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Candy and childhood go hand in hand, especially at Halloween. Vegetarians and vegans may have a hard time finding candy that fit their needs.
Candy often contains ingredients that do not fit with a vegetarian or vegan diet. To read about what vegetarians and vegans do and do not eat, read What is a Vegetarian? first. Vegetarian CandyCandy is not vegetarian if it contains ingredients derived from animal flesh. Vegetarian candy can contain eggs, dairy products, and milk. Examples of ingredients that are not vegetarian are:
Vegan CandyCandy is vegan if it does not contain any animal parts or by-products, including milk, dairy products, honey or eggs. Some vegans do not consume sugar that has been filtered through bone char – an animal product. As most commercial candies do not use unfiltered (unprocessed) sugar, and do not specify whether their sugar is filtered through bone char, it might be harder to find alternatives. Look for products containing natural sugars like molasses or cane sugar. Vegans do not eat:
The International Vegetarian Union (IVU) has compiled a list of “E” numbers that definitely contain animal ingredients and should be avoided, including:
See the IVU website for additional un-numbered derivatives in the UK. What candies are vegetarian/vegan?Candy manufacturers may change their formulas at any time; therefore, it is important to check the most updated ingredient listing on the package or by contacting the company. Keep in mind that information on the Internet might refer to specific regions or countries only; for example, Smarties are a fruit-flavoured candies (and vegan) in the United States but in Canada they are chocolates, containing lactose and milk ingredients. Some natural colours and flavours are animal-derived. Check with the regulations in your country or with the manufacturer to determine which these are. One of the most common examples is Natural Red 4, which is actually crushed cochineal beetle. Some candies on the Peta vegan candy list are
Spending a little bit more money or searching out more “gourmet” alternatives might yield a better chance of finding vegan treats. For example, Starburst Jelly Belly brand jellybeans do not contain gelatin, and specialty or health food stores (including Whole Foods) usually carry gelatin-free gummy candy. Candy Ideas and AlternativesLooking for vegan candies to shell out? Look for lunchbox-sized version of vegan treats and candies, not just those specifically made for Halloween. Some other ideas include:
Received Non-vegan / Non-vegetarian Candy?If sending the kids out to treat-or-treat, set the ground rules first. For example,
Other Halloween Ideas
Resources and References:
The copyright of the article Vegetarian and Vegan Halloween in Vegetarian Issues is owned by Jill Harris. Permission to republish Vegetarian and Vegan Halloween in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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Oct 12, 2008 5:17 PM
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