is vegan; 'beeswax' isn't. Peg bags are the ones most likely to differ.

Are Swedish Fish vegetarian?

Yes. Even the beeswax-coated versions are vegetarian, since beeswax doesn't involve killing an animal.

Are Swedish Fish gluten-free?

They contain no gluten ingredients, but they aren't certified gluten-free.

Where do Swedish Fish come from?

They were developed by Swedish candy maker Malaco for the US market in the 1950s. In the US they're now made by Mondelez.

Are Swedish Fish Tails and Minis vegan?

Check the label. Spin-offs can use different coatings and colors.

Are Swedish Fish Vegan?