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 Candy
Candy 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:
- Gelatin: made from boiled animal bones and tendons, especially used in gummy candies
- Carmine: also known as “Natural Red 4”, or shellac, this natural colour is made from crushed insects
- Rennet: scraped from the inside of calf stomachs, often used in cheese making and might be used to produce whey
- Pepsin (digestive enzyme from animals)
- Lard (fat from pigs)
- “E” numbers 904, 120, 542 (see below)
Vegan Candy
Candy 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:
- Gelatin, carmine, rennet, pepsin, lard
- Milk chocolate
- Casein, whey
- Butter
- Lactose
- Honey
- Beeswax
The International Vegetarian Union (IVU) has compiled a list of “E” numbers that definitely contain animal ingredients and should be avoided, including:
- 120 (cochineal/insects/carmine)
- 542 (derived from bone)
- 901 (beeswax)
- 904 (shellac/insects)
- 920 (L-cysteine hydrochloride; derived from hair and feathers)
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
- Airheads taffy
- Blow pops,
- Hubba Bubba
- Jolly Ranchers hard candy,
- Twizzlers licorice.
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 Alternatives
Looking 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:
- Vegan tofu jerky
- Raisins
- Individually-wrapped dark chocolate
- Lunchbox-sized cookies like Teddy Grahams
- Hard candies
Received Non-vegan / Non-vegetarian Candy?
If sending the kids out to treat-or-treat, set the ground rules first. For example,
- It is polite to accept all candy when trick-or-treating, but non-veg treats will be removed at home. Consider donating this candy to charity or shelters.
- Try trading the kids their non-veg candy for a special homemade goody-bag.
- Show the kids some examples of vegan/vegetarian candy before they leave. If choice is offered when trick-or-treating, they can choose an appropriate candy.
- Trick-or-treat at houses of friends and family who make or dish out animal-free treats
Other Halloween Ideas
- Halloween can be a glutinous holiday. Consider the environment when choosing a costume: give old costumes a recycle with new accessories or use old or second hand clothing to create a new masterpiece.
- Keep in mind that other things besides food are not vegan: besides the gelatin used to create “brains” in haunted houses, what about face paint, masks, and leather accessories?
- Talk to family and friends about vegetarian and vegan candy. Most people would not even consider this aspect of vegetarianism, or might think it is "cruel" to deprive kids of their holiday. Working together, appropriate vegan / vegetarian alternatives are possible, and much less scary.
Resources and References:
- International Vegetarian Unions: Frequently Asked Questions - Common Foods.
- PetaKids.com: Vegan Candy is Dandy.
