As a vegan or someone who avoids pork for religious reasons, checking ingredient labels is crucial to ensure the candy you eat aligns with your diet While it may seem surprising, many popular candies contain pork-derived gelatin which gives them a chewy texture. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll uncover the truth about what candy has pork in it and provide vegan-friendly alternatives.
Why Do Candies Contain Pork Gelatin?
Gelatin is a protein obtained by boiling skin bones and connective tissue of animals, most commonly pigs and cows. It acts as a stabilizer and thickening agent to give candies a chewy, gummy texture. Without gelatin, many classic treats like gummy bears, marshmallows, and candy corn wouldn’t have their signature softness. Gelatin melts at body temperature, allowing it to deliver a pleasing sensation as the candy dissolves on the tongue.
Companies choose pork gelatin over other animal sources because pigs have the highest gelatin content. It also has no flavor allowing the other ingredients to shine. While convenient for manufacturers this invisible animal ingredient can be troubling for those avoiding pork. Let’s explore which candies contain pork gelatin and look at vegan alternatives.
Common Candies Containing Pork Gelatin
Here are some of the most popular candies containing pork gelatin with suitable substitutes:
Gummy Bears
The quintessential chewy candy, gummy bears count pork gelatin as their main ingredient. Vegan alternatives include:
- Annie’s Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks
- Surf Sweets Organic Fruit Snacks
- Black Forest Organic Gummy Bears
Marshmallows
Both big puffy camping marshmallows and small marshmallow bits contain pork gelatin. Instead try:
- Sweet & Sara Vegan Marshmallows
- Dandies Vegan Marshmallows
- Trader Joe’s Vegan Marshmallows
Candy Corn
The triangular Halloween staple relies on pork gelatin for its signature texture. Enjoy Plant Pantry Candy Corn from Target or YumEarth Organic Vegan Candy Corn for your fall festivities instead.
Starburst Gummies
These chewy fruit candies pack pork gelatin in their ingredients list. Turn to Panda All Natural Licorice instead to get your chewy candy fix.
Nerds
The tiny crunchy candies in their distinctive boxes contain pork-derived gelatin. Skip them and pop some Smarties or SweeTarts for a vegan-friendly fruity tartness.
Altoids
Although minty and not overtly chewy, these classic mints hide pork gelatin in their ingredients. Seek out Ice Chips Xylitol Candy Canes for a refreshing wintery flavor instead.
Certain Chewing Gums
Some gums, like stick gum and pellet gum, rely on pork gelatin for their texture. Opt for Simply Gum, Neuro Gum, or any gum made with synthetic rubber instead.
Popular Candies Without Pork Gelatin
Luckily, many classic candies shine through with vegan formulations:
- Skittles – Chewy fruit-flavored candy
- Jolly Rancher Gummies – Bold fruit gummy flavors
- Airheads – Chewy fruity taffy
- Swedish Fish – Chewy fish-shaped red candy
- Sour Patch Kids – Tart chewy candy
- Jolly Ranchers – Hard fruit-flavored candy
- Laffy Taffy – Chewy fruit and flavor candy
- Smarties – Tart fizzy candy discs
- SweeTarts/SweeTarts Ropes – Zesty chewy candy
- Tootsie Rolls – Chocolate chewy candy
- Dum Dums – Fruit and cream lollipops
- Blow Pops – Chewy lollipops with bubblegum
- Charms Blow Pops – Lollipops filled with liquid fruit candy
Plus, many dark chocolates happen to be vegan too! Some delicious options include:
- Endangered Species Dark Chocolate
- Theo Dark Chocolate Bars
- Pascha Organic Dark Chocolate Bars
- Equal Exchange Organic Dark Chocolate
Identifying Pork Gelatin on Ingredients Lists
Since companies can change their recipes at any time, always check the label each time you purchase a candy to look for these pork-derived ingredients:
- Gelatin – Obviously derived from pork sources
- Lard – Made from rendered pork fat
- Animal fat – Usually made from pork
- Glycerides – Can come from pork fat
- Hydrolyzed animal protein – Usually pork-based
Sometimes gelatin derived from fish may be used, which would be listed specifically as “fish gelatin”.
Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth Guilt-Free
When you have a candy craving, don’t despair. With a careful read of the ingredients and selection of vegan candies without pork gelatin, you can indulge deliciously. Skittles, Swedish Fish, Airheads, and dark chocolate offer plenty of sweetness. For a chewy texture, reach for Jolly Rancher Gummies, YumEarth Vegan Gummy Bears, or Surf Sweets Fruit Snacks.
While it may seem surprising at first, many popular candies do contain undisclosed animal ingredients like pork. However, with greater awareness and selection of vegan candies now available, satisfying your sweet tooth while sticking to your vegan diet is totally possible.
What candy has pork in it?
Does yogurt contain pork as an ingredient?
Some manufacturers use pork-derived gelatin to thicken yogurt in a few different brands and types. However, most natural, no flavored yogurt does not contain added sugar and gelatin, giving you a better chance of not having pork in your yogurt.
What foods contain pork gelatin?
Fish oil supplements and omega-3-enriched foods, such as eggs and milk, sometimes contain pork gelatin in the form of softgel capsules or as a stabilizer. Look for vegan or vegetarian omega-3 products that use algae-based DHA and EPA sources and plant-based alternatives to gelatin.
Does chewing gum contain pork gelatin?
Pork gelatin can be found in some yogurt products, particularly fruit-flavored varieties, to help thicken and stabilize the texture. To avoid gelatin, opt for plain yogurt or look for brands that use alternative thickeners, such as pectin or agar-agar. Chewing gum often contains pork gelatin as a softening agent.
Is candy cane vegan?
Their Hard Candy, Lollipops, Stix Candy, Candy Canes, Awesome Twosome Bites, and Jelly Beans are all vegan options that contain no pork gelatin or other animal-derived ingredients. The same cannot be said about their Chews or their Jelly Hearts which have gelatin as one of their main ingredients.