What Makes Sweets Not Vegetarian?: A Nutrition Diet Guide

October 19, 2025 •

5 min read

According to a 2023 study by The Vegan Society, many consumers are unaware of the hidden animal-derived ingredients in everyday confectionery. For those following a nutrition diet that excludes animal products, understanding what makes sweets not vegetarian? is crucial for making informed choices and avoiding surprising ingredients.

Quick Summary

This guide explains the non-vegetarian ingredients commonly found in confectionery, including gelatin for chewiness, carmine for red coloring, and shellac for shine. It details the difference between vegetarian and vegan ingredients, such as dairy and honey, and teaches readers how to identify these components by reading product labels carefully.

Key Points

Gelatin isn't Vegetarian: The chewy texture in many gummies and marshmallows comes from gelatin, a protein derived from boiling animal bones and skin.
Red Color from Insects: Carmine, or E120, is a common red food dye made from crushed cochineal beetles, used in red and pink candies and icings.
Glossy Glazes from Bugs: Confectioner's glaze, or shellac (E904), provides a shiny coating on sweets and is derived from insect secretions.
Beeswax is a Non-Vegetarian Glaze: Like shellac, beeswax (E901) is used as a glazing agent on many candies and is produced by bees.
Not All Red Dyes are Equal: While carmine is insect-derived, some artificial red dyes, like Red 40 (E129), are synthetic but may still be avoided by some for ethical or health reasons.
Bee Products Are Often Avoided: Honey, a bee product, is not considered vegan by many and is often avoided by strict vegetarians due to ethical concerns about bee exploitation.
Dairy Differentiates Vegetarians and Vegans: Ingredients like whey and casein make a sweet non-vegan, though they are considered vegetarian by those who consume dairy.

The Surprising Ingredients Hidden in Confectionery

At first glance, many sweets seem harmless and perfectly suitable for a vegetarian diet. However, the food manufacturing process can include a number of animal-derived ingredients, often used to create specific textures, colors, and finishes. A common mistake is to assume a food is vegetarian simply because it doesn't contain meat, but the reality is more complex, with some additives coming from less obvious animal sources. From the chewiness of a gummy bear to the bright red color of a candy, non-vegetarian components can be found in surprising places.

Gelatin: The Source of Chewiness

One of the most common reasons a sweet is not vegetarian is the inclusion of gelatin. Gelatin is a protein derived from animal collagen, which is obtained by boiling the skin, bones, ligaments, and connective tissues of animals, typically cows and pigs. This ingredient is the foundation of many popular chewy sweets, including:

Gummy candies and jelly beans
Marshmallows
Certain jellies and puddings

With growing consumer demand for plant-based options, many manufacturers now use vegan gelatin alternatives to achieve a similar gelling effect. Some of these popular substitutes include pectin (from fruits) and agar-agar (from seaweed). These plant-based options have allowed for the creation of vegetarian and vegan versions of classic treats, like the redesigned M&S Percy Pigs.

Red Dyes and Glazes: From Bugs to Shine

Another surprising source of non-vegetarian ingredients comes from insect-derived additives used for coloring and glazing. The most notorious of these is carmine, also known as cochineal extract (E120), a vibrant red dye made from crushed cochineal beetles. This dye is often found in red or pink candies, icings, and some yogurts.

For a shiny, hard finish, many candies and chocolates are coated with confectioner's glaze. This glaze, also called shellac (E904), is a resin secreted by the female lac bug. While it gives sweets an attractive, polished appearance, it is not vegetarian. Other coatings like beeswax (E901), produced by bees, are also not vegetarian for many ethical vegetarians and vegans. Plant-based alternatives, such as carnauba wax (from palm leaves), offer a cruelty-free way to achieve the same gloss.

The Dairy Dilemma: Beyond Just Milk

While vegetarians who consume dairy (lacto-vegetarians) may find milk-containing sweets acceptable, dairy is a non-vegetarian ingredient for those following a stricter, vegan diet, or with ethical concerns about dairy production. Dairy ingredients in sweets can include:

Milk fat/butter: Found in toffees and creamy chocolates
Whey: A byproduct of cheese production used as a filler or thickener
Casein: A milk protein that appears in some non-dairy creams and cheeses

Many chocolate bars, toffees, and milky candies rely on these components for flavor and texture. Vegan alternatives increasingly use plant-based milk from sources like oats, soy, and coconut to create dairy-free creamy treats.

Bee Products: Not Always Vegetarian

The question of whether bee products like honey and beeswax are vegetarian is nuanced and often depends on individual interpretation of the diet. Beeswax, used as a glazing agent, is derived directly from bees, making it non-vegetarian for most. Honey, while not directly harming the bees in all cases, is produced by bees for their own consumption. For many ethical vegans and strict vegetarians, exploiting bees for their honey is unacceptable. Therefore, sweets using honey as a sweetener are often considered non-vegetarian. Vegan alternatives like maple syrup, agave nectar, and date syrup are widely available and used instead.

The E-Number Conundrum

Many of these animal-derived ingredients are not explicitly labeled with their full name but are instead listed using E-numbers (a code for food additives approved in the European Union). This can make it difficult for an unaware consumer to identify non-vegetarian components. Becoming familiar with common E-numbers for non-vegetarian ingredients is an essential step in choosing the right sweets. Checking the ingredients list is crucial, especially for gelled or brightly colored products.

Vegetarian vs. Non-Vegetarian Ingredients in Sweets

To help navigate the confectionery aisle, here is a comparison of common ingredients and their status:


Ingredient	Typical Source	Vegetarian Status	Common Use in Sweets
Gelatin (E441)	Animal collagen (pigs, cows)	Non-Vegetarian	Gummy candies, marshmallows, jellies
Carmine (E120)	Crushed cochineal beetles	Non-Vegetarian	Red and pink food coloring
Shellac (E904)	Lac insect secretion	Non-Vegetarian	Glossy coating on candies
Beeswax (E901)	Honeybees	Non-Vegetarian	Glazing agent
Dairy (Milk, Whey, Casein)	Animal milk	Vegetarian (lacto-ovo), Non-Vegetarian (vegan)	Creamy fillings, milk chocolate, toffees
Honey	Honeybees	Vegetarian (for some), Non-Vegetarian (vegan)	Sweetener
Pectin	Fruit	Vegetarian	Plant-based gelling agent
Agar-agar	Seaweed	Vegetarian	Plant-based gelling agent
Carnauba Wax	Palm leaves	Vegetarian	Plant-based glazing agent

Making a Smarter Choice

Fortunately, with the rise in popularity of vegetarian and vegan diets, many companies now offer a wide array of delicious plant-based alternatives for classic sweets. Reading the label is the single most important step for anyone concerned about what's in their food. Look for specific certifications, such as a vegetarian or vegan label, or check the ingredient list for any potential non-vegetarian sources. Many brands have reformulated their recipes to be more inclusive, making it easier than ever to enjoy treats without compromising your dietary principles. For example, some manufacturers have switched to using fruit-based pectin instead of gelatin in their gummy candies. By staying informed, you can confidently navigate the confectionery aisle and find the perfect sweets that align with your dietary choices.

Conclusion

Understanding what makes sweets not vegetarian? reveals a hidden world of animal-derived ingredients behind familiar textures and colors. The presence of gelatin, carmine, shellac, and certain bee products like honey and beeswax can make many candies unsuitable for vegetarians and vegans. For those who avoid dairy, components like whey and casein must also be considered. By learning to identify these key ingredients and their corresponding E-numbers, consumers can make informed decisions. The growing availability of plant-based alternatives means that satisfying a sweet tooth without compromising a vegetarian lifestyle is now easier than ever. The key to making safe choices lies in careful label reading and supporting companies that offer transparently labeled, ethical options.

Optional outbound link: For more information on vegan alternatives, explore resources like the Veganuary guide to accidentally vegan sweets.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, gelatin is not vegetarian. It is an animal-derived product made from the collagen found in the skin, bones, and connective tissues of animals, most commonly cows and pigs.

Carmine is a red food coloring derived from crushed cochineal beetles, making it unsuitable for a vegetarian or vegan diet.

Confectioner's glaze, also known as shellac (E904), is a resin secreted by the female lac insect and is not vegetarian.

No, not all gummy candies are non-vegetarian. While traditional gummies use gelatin, many modern brands now use plant-based alternatives like pectin or agar-agar. It is essential to check the ingredients list.

Honey is produced by bees for their colony, and its harvesting is considered a form of animal exploitation by many ethical vegans and strict vegetarians. As a result, they avoid products containing honey.

A lacto-vegetarian consumes dairy products like milk and whey, so many chocolate and creamy sweets are considered vegetarian for them. A vegan, however, avoids all animal products, including dairy, so they would not eat these sweets.

Look for explicit 'vegetarian' or 'vegan' labels. If unavailable, check the ingredient list for common non-vegetarian additives like gelatin (E441), carmine (E120), shellac (E904), beeswax (E901), honey, milk, whey, and casein.