It’s no secret that vegans love to eat, and we like our sweets just as much as the next person. Fortunately, loads of candies are vegan, so we can indulge our cravings (mostly) guilt-free. Most dark chocolate is vegan, as are popular sweet treats such as Smarties (known as Rockets in Canada), Oreos, Airheads, Jujubes, and Swedish Fish (some Swedish Fish containbeeswax, so be sure to check the label). Check out PETA’s database of accidentally vegan foods for a full list, including candy, cookies, and ice cream. You can also shop our custom selection of vegan chocolates, candy, and snacks at the PETA Treat Shop.
While we update the list frequently, companies do change their ingredients from time to time. The main ingredients to watch out for in candy are carmine, which is a red pigment made from the crushed female cochineal insect; gelatin, obtained by boiling the skin, tendons, ligaments, and bones of cows and pigs; and shellac (also called confectioner’s glaze), which gives candies a glossy coating and is made from the resinous excretions of certain insects. Some sugar may also be refined with bone char—see PETA’s position on bone char here.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that being vegan isn’t about personal purity―it’s about reducing animal suffering. If we avoid products that are 99.9 percent vegan but contain trace amounts of animal products, we send the message to companies that there is no market for more animal-friendly goods, and we’ve hurt more animals than we’ve helped. It also makes being vegan seem difficult and time-consuming to people around us. PETA encourages people to do their best to maintain a vegan lifestyle but not to spend time worrying about trace amounts of ingredients that may be animal-derived.
FAQs
Most types of Skittles are considered vegan, but not all. While Skittles Classic Fruits, Skittles Sour, Skittles Tropical and Wild Berry Skittles are all currently suitable for vegans, some special editions such as the Once in a Blue Moon Skittles are not, as the blue skittles contain animal product derivatives.
Are Skittles vegan? ›
Most types of Skittles are considered vegan, but not all. While Skittles Classic Fruits, Skittles Sour, Skittles Tropical and Wild Berry Skittles are all currently suitable for vegans, some special editions such as the Once in a Blue Moon Skittles are not, as the blue skittles contain animal product derivatives.
What candy is surprisingly vegan? ›
Generally, a lot of the hard-candy-on-a-stick lollipops are vegan. It's when you get into things like Tootsie Pops and the fruit and cream Chupa Chup lollipop varieties that you find dairy in the form of milk powder and whey. However, Charms Blow Pops, made by the Tootsie Roll Company, and good old Dum Dums are vegan.
Are M&M's vegan? ›
Are any M&Ms Vegan? Unfortunately upon further inspection, no m&m's are vegan. Not even some of the flavoured ones like peanut m&m or the crispy m&m. While the obvious reason might be the inclusion of dairy products in the milk chocolate with the main ingredient being milk products - skim milk, there are other reasons.
Are Oreos vegan? ›
Many vegans refer to Oreos as “accidentally vegan,” meaning they don't contain animal products — but they weren't created to be a specifically vegan treat. Oreos do not contain milk, eggs, or any other animal-derived products, so they are technically vegan in that sense.
Are twizzlers vegan? ›
Twizzlers
Whether you choose classic strawberry, strawberry smoothie or the caramel apple filled twists, you can be sure that they are a vegan-friendly product.
Are Starburst vegan? ›
Starbursts were launched in the USA in 1967, and have since become hugely popular in the country. Unfortunately for American plant-based eaters, however, they feature gelatin in their ingredients. This means that they aren't suitable for vegans or vegetarians.
Are reeses vegan? ›
Because they're covered in milk chocolate, the original Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are not vegan. However, a new dairy-free, oat-based version of the recipe, called Reese's Plant Based, was released in 2023 (more on that below!).
What American sweets are vegan? ›
5 vegan American candies you must try
- sour patch kids vegan from the USA (not the ones from Germany). Sour Patch have long since gained a high profile in Germany. ...
- twizzlers vegan. ...
- swedish fish. ...
- vegan marshmallows. ...
- DOTS. ...
- AIRHEADS. ...
- NERDS. ...
- skittles crazy sours.
The bottom line. Most types of peanut butter are free of animal products and can be enjoyed as part of a vegan diet. However, some varieties are made in facilities that also process animal products or contain refined sugar that was produced using bone char or non-vegan ingredients like honey or fish oil.
Are KitKat® 4 Finger White Chocolate bars suitable for vegans? Unfortunately, our KitKat® 2 Finger White Chocolate bars are not suitable for someone who follows a vegan lifestyle. You can now enjoy a Vegan break with KitKat® V, our first plant-based break. Find the full list of products suitable for a vegan diet here.
Are Hershey Kisses vegan? ›
This vegan chocolate kisses recipe is a dairy-free take on the classic candy that everyone can enjoy and tops the originals. Hershey Kiss chocolates bring back fond memories of childhood but, unfortunately, are not vegan.
What normal sweets are vegan? ›
Types of Vegan Sweets
Fruity Sweets: Many fruity sweets, such as Skittles, Starburst, and Sour Patch Kids, are vegan-friendly. Hard Candies: Hard candies, such as lollipops and candy canes, are often vegan-friendly.
What sweets are accidentally vegan? ›
12 sweets you didn't know were vegan
- Candy Kittens. Colourfully polka dotty and full of flavour. ...
- Haribo Rainbow Range. Most Haribo sweets do contain gelatine, but, if it's Tangfastics you're missing, you're in luck. ...
- Jelly Tots. Yes. ...
- Lemon Sherbets. ...
- M&S Own Brand. ...
- Millions. ...
- Sherbety Snacks. ...
- Swizzels.
Hershey's Plant Based Extra Creamy with Almonds and Sea Salt is a fully vegan Hershey Bar. The second product is Hershey's Plant Based Extra Creamy with Almonds and Sea Salt.
