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Are Tums Vegan?

By PhilippeIngredient checks · Updated Oct 2026 Reviewed Oct 2026 · US products
THE VERDICTClassic tablets only

Classic Tums chewable tablets are vegan. The calcium carbonate comes from limestone, and the other ingredients are synthetic or plant-based. Tums Chewy Bites aren't vegan: every flavor lists beeswax and shellac, and Assorted Berries and Berry Shake also contain carmine.

We previously said Tums were vegan apart from one dairy-containing product. We've updated this page after checking the current Chewy Bites ingredients.

Tums are a good example of why you check the product, not the brand. The classic chalky tablets are vegan. The newer Chewy Bites use three insect- and bee-derived ingredients.

Which Tums are vegan?

Product Status What decides it
Classic chewable tablets (such as Extra Strength 750 Assorted Fruit) Vegan No animal-derived ingredients.
Tums Chewy Bites: Assorted Berries, Berry Shake Not vegan Beeswax, shellac and carmine.
Tums Chewy Bites: Tropical Fruit Smoothie, Berries & Cream, Orange & Cream, Strawberries & Cream, Peppermint Not vegan Beeswax and shellac.

Classic Tums tablet ingredients

Ingredient Status Why
Calcium carbonate Vegan The active ingredient, from limestone.
Sucrose Vegan Sugar, to offset the chalky taste.
Corn starch, adipic acid, sodium polyphosphate Vegan
Talc, mineral oil Vegan Mineral and petroleum-based.
Flavors Vegan No animal source reported.
FD&C lake colors Vegan Synthetic dyes bound to a mineral salt.

What's wrong with Chewy Bites

Chewy Bites are coated to stop them sticking together. That coating uses beeswax and shellac, a resin made by the lac insect, and the berry flavors are colored with carmine, made from crushed cochineal insects. None of these are vegan.

Vegan alternatives

If you need a chewable antacid, stick to classic Tums tablets. Original Pepto-Bismol liquid is also free of animal ingredients, but the LiquiCaps contain gelatin.

How to check any chewable tablet

Chewable tablets and lozenges often use the same coatings and colors as candy. Look for:

  • Carmine, cochineal or E120: an insect-based red or pink.
  • Shellac or confectioner's glaze: from lac insects.
  • Beeswax: from bees.
  • Gelatin: in capsules and some chews.
  • Lactose: a milk sugar often used as a filler in tablets.
  • Magnesium stearate: usually plant-based in modern products, but can be animal-derived.

Ask a pharmacist if you need help choosing a product that suits your diet.

The bottom line

Classic Tums tablets are vegan. Tums Chewy Bites aren't. Read the label on anything with a soft chew or a glossy coating.

FAQ

Is calcium carbonate vegan?
The calcium carbonate in Tums is mined from limestone, so yes.
Are Tums Chewy Bites vegan?
No. Every flavor on the Tums website lists beeswax and shellac, and some list carmine.
Are Tums gluten-free?
Tums says its products meet gluten-free standards. That's separate from whether they're vegan.
Is Pepto-Bismol vegan?
The original liquid has no animal ingredients. Pepto-Bismol LiquiCaps contain gelatin, so they aren't vegan.
Are Tums vegan?
The classic chewable tablets are. Tums Chewy Bites contain beeswax, shellac and, in some flavors, carmine, so they aren't.
What is calcium carbonate made from?
Mined limestone, chalk or marble. It's a mineral, so it's vegan. Some calcium carbonate is made from shells, but Tums uses mineral sources.
Are Tums Smoothies vegan?
Check the current label for carmine, beeswax and shellac, since recipes vary between Tums lines.

Keep checking

Are Alive Vitamins Vegan?SOMEAre Altoids Vegan? (Everything You Need To Know)DEPENDSIs Carmine Vegan?NOAre Airheads Vegan?SOME

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.