Most fruity, chewy and hard candies are vegan. Gummies, marshmallow candies, chocolate and anything with a glossy coating are where it goes wrong. This list covers the US versions of popular candies and is updated every time we check a new one.
Candies we've checked
Our full verdicts, with the ingredient that decides each one.
| Candy | Status | What decides it |
|---|---|---|
| Skittles (Original, Sour, Tropical) | Vegan | Gelatin dropped around 2010. |
| Twizzlers Twists | Vegan | No animal ingredients listed. |
| Airheads Bars | Vegan | Bars are vegan; several Airheads spin-offs aren't. |
| Blow Pops | Vegan | No gelatin, dairy or honey. |
| Jolly Rancher hard candy | Vegan | Hard candy and lollipops pass; check gummies. |
| Altoids | Depends | Classic tins contain gelatin; Arctic sugar-free mints don't. |
| Haribo | Some | Nearly all Haribo uses gelatin. Sour S'ghetti is the US exception. |
| Starburst (US) | Not vegan | Original Fruit Chews contain gelatin. |
| Nerds | Not vegan | Several flavors use carmine; Gummy Clusters add gelatin. |
| Mike and Ike | Not vegan | Confectioner's glaze. |
| Cadbury Bournville | Not vegan | Skimmed milk powder on the label since 2021. |
| Fondant | Depends | Some brands use gelatin or animal glycerin. |
Other popular candy at a glance
We haven't written full pages for these yet. The verdicts below come from the US labels as reported in the sources at the end of this page. Read the bag before you buy.
| Candy | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sour Patch Kids | Vegan | No gelatin. |
| Swedish Fish | Vegan | No gelatin. |
| Dots | Vegan | No gelatin. |
| Jujyfruits | Vegan | Carnauba wax, not beeswax. |
| Dum Dums | Vegan | |
| Smarties (US) | Vegan | The US candy, not Nestlé's chocolate Smarties. |
| Atomic Fireballs | Vegan | Carnauba wax coating. |
| Red Vines | Vegan | On PETA's gelatin-free list. |
| Haribo Goldbears | Not vegan | Gelatin and beeswax. |
| Brach's Classic Candy Corn | Not vegan | Confectioner's glaze, gelatin and honey. |
The ingredients that decide most candy
Read the last few lines of the ingredient list first. That's where coatings and colors live, and they cause most of the problems.
- Gelatin sets gummies, chews and marshmallows. It's made from animal skin and bones, and it's the most common reason a candy isn't vegan.
- Confectioner's glaze (also called shellac, resinous glaze or E904) gives jelly beans and coated chews their shine. It comes from an insect.
- Carmine (also called cochineal extract or E120) is a red color made from insects. Look for it in red, pink and purple candy.
- Milk turns up as milk powder, whey or butterfat in chocolate, caramels and creamy chews.
- Beeswax coats some gummies and jelly beans.
Candy that's glossy, gummy, red or chocolate-based deserves a second look. Hard candy and lollipops are the safest bets.
Halloween and seasonal candy
Seasonal shapes don't always share the everyday recipe. A brand's regular candy can be vegan while its pumpkin or heart-shaped version uses gelatin or a glaze. We check seasonal products separately as they come out.
Every page in this guide
- Are Airheads Vegan? SOME
- Are Altoids Vegan? (Everything You Need To Know) DEPENDS
- Are Blow Pops Vegan? YES
- Are Jolly Ranchers Vegan? SOME
- Are Mike and Ikes Vegan? NO
- Are Nerds Vegan? NO
- Are Skittles Vegan? YES
- Are Starburst Vegan? NO
- Are Twizzlers Vegan? YES
- Haribo – Which Are Vegan or Vegetarian? SOME
- Is Cadbury Bournville Vegan? NO
- Is Fondant Vegan? DEPENDS
FAQ
What makes candy not vegan?
Are gummy bears vegan?
Is dark chocolate vegan?
Is sugar vegan?
More lists
Sources and how we checked
We reviewed the sources below in Oct 2026.
- Everything Vegan: Vegan candy list, US labels checked September 2026
- PETA: Gelatin-free vegan gummy candy brands (October 2024)
- Vegetarian Resource Group: What is shellac? (January 2026)
Spotted a recipe change? Tell us and we'll re-check.