Are Twizzlers Vegan?

THE VERDICTYes, vegan

Twizzlers Twists are vegan. The strawberry and licorice twists contain no gelatin, dairy, egg or insect-based colors, and PETA lists Twizzlers among its gelatin-free candies.

Two ingredients, glycerin and mono- and diglycerides, can come from plants or animals. Hershey doesn't say which, but they're usually plant-based.

Twizzlers are a rare chewy candy that never relied on gelatin. The chew comes from wheat flour and starch, which is why they're vegan when many fruit chews aren't.

Twizzlers Strawberry Twists ingredients

Ingredient Status Why
Corn syrup Vegan
Enriched wheat flour Vegan Gives the chew in place of gelatin.
Sugar Grey area Possible bone char filtering.
Cornstarch Vegan
Palm oil Grey area Plant-based; linked to deforestation.
Salt, citric acid, potassium sorbate Vegan
Artificial flavor Vegan
Mono- and diglycerides Grey area Usually from vegetable oil; source not stated.
Glycerin Grey area Usually vegetable-based; source not stated.
Red 40 Vegan Synthetic. No carmine.
Mineral oil, soy lecithin Vegan

None of the grey-area ingredients contains anything from an animal as far as anyone has reported. Most vegans treat Twizzlers as vegan, and so do we.

Which Twizzlers are vegan?

Product Status Notes
Strawberry Twists Vegan
Black Licorice Twists Vegan Colored with Red 40 and Blue 1.
Sugar-free Strawberry Twists Vegan No animal ingredients listed.
Pull 'n' Peel, Nibs, filled and limited editions Check the label Different recipes. Look for gelatin, beeswax or glaze.

Twizzlers vs Red Vines

Both are vegan. Red Vines use a shorter ingredient list and are also on PETA's gelatin-free list. Either is a safe pick for vegans at the movies.

Are Twizzlers vegetarian, halal or gluten-free?

  • Vegetarian: yes, there's no gelatin or meat.
  • Halal: not certified. Most ingredients are plant-based or synthetic, but glycerin and mono- and diglycerides don't state their source.
  • Gluten-free: no. Wheat flour is what makes Twizzlers chewy.

How to check any Twizzlers product

Twizzlers spin-offs and limited editions don't always share the original recipe. Check the ingredients for:

  • Gelatin or gelatine: not vegan.
  • Carmine, cochineal or E120: an insect-based red.
  • Confectioner's glaze, shellac or E904: from lac insects.
  • Beeswax (E901): from bees.
  • Milk, whey or butter: dairy.

Carnauba wax, pectin, starch and gum arabic are all plant-based.

The bottom line

Twizzlers Twists are vegan, in both strawberry and black licorice. The chew comes from wheat flour, not gelatin, so they're a safe choice at the movies.

FAQ

Do Twizzlers have gelatin?
No. Twizzlers get their chew from wheat flour and corn starch, not gelatin.
Are Twizzlers gluten-free?
No. Wheat flour is the second ingredient.
Is Red Vines vegan too?
Yes. Red Vines are also on PETA's list of gelatin-free candy.
Are Twizzlers vegan?
Yes. Strawberry and Black Licorice Twists contain no gelatin, dairy, egg or insect-based colors.
Are Twizzlers Pull 'n' Peel vegan?
They don't list gelatin, but recipes differ from the twists, so check the current bag for glazes and dairy.
Are Twizzlers vegetarian and halal?
They're vegetarian. They contain no gelatin or meat, but they aren't certified halal, and glycerin and mono- and diglycerides don't state their source.
Can you buy Twizzlers in the UK and Ireland?
Yes, as US imports in some shops and online. They follow the US recipe, so check for the US ingredient list.

Keep checking

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.