What Sweets and Chocolate Are Vegetarian?

November 9, 2025 •

5 min read

Did you know that many popular sweets and chocolates contain hidden animal-derived ingredients, making them unsuitable for vegetarians? For those following a meat-free diet, understanding which sweets and chocolate are vegetarian is crucial for making informed choices and enjoying treats without compromise.

Quick Summary

A guide to identifying vegetarian-friendly sweets and chocolates by looking for common non-vegetarian ingredients like gelatin, carmine, and certain E-numbers. It covers dark chocolate options and lists several brands offering suitable treats, emphasizing the importance of checking labels.

Key Points

Check for Hidden Ingredients: Be vigilant for common animal-derived ingredients such as gelatin, carmine (E120), beeswax (E901), and shellac (E904), which are used for texture, color, and shine in many sweets.
Dark Chocolate is Your Friend: Most pure dark chocolate is naturally vegetarian and often vegan, made from cocoa solids, cocoa butter, and sugar, but always check the label for milk additives like whey or milk solids.
Know Your Alternatives: Plant-based gelling agents like pectin and agar-agar, and glazes like carnauba wax, are common in vegetarian and vegan confectionery, so look for these on ingredient lists.
Not All Sweets from the Same Brand are Vegetarian: A brand may offer both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. For example, some Haribo products contain gelatin, while others like Giant Strawbs are vegetarian.
Look for Certified Logos: Certified vegetarian or vegan logos on packaging are the most reliable indicators that a product is suitable for your diet.
Recipe Changes Happen: Manufacturers can alter their recipes without major fanfare, so it's wise to double-check the ingredient list even on a familiar product.
Don't Forget the Details: Even with chocolate, be aware of cross-contamination warnings if you have severe allergies, and remember that milk and white chocolate are typically not vegan.

Understanding the Basics: What Makes Sweets and Chocolate Non-Vegetarian?

While it might seem that sweets and chocolate, being mostly sugar and cocoa, would naturally be vegetarian, this is not always the case. The primary culprits are often additives and hidden ingredients used for texture, color, and shine. Being a savvy vegetarian consumer means knowing what to look for on ingredient lists.

Common Non-Vegetarian Ingredients

Gelatin: This is one of the most common non-vegetarian ingredients found in chewy, gummy sweets, marshmallows, and some desserts. It is a gelling agent derived from the boiled skin, bones, and connective tissues of animals, typically pigs and cows. Alternatives like pectin (derived from fruits), agar-agar (from seaweed), and carrageenan are used in vegetarian and vegan products.
Carmine (E120): Used as a red food coloring, carmine is derived from the crushed bodies of cochineal insects. It can be found in red, pink, or purple sweets and is a hidden animal product that many vegetarians are unaware of. Many companies now use plant-based alternatives for coloring.
Beeswax (E901) and Shellac (E904): These are used as glazing agents to give sweets a glossy, protective coating. Beeswax comes from bees, and shellac is a resin secreted by the female lac bug. Plant-based alternatives like carnauba wax are used in vegetarian and vegan candies.
Milk Products in Chocolate: While vegetarianism allows for dairy, some vegetarians avoid animal rennet, which can be used in cheese production found in some chocolate-based treats. More importantly, for those seeking vegan options, milk chocolate and white chocolate contain milk solids, lactose, or other dairy derivatives. Always read the label to ensure the chocolate is suitable for your specific dietary needs.

Finding Vegetarian Sweets: Brands and Alternatives

Thankfully, the market for vegetarian and vegan sweets has expanded significantly, making it easier than ever to find delicious alternatives to traditional treats. Many brands now actively label their products as suitable for vegetarians.

Popular Vegetarian Sweet Brands and Options

Candy Kittens: A gourmet sweet brand with a fully vegan and gluten-free range, making all their products suitable for vegetarians.
Swizzels: Many of their products, such as Love Hearts, are suitable for vegetarians.
Rowntree's: Their Fruit Pastilles and Jelly Tots are examples of accidentally vegetarian sweets.
Skittles: All flavors are generally vegetarian-friendly.
Starburst: A popular, chewy candy that is also a safe vegetarian option.
Haribo: While most of their classic gummies contain gelatin, certain products, like Giant Strawbs and Rainbow Strips, are specifically formulated for vegetarians.
Marshmallows: While conventional marshmallows contain gelatin, vegan alternatives from brands like Dandies and Freedom Confectionary use plant-based gelling agents and are suitable for vegetarians.

Comparing Popular Sweets: Vegetarian vs. Traditional


Feature	Traditional Gummy Bears (e.g., Haribo Goldbears)	Vegetarian/Vegan Gummy Bears (e.g., Candycrave Vegan)	M&M's (UK Version)	Dark Chocolate (High-Quality)
Gelling Agent	Pork gelatin	Pectin or Agar-Agar	Gum Acacia	(Not applicable)
Coloring	Artificial colors	Natural colors from fruits and vegetables	E120 (Carmine) in some variations	Natural cocoa color
Glazing Agent	Beeswax, Carnauba Wax	Carnauba Wax (Plant-based)	Beeswax, Carmine	May contain vegan glazing agents
Suitable For	Neither vegetarian nor vegan	Both vegetarian and vegan	Neither vegetarian nor vegan	Both vegetarian and often vegan

Navigating Vegetarian Chocolate Options

While milk chocolate is generally off-limits for vegans, it is vegetarian. However, issues of cross-contamination and non-vegetarian emulsifiers can arise. Dark chocolate is often the safest and most reliable choice for both vegetarians and vegans, but vigilance is still necessary.

Pure, high-quality dark chocolate is made from simple ingredients: cocoa solids, cocoa butter (a plant-based fat), and sugar. The higher the cocoa content, the more likely it is to be vegan, and therefore vegetarian. However, some mass-produced dark chocolates can include milk powder, whey, or butterfat to alter the taste and texture. Some chocolatiers use soy lecithin as an emulsifier, which is vegetarian, but always check the label.

Reading Labels for Chocolate

Ingredients to Check: Scrutinize labels for milk solids, milk powder, casein, or whey. These are all dairy-derived ingredients that make the product non-vegan, though they are usually fine for vegetarians who consume dairy.
Cross-Contamination Warnings: Some dark chocolate packages may contain warnings about milk traces due to shared production lines. Most vegetarians find this acceptable, but it is important to be aware.

Conclusion: Navigating Your Sweet Tooth with Confidence

Being a vegetarian with a sweet tooth requires a little bit of label-reading and research, but the effort is well worth it. By understanding the common animal-derived ingredients like gelatin, carmine, and beeswax, you can confidently navigate the confectionery aisle. Many popular brands now offer delicious vegetarian-friendly options, and high-quality dark chocolate remains a reliable and indulgent treat. As more consumers adopt plant-based diets, the availability of clearly labeled vegetarian sweets and chocolates continues to grow, making it easier to enjoy your favorite treats ethically. To explore more plant-based confectionery, you can consult helpful resources like Veganuary.

Lists of Popular Vegetarian Sweets and Chocolates

Sweet Options

Skittles
Candy Kittens
Starburst
Jelly Tots
Love Hearts (Swizzels)
Fruit Pastilles (Rowntree's)
Hubba Bubba bubble gum
Dare JUICEE Gumdrops
Bournville Dark Chocolate

Chocolate Options

Green & Black's Dark Chocolate (most variants)
Lindt Excellence Dark (many varieties, but check for milk fat)
Ombar Chocolate (vegan)
Ritter Sport Marzipan (contains dairy but no gelatin)
Most high-cocoa dark chocolate bars (verify ingredients)

Final Tips for Shoppers

Always read the ingredients list, even for products you've bought before, as recipes can change.
Look for vegetarian or vegan society logos on packaging, which provide reliable certification.
Don't assume that all dark chocolate or dairy-free products are automatically vegetarian or vegan.
Explore new brands that specialize in plant-based treats, as they often have innovative and delicious products.

Enjoy your search for sweet and delicious vegetarian treats! With a little bit of knowledge, your options are more plentiful than you might think.

Heading: Look for gelatin, carmine, and beeswax on labels to ensure sweets are vegetarian.
Heading: Dark chocolate is often vegetarian or vegan, but always check ingredients for added milk products.
Heading: Many mainstream brands like Skittles and Starburst offer surprisingly vegetarian-friendly options.
Heading: Pectin, agar-agar, and carnauba wax are common plant-based alternatives to animal-derived additives.
Heading: Popular chewy sweets like Haribo gummies contain animal-derived gelatin unless explicitly labeled as vegetarian.
Heading: Always check labels for new products or new versions of old favorites, as recipes can change without notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, most traditional gummy sweets, including many Haribo products, are not vegetarian because they contain gelatin, a gelling agent derived from animal products like pork. However, many brands now produce vegetarian-friendly gummies using plant-based alternatives like pectin or agar-agar.

High-quality dark chocolate is usually vegetarian and often vegan, as it's made from cocoa solids, cocoa butter, and sugar. However, some mass-produced dark chocolates can contain milk solids or other dairy products, so it is essential to always check the ingredient list.

Carmine, also listed as E120, is a red food coloring derived from the crushed bodies of cochineal insects. Because it is an animal-derived product, it is not suitable for a vegetarian diet.

Traditional marshmallows are not vegetarian, as they are typically made with gelatin. However, many vegan and vegetarian marshmallow brands use plant-based gelling agents like tapioca starch or carrageenan instead.

The easiest way is to look for a certified vegetarian or vegan logo on the packaging. These labels are provided by organizations that vet products to ensure they don't contain animal-derived ingredients.

While many Haribo classics contain pork gelatin, the brand has introduced a range of vegetarian and vegan sweets. Examples include Giant Strawbs and Rainbow Strips, but you must check the label for each specific product.

For most vegetarians, traces of milk due to cross-contamination are acceptable. However, for those with severe allergies or strict vegan principles, it is important to look for explicit "made in a facility free of animal products" statements.