Do M&M’s Contain Pork? Examining Potential Non-Vegan Ingredients

M&M’s are an iconic American candy known and loved by many. Their colorful candy-coated chocolates make movie-going and celebrations more delicious But with growing dietary restrictions and preferences, especially surrounding pork, many wonder – do M&M’s actually contain pork?

As a brand, M&M’s doesn’t directly add pork products like bacon or ham to their candies However, there are some potential hidden animal-derived ingredients to be aware of Let’s break down the key facts.

The Base Ingredients

The core ingredients of basic M&M’s are:

• Milk chocolate – contains milk and cocoa products
• Sugar
• Coloring – artificial FD&C dyes
• Chocolate liquor – ground cacao beans
• Cocoa butter
• Corn syrup
• Gum acacia – a plant-based thickener

Of these, only the milk chocolate directly contains an animal product, being dairy-based. Nothing seems too concerning yet for vegetarians.

Potential Hidden Animal Ingredients

Beyond the classic chocolate base, there are some lurking ingredients that may derive from pork sources:

Artificial flavors – M&M’s uses “natural and artificial flavors” to enhance taste. Artificial flavors can come from pork, insects, alcohol, or petroleum sources. M&M’s likely uses vegan-friendly artificial flavors, but it’s hard to confirm.

Gelatin – Gelatin, used as a gelling agent, often derives from pork. But M&M’s doesn’t list gelatin in their ingredients, suggesting they use alternate thickeners like gum acacia.

Colors – The artificial colors may be sourced from insect-based shellac or carmine dye. Unlikely, but possible.

Sugar – Some sugar gets filtered through bone char during processing, but M&M’s probably uses vegan sugar sources.

** shared equipment** – Even if ingredients are vegan, sharing equipment with milk chocolate may risk cross-contamination.

So nothing definitively animal-derived, but a few potential concerns worth noting.

Evaluating Different M&M’s Varieties

The core ingredients change slightly across M&M’s types:

Peanut M&M’s – Contains peanuts, but otherwise same as original M&M’s. Peanuts don’t raise any new pork-related concerns.

Peanut Butter M&M’s – Extra ingredients like palm oil and PGPR (an emulsifier) get added, but these are vegan.

Pretzel M&M’s – No evident non-vegan ingredients. Plain pretzels are typically vegan.

Crispy M&M’s – Instead of milk chocolate, these have a crispy rice center. So they skip the milk, making them possibly more vegan-friendly.

Nut varieties – Types like almond or hazelnut M&M’s swap that nut in for peanuts, but no major ingredient changes.

Color varieties – Products like White Chocolate M&M’s use coloring to produce their colors without added dyes. But they also contain milk chocolate.

Holiday varieties – Seasonal flavors may contain extra ingredients like cookie pieces, caramel, or marshmallow – these deserve a careful inspection.

Overall, most M&M varieties contain similar base ingredients with no major red flags beyond the standard version. But the holiday flavors require extra attention.

Verdict: M&M’s Are Not Entirely Vegan But Likely Pork-Free

Given the ambiguous artificial flavors and colors, M&M’s cannot be considered 100% vegan. There is the chance these artificial additives come from non-vegan sources, including pork.

However, M&M’s has no obvious pork ingredients in their basic candies. The likelihood of pork-derived gelatin, shellac, or other additives is low but not fully zero. So while not definitively pork-free, M&M’s are very likely to avoid pork-based ingredients.

For strictest vegans and those avoiding all potential pork traces, M&M’s may not be the ideal candy choice. But they should be relatively safe for many vegetarian, Hindu, or halal diets seeking to avoid direct pork consumption. As always, those with serious dietary restrictions should contact the manufacturer to confirm specific ingredient sourcing.

Health Concerns Around M&M’s

Beyond the pork dilemma, M&M’s raise other health and diet concerns:

• High in processed sugar – a 1.69 oz bag contains 29g added sugar, exceeding American Heart Association guidelines. Can promote obesity, diabetes, and inflammation when over-consumed.

• Artificial coloring – the artificial dyes may provoke allergies and hyperactivity in some children. Natural color alternatives exist.

• Milk allergies – the milk chocolate base contains dairy and is unsuitable for those with milk/lactose issues.

• Low nutrient value – provides mostly empty calories and added sugar without beneficial protein, fiber, vitamins, or minerals.

So moderation remains key with M&M’s, even if they likely avoid pork-derived ingredients.

Healthier, Pork-Free Candy Alternatives

Those seeking candy free of pork and other animal products have several options:

• YumEarth – organic fruit snacks with no added sugar or artificial ingredients

• Surf Sweets – gummy bears and worms made from real fruit juice and natural colors

• Endangered Species – fair trade dark chocolate bars with ethical cacao sourcing

• Groovy Candies – vegan gummy bears and sour worms colored with vegetable juices

• MadeGood – granola bars and crispy squares made from wholesome, all-vegan ingredients

These brands offer indulgent treats in ethical, transparently-vegan formats. They help satisfy a sweet craving without questionable animal additives like pork.

The Takeaway

While not suitable for strict vegan diets, M&M’s contain no obvious pork-based ingredients and have a low chance of containing pork derivatives. The use of artificial flavors and colors introduces some doubt but pork traces seem unlikely. Those with serious restrictions should contact the company directly for absolute certainty. But overall, M&M’s can likely be enjoyed in moderation by most pork-avoiding individuals. Just balance out the excess sugar with plenty of wholesome, nourishing foods for overall health.