What Candies Are Not Vegetarian Friendly? Hidden Animal Ingredients in Sweets

November 5, 2025 •

5 min read

Over 5% of US adults are vegetarian, meaning label reading is a common practice, but it can be particularly tricky with candy. While many sweets seem like a simple combination of sugar and flavor, many popular brands contain hidden animal-derived ingredients that make them unsuitable for a vegetarian or vegan diet. Knowing what candies are not vegetarian friendly can prevent accidental consumption of products like gelatin, carmine, and shellac.

Quick Summary

Many popular candies contain hidden animal-derived ingredients like gelatin, carmine, shellac, and dairy. Careful label reading is necessary to avoid these non-vegetarian additives. Different ingredients provide specific textures or colors, so knowing what to look for is essential for those on a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Key Points

Gelatin isn't vegetarian: Made from animal bones and skin, gelatin gives gummy candies and marshmallows their chewy texture.
Red colors can come from insects: The dye carmine (E120) is made from crushed cochineal beetles and is often used in red, pink, and purple candies.
Shiny finishes come from bugs: Confectioner's glaze, or shellac (E904), is a resin from the female lac beetle used to give candies a shiny, hard coating.
Some sugar is processed with bone char: In the US, some white granulated sugar is filtered using bone char, a product of cattle bones, though it's not listed as an ingredient.
Always check for hidden dairy: Milk, whey, and casein are common in chocolate candies, caramels, and creamy fillings.
Beeswax is an animal product: Used as a glazing agent on some candies and sweets, beeswax is not vegetarian.
Organic sugar and beet sugar are better options: Certified organic sugar and beet sugar do not typically use bone char in processing.

For many people on a vegetarian or vegan diet, navigating the candy aisle can be a challenging task. While the brightly colored wrappers may seem harmless, a closer look at the ingredients reveals a different story. Many common confectionery products use animal by-products to achieve specific textures, colors, or glazes that make them off-limits for those avoiding animal products. This guide will explore the most common non-vegetarian ingredients and provide tips for identifying them, ensuring your sweet treats align with your dietary choices.

The Unsuspecting Culprits: Animal-Derived Ingredients in Candy

Several ingredients derived from animals are frequently used in candy production. Understanding what they are and where they come from is the first step toward making informed choices.

Gelatin: The Chewy Texture Creator

Gelatin is perhaps the most well-known non-vegetarian candy ingredient, derived from animal collagen, a protein found in the skin, bones, and connective tissues of animals, most commonly pigs and cows. It is used to give candies their signature chewy, gummy, or springy texture. This means that many gummy bears, marshmallows, and jelly beans are not suitable for vegetarians.

Gummy Candies: Most traditional gummy candies, including gummy bears, worms, and fruit-shaped snacks, rely on gelatin for their chewy consistency.
Marshmallows: The light, airy, and fluffy texture of marshmallows is created by gelatin, which helps stabilize the mix of sugar and air.
Certain Jelly Beans: While some jelly beans are vegetarian-friendly, others use gelatin to achieve their desired chewy texture.

Carmine (E120): The Vibrant Red Dye

Ever wonder how red candies get their brilliant, eye-catching color? Often, it comes from carmine, also known as cochineal extract. This red dye is made by crushing the dried, female cochineal insect. It is used in a variety of food products, including many red, pink, and purple candies.

Red, Pink, and Purple Sweets: Carmine can be found in many red and pink-colored candies, as well as some yogurts and juices.
Nerds and Gummy Clusters: Some varieties of Nerds and Nerds-related products, such as gummy clusters, contain carmine.

Confectioner's Glaze and Shellac (E904): The Glossy Finish

The shiny, hard coating on many candies, such as jelly beans and candy corn, is often achieved with confectioner's glaze, also known as shellac. This glaze is derived from the resinous secretions of the female lac bug, a tiny insect found in India and Thailand. This process makes the candy non-vegetarian.

Jelly Beans: Many brands of jelly beans and other candy-coated chocolates use confectioner's glaze to create a polished, glossy finish.
Candy Corn: The classic candy corn often has a shiny coating made from shellac.
Chocolate-Covered Candies: Some chocolate-covered candies like Milk Duds and Whoppers may use shellac for a glossy finish.

Bone Char in Sugar: A Hidden Processing Aid

Some white granulated sugar is processed using bone char, a charcoal made from the bones of cattle. While the bone char itself is a processing aid and does not end up in the final product, its use makes the sugar non-vegetarian for many. This is a gray area for some vegetarians, but for those who wish to avoid all products associated with animal exploitation, it's a concern. Certified organic sugar or beet sugar does not use bone char in its refining process.

Other Animal-Derived Ingredients

Besides the main culprits, other ingredients can make candy non-vegetarian:

Dairy (Milk, Whey, Casein): Found in milk chocolate, caramels, and creamy fillings, dairy is an obvious non-vegetarian ingredient. These can be labeled as milk fat, whey, or casein.
Beeswax: Used as a glazing agent or wax for coating candies like jelly beans and fruit snacks.
Egg Whites (Albumin): Sometimes used in nougat or other fluffy candies to bind ingredients.
L-Cysteine: An amino acid sometimes derived from animal hair or feathers, used as a dough conditioner.

Label Reading and Brand Comparisons

The best defense is a careful offense—reading the ingredient list is crucial. Here is a comparison to help you quickly identify non-vegetarian candies and find some alternative options.


Candy Type	Common Non-Vegetarian Ingredients	Non-Vegetarian Brand Examples	Vegetarian Alternatives	Note
Gummy Candies	Gelatin, Carmine	Haribo Gummy Bears, Trolli Gummy Worms	Annie's Organic Fruit Snacks, Surf Sweets Gummies, Yum Earth Gummy Fruits	Look for pectin or agar-agar as the gelling agent.
Jelly Beans	Confectioner's Glaze, Gelatin, Beeswax	Jelly Belly (some flavors), Brach's Jelly Beans	Jolly Rancher Hard Candies (check labels), some gourmet jelly beans	Always check the ingredients, as formulations can change.
Chocolate Candies	Dairy (Milk, Whey, Milk Fat)	M&M's, Snickers, Milk Duds, Cadbury	Hu Vegan Chocolate, Go Max Go Foods (dairy-free), Enjoy Life Foods	Most dark chocolates are often vegan, but check for dairy.
Hard Candies	Sugar processed with bone char, Carmine	Charms Blow Pops, Dum Dums, Jolly Rancher (classic hard candies)	Smarties (US version), Airheads, Pez (fruit flavors)	Some hard candies might use sugar filtered with bone char, which is a grey area for strict vegans.
Marshmallows	Gelatin	Most major brands of marshmallows	Dandie's Vegan Marshmallows, Trader Joe's marshmallows	Look for plant-based thickeners instead of gelatin.

Conclusion: Navigating the Candy Aisle with Confidence

As the vegetarian and vegan lifestyle becomes more popular, the demand for transparent and ethically sourced food products is rising. This shift has led many candy manufacturers to offer more plant-based alternatives and clearly label their products. However, until all labels are explicitly marked, the responsibility falls on the consumer to understand what candies are not vegetarian friendly.

By being aware of the common animal-derived ingredients—like gelatin for chewiness, carmine for red color, shellac for shine, and bone char for sugar refinement—you can confidently navigate the candy aisle. When in doubt, always read the ingredients list. Look for certifications like "Certified Vegan" or "USDA Organic," as these often guarantee that no animal by-products were used. If you're a vegetarian with a sweet tooth, a little knowledge can go a long way in ensuring your treats align with your values.

Additional Resources

Vegan.com Candy Guide: https://vegan.com/food/candy/
The Vegetarian Resource Group: https://www.vrg.org/ (for information on ingredients)
PETA's Accidentally Vegan List: https://www.peta.org/living/food/accidentally-vegan-foods/ (for a regularly updated list of plant-based products)

Frequently Asked Questions

Gelatin is a gelling agent made from animal collagen, a protein extracted by boiling the skin, bones, and connective tissues of animals, most commonly pigs and cows.

Some white granulated sugar is processed using bone char, a filtering agent made from the bones of cattle, to achieve its bright white color. Certified organic sugar and beet sugar do not use this process.

No, carmine is not a vegetarian ingredient. It is a red food dye derived from the crushed female cochineal insect and is often found in red, pink, and purple candies and foods.

Confectioner's glaze, also known as shellac, is a glossy coating made from the resinous secretions of the female lac bug. It is used to give candies a shiny finish and is not vegetarian.

No, not all gummy candies are non-vegetarian. While traditional gummies use gelatin, many vegetarian and vegan-friendly alternatives use plant-based gelling agents like pectin or agar-agar.

Always check the ingredient list for terms like gelatin, carmine (E120), confectioner's glaze, shellac (E904), beeswax, casein, and whey. Looking for 'Certified Vegan' or 'USDA Organic' labels can also help.

No, while some older varieties of Skittles contained gelatin, the formulation has changed, and they are now generally considered vegan. However, always check the label, as formulations can vary by country.