What Candies Are 100% Vegan? A Clear List You Can Trust

Ever bought a candy bar, excited to enjoy it, only to check the ingredients and find milk powder, gelatin, or honey? You’re not alone. Many people assume all sweets are vegan-until they read the fine print. The truth? Not all candies are created equal. Some are packed with animal-derived ingredients you wouldn’t expect. But there are plenty of candies that are 100% vegan, made without dairy, eggs, gelatin, beeswax, or shellac. And yes, you can still enjoy chocolate, gummies, hard candies, and even sour patches without compromising your values.

What Makes a Candy Non-Vegan?

It’s not just about chocolate. Many popular candies contain hidden animal products. Gelatin, for example, comes from boiled animal bones, skin, and connective tissue. It’s in gummy bears, jelly beans, marshmallows, and even some chewy candies. Dairy is another big one-milk powder, whey, and casein show up in chocolate bars, caramels, and cream-filled treats. Honey is used in some hard candies and fruit chews, and shellac (a resin secreted by insects) coats candies like Junior Mints and Hershey’s Kisses to give them a shiny finish.

Even some candies that look innocent can have animal-derived ingredients. For example, red dye #40 is often plant-based, but carmine (also called cochineal) is made from crushed beetles. It’s used in some red and pink candies, especially in the UK and Europe. Always check the label. If you see ‘natural flavors’ or ‘glycerin’ without a source listed, it could be animal-based.

100% Vegan Candies You Can Buy Right Now

Here’s a practical list of candies that are reliably vegan-no guesswork needed. These are widely available in the UK, US, and online, and their ingredients are confirmed by manufacturers or verified by vegan certification groups like the Vegan Society.

• Starburst (UK version) - The UK version uses fruit juice and plant-based colors. The US version contains gelatin, so check your country’s label.
• Skittles (standard, not Sour or Wild Berry) - No gelatin, no dairy, no shellac. The sugar is processed without bone char in the UK.
• Twizzlers - The classic red licorice is vegan. No gelatin, no dairy. Just sugar, corn syrup, and flavor.
• Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (Vegan Version) - The original has dairy, but the new Reese’s Plant Based Cups are made with oat milk and certified vegan.
• Dark Chocolate Bars (70%+ cocoa) - Brands like Lindt Excellence 70%, Green & Black’s Organic Dark, and Hotel Chocolat 85% are dairy-free. Always check for ‘milk’ allergen warnings.
• Smarties (UK) - These are vegan. No animal ingredients, no shellac, no dairy. They’re made with sugar, glucose syrup, and natural colors.
• Jolly Ranchers (hard candies) - No gelatin, no dairy. Just sugar, corn syrup, and flavoring.
• Mike and Ikes - The original version is vegan. No gelatin. Check the packaging for ‘may contain milk’ warnings, but the base ingredients are plant-based.
• Swedish Fish - Made with corn syrup and fruit juice. No gelatin, no dairy. A classic vegan gummy.
• Now and Later - Soft and chewy, these are gelatin-free and made with plant-based ingredients.

Brands like YumEarth, Enjoy Life, and VeganSweets offer a wide range of certified vegan candies, including lollipops, gummies, and chocolate-covered treats. You’ll find them in health food stores, major supermarkets like Tesco and Sainsbury’s, and online retailers like Amazon or VeganEssentials.co.uk.

What to Watch Out For

Just because a candy is labeled ‘natural’ or ‘no artificial flavors’ doesn’t mean it’s vegan. Here are red flags to scan for:

• Gelatin - Found in gummies, marshmallows, jelly candies, and some chocolate-covered treats.
• Shellac - Used as a glaze on hard candies and pills. Look for ‘confectioner’s glaze’ or ‘resinous glaze’ on the label.
• Carmine or Cochineal - Gives red and pink candies their color. Also called E120 or natural red 4.
• Beeswax - Sometimes used in chewy candies or as a coating. Not always listed clearly.
• Whey or casein - Hidden in chocolate-flavored candies, caramel, and creamy fillings.
• Honey - Common in fruit chews, energy bars, and some hard candies.

Even if a candy doesn’t list any obvious animal ingredients, always check the allergen statement. If it says ‘may contain milk’ or ‘processed in a facility with dairy,’ it doesn’t mean it contains dairy-it just means cross-contamination is possible. For strict vegans, that’s a personal choice. Many choose to avoid these, while others are fine with it.

How to Spot Vegan Candy Quickly

You don’t need to memorize every ingredient. Here’s a simple trick:

1. Look for the Vegan Society logo or Vegan Action seal on the packaging. It’s the easiest way to be sure.
2. Check the ingredients list for gelatin, whey, casein, honey, or shellac. If any are present, skip it.
3. Look at the allergen info. If it says ‘contains milk’ or ‘may contain milk,’ it’s not vegan unless it’s a plant-based version (like Reese’s Plant Based).
4. When in doubt, search the brand + ‘vegan’ on Google. Most companies now have a dedicated vegan product page.

Apps like Is It Vegan? and HappyCow can scan barcodes and tell you instantly if a candy is vegan. They’re handy when you’re shopping in a store and don’t have time to read every label.

Homemade Vegan Candy Ideas

If you like making things yourself, you can easily create vegan candies at home. Try:

• Dark chocolate-dipped strawberries - Use dairy-free chocolate and fresh fruit.
• Coconut date balls - Blend dates, shredded coconut, cocoa powder, and a pinch of salt. Roll into bites.
• Homemade gummies - Use agar-agar (a seaweed-based gel) instead of gelatin. Add fruit juice for flavor.
• Maple caramel squares - Cook maple syrup with coconut cream and sea salt. Chill and cut into squares.

These are healthier, cheaper, and you control every ingredient. Plus, they make great gifts for friends who are vegan or just curious.

Why This Matters

Choosing vegan candy isn’t just about avoiding animal products. It’s about supporting ethical production, reducing environmental impact, and making informed choices. The global vegan candy market is growing fast-projected to hit $1.8 billion by 2027. More brands are responding because people care about what’s in their food.

And the good news? You don’t have to sacrifice taste. Vegan candies today are just as sweet, chewy, and satisfying as the ones made with animal ingredients. You can enjoy a candy bar without guilt, without compromise, and without wondering what you’re really eating.

Where to Buy Vegan Candy in the UK

You don’t need to order online to find vegan candy. Major UK supermarkets stock them:

• Tesco - Own-brand vegan chocolates, YumEarth gummies, and vegan jelly sweets.
• Sainsbury’s - Offers Enjoy Life snacks and vegan chocolate bars under their ‘Free From’ range.
• Waitrose - Carries Green & Black’s dark chocolate and vegan licorice.
• Boots - Has vegan gummies and sugar-free options in the health aisle.
• Whole Foods Market - Wide selection of certified vegan candies and international treats.

Online stores like VeganEssentials.co.uk and TheVeganShop.co.uk offer curated boxes with seasonal treats-perfect for holidays or gifts.

Final Tip: Always Check the Label

Recipes change. Brands reformulate. A candy that was vegan last year might not be this year. Always read the ingredients. Even small changes-like switching from cane sugar to beet sugar-can affect whether it’s vegan. When in doubt, contact the company. Most have customer service emails or chatbots that answer quickly.

Being vegan doesn’t mean giving up sweets. It means being smarter about what you eat. And with so many delicious, clearly labeled options out there, you can enjoy candy the way it should be-sweet, simple, and kind.