People’s dietary habits have changed dramatically over the years. With more information available than ever about the health and environmental impact of certain foods, many are adapting their diets to accommodate healthier lifestyles and/or promote more sustainable practices. As a result, veganism has become an increasingly popular lifestyle. A 2023 Gallup poll revealed that about 1 percent of American adults identify as vegan, while a Wakefield Research survey released around the same time showed that 34 percent expressed interest in adopting a vegan diet.
A vegan diet is more restrictive than a vegetarian diet in that it doesn’t include animal products, such as eggs, dairy, and honey. While most natural vegan products are healthy, there are plenty of vegan-approved salty and sweet snacks that can help to satiate your cravings.
Chipurnoi Confectionery, a boutique candy store in Sharon, Connecticut, with nearly 100 years of history, sells a plethora of specialty vegan Italian candies. These include Stevia-based Italian Licorice, Glitterati Fruit & Berry, and the best-selling Glitterati All Natural Deluxe Mint. None of these contain animal byproducts. Surprisingly, some other major candy brands do.
Candy That Contains Animal Products
A lot more candy than you might think contain animal byproducts. They include chewy and gummy candies, like gummy bears, Starburst, marshmallows, and candy corn contain gelatin, which is made by boiling and mashing up cow bones, cartilage, and skin. Pig parts are also sometimes used to produce gelatin.
Vegans often replace gelatin with cornstarch and other healthy oils known to contain fewer fats and carbohydrates.
What Makes Candy Vegan
Candy that is produced without animal byproducts or harming animals is considered vegan. That means they must not be made with honey, beeswax, cow’s milk, or gelatin. Most vegan candy contains sugar which, depending on your commitment to veganism, can be an issue. Some sugar brands use bone char as a whitening agent, but manufacturers generally do not list it among their ingredients.
Just because vegan candy is processed without animal parts doesn’t mean that it is automatically healthy. Some vegan sweets are ultra-processed with almost no nutritional value. Just a few pieces of Twizzlers, for example, have about 17 grams of sugar and 35 grams of carbohydrates. These are fine for vegans to consume in moderation.
Health Benefits of Vegan Candy
Vegan candy, especially those with natural ingredients and without added sugar, offer far greater nutritional value than their non-vegan counterparts. Eating low-sugar vegan candy can help to lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reduce the possibility of a “sugar crash,” and even prevent serious diseases.
Vegan candy also contains a higher amount of antioxidants, which can help to protect your cells against damage, reduce inflammation, and contribute to better eye and skin health. Antioxidants are crucial for battling free radicals and preventing disease. While conventional candy might have a handful of antioxidants, vegan candy is filled with them.
Vegan candy also generally has more nutritious ingredients such as fruits, nuts, and plant-based oils, which can help you to achieve a balanced diet.
Moreover, vegan candy is generally hypo-allergenic and therefore suitable for people with food allergies.
Different Types of Vegan Candy
There are an abundance of candy options for vegans craving something sweet. Some gummy candy choices, like Swedish Fish, Sour Patch Kids, and Jujubes, do not contain gelatin and are considered vegan. Popular brands like Smarties, Sweet Tarts, Fruit Roll-Ups, Air Heads, Bottle Caps, and Hubba Bubba are also vegan.
The list goes on. Dots, Big League Chew, Atomic Fireballs, Jolly Ranchers, and Red Vines are also vegan, although some contain palm oil and processed sugar. Palm oil is vegan, but its industry contributes to the destruction of orangutan homes, which may be a point of contention for strict vegans. Fruit by the Foot, Cry Baby Candy, and Brach’s Cinnamon Hard Candy are vegan candies made without processed sugar or palm oil.
Check the Label for Additives
As previously mentioned, vegan doesn’t automatically mean healthy. Check the label when shopping for candy to see which products have high amounts of added sugar or other unhealthy additives. You should also avoid products with casein or whey, which are animal-derived protein sources.
Whether you’re vegan or not, it’s also important to eat candy in moderation. The American Heart Association recommends that men and women consume no more than 9 teaspoons and 6 teaspoons of added sugar per day, respectively. There are around 12 teaspoons of added sugar in one 1.8-ounce bag of Skittles.
A Sustainable Choice
Consuming vegan candy also supports environmental sustainability by decreasing animal farming and incorporating plant-based ingredients.
The Takeaway
In conclusion, vegan candy offers many great benefits. If you are interested in a delicious plant-based treat, vegan candy may be the ideal option for you.