Skittles Vegan Status
What makes something vegan? In addition to cutting out meat, vegans diets also exclude dairy products, eggs and honey from their diet, as well as any other byproducts of animal agriculture like tallow, whey, or gelatin.
With that in mind, the simple answer is: yes. Skittles Classic Fruits are suitable for vegans.
Though the bag only brands them as ‘Suitable For Vegetarians’, classic Skittles do have a vegan friendly status as they contain no animal products. But could there be more to consider? We think so.
Are All Skittles Vegan?
Most types of Skittles are considered vegan, but not all. While Skittles Classic Fruits, Skittles Sour, Skittles Tropical and Wild Berry Skittles are all currently suitable for vegans, some special editions such as the Once in a Blue Moon Skittles are not, as the blue skittles contain animal product derivatives.
As limited edition packs can differ with their ingredients, we recommend always checking the ingredients list of any past or future limited edition packs to double check for animal derived products if you want to be really safe!
Skittles Ingredients
Though like many other sweets the main ingredients of Skittles are coloured sugars and artificial additives, none of which contain animal products. However, the ingredients haven’t always looked like this.
Although gelatin was (thankfully) removed from Skittles over a decade ago, another ingredient called Carmine (AKA Cochineal Extract, E120) was only scrapped from the ingredients list in around 2015, so some older bags of Skittles that are floating around might still contain this product.
E120 is a natural red food colour taken from a species of insects called Cochineal that live on different succulents, making it an animal byproduct unsuitable for vegans.
We admit that it’s unlikely that you’ll happen upon a pre-2015 bag of Skittles anytime soon, but we think it’s always best to check the ingredients list just in case!
Vegan Considerations
Although Skittles no longer contain animal products, there are still some considerations to make as a vegan before tasting the rainbow! You may want to consider the wider company you are funding and their overall vegan status.
As Skittles are owned by parent company Mars, who have been known to test on animals in the past, you need to make some decisions about how strict your vegan diet should be. If you were to cut out all companies that have ever tested on animals you might not have much left to eat! But that choice is yours.
Another consideration to make is how you feel about palm oil. Palm oil production is widely known to be disastrous for the environment and for the animals within it. The production of palm oil has leveled forests, destroyed habitats and caused animal extinction, amongst other things. By destroying forests to make room for plantation development, wildlife lose their homes and their lives.
Though more companies are making efforts to get rid of palm oil from their products, it is still rife in the sweet industry. As Skittles contain palm oil as one of their ingredients, you should make an informed decision about whether or not you feel comfortable buying their products.
The Verdict
So we have established that most Skittles are suitable for vegans, with some considerations, but at the end of the day only you can make the choice when it comes to the suitability of Skittles in your vegan diet.
That might all depend on the reason you are vegan. If strict vegan ethics and sustainability are a core value to you, then we recommend steering clear of Skittles and maybe finding something minus the palm oil to satisfy that sweet tooth in the future!
Find Delicious Vegan Snack Hampers and Other Free-From Sweet Treats Today at The Goodness Project!
At The Goodness Project, we provide delicious free-from snacks to satisfy your cravings completely ethically. Find a sweet treat in one of our vegan treat boxes or boost morale in the office with some tasty vegan treats for colleagues!
Not only do we offer the best vegan snacks and gifts, but we have years of knowledge and experience to back us up. Find vegan recipes, ideas and more on our expert blog, or contact us today to find out more!
FAQs
Key Takeaways. Skittles removed non-vegan ingredients like gelatin and carmine, so all flavors are now vegan-friendly, but individual ethical concerns may vary. Ingredients like corn syrup and colorings are vegan, but sugar's potential use of bone char and palm oil's environmental impact pose ethical considerations.
Which Skittles are vegan? ›
Most types of Skittles are considered vegan, but not all. While Skittles Classic Fruits, Skittles Sour, Skittles Tropical and Wild Berry Skittles are all currently suitable for vegans, some special editions such as the Once in a Blue Moon Skittles are not, as the blue skittles contain animal product derivatives.
Are Skittles vegan in 2024? ›
Yes, at the time of writing in 2024, original Skittles are vegan. Giant Skittles, Smoothies Skittles, Tropical Skittles, Chewies Skittles, Wild Berry Skittles, Darkside Skittles and Crazy Sours Skittles are all vegan too. The only Skittles that are not vegan are Squishy Cloudz because they contain gelatine.
Do Skittles have gelatin in them? ›
Skittles are multicolored button-shaped fruit-flavored sweets that were first sold in 1974. They are created by Mars, Inc, and marketed by the Wrigley Company, one of its divisions. Unlike many similar sweets, Skittles do not contain gelatin. The major candy brand removed it from the ingredients over a decade ago.
Are Skittles or Starburst vegan? ›
Many people assume that these chewy, fruit-flavored candies are fine for vegans to eat. Unfortunately, in the US, they contain an ingredient that vegans will want to avoid: gelatin.
Is Starburst vegan? ›
Starbursts were launched in the USA in 1967, and have since become hugely popular in the country. Unfortunately for American plant-based eaters, however, they feature gelatin in their ingredients. This means that they aren't suitable for vegans or vegetarians.
Are twizzlers vegan? ›
Twizzlers
Whether you choose classic strawberry, strawberry smoothie or the caramel apple filled twists, you can be sure that they are a vegan-friendly product.
Are Oreos vegan? ›
Many vegans refer to Oreos as “accidentally vegan,” meaning they don't contain animal products — but they weren't created to be a specifically vegan treat. Oreos do not contain milk, eggs, or any other animal-derived products, so they are technically vegan in that sense.
Do red Skittles have beetle blood? ›
Is it true that the Skittles candy is made out of bugs? - Quora. Not at all. They used to simply use a chemical produced by bugs to as natural colourings to the sweets prior to 2009.
Are Doritos vegan? ›
Since 1966, Doritos has satisfied customers' snack cravings with their flavored tortilla chips. But unfortunately for vegans, only one variety is vegan-friendly: Spicy Sweet Chili. The other Doritos flavors contain various dairy products and animal-derived flavors, none of which are vegan.
Skittles gummies are not halal because they contain gelatin. Gelatin is a protein gotten by boiling the skin, tendon, ligament, and bones of animals with water. It is commonly sourced from pigs and, for this reason, is unsuitable for Muslims.
Are Mentos vegan? ›
Quite a few options from Mentos are suitable for vegans, but it's always worth checking the ingredients list. If beeswax or carmine (a red food colouring derived from beetles) are listed then the product isn't going to be vegan-friendly.
Are M&M's vegan? ›
Are any M&Ms Vegan? Unfortunately upon further inspection, no m&m's are vegan. Not even some of the flavoured ones like peanut m&m or the crispy m&m. While the obvious reason might be the inclusion of dairy products in the milk chocolate with the main ingredient being milk products - skim milk, there are other reasons.
Are Jolly Ranchers vegan? ›
JOLLY RANCHER candies are not vegan. Are JOLLY RANCHER candies gluten free? JOLLY RANCHER products do not contain gluten ingredients. Always refer to each package for current ingredients and allergen statements to make an informed decision about Hershey products.
Is Laffy Taffy vegan? ›
Laffy Taffy is vegan when it's fun-sized.
The fun-sized versions of Laffy Taffy candies are vegan-friendly. But, be cautious with the larger version, it is not vegan because it contains eggs.
Are sour patch kids vegan? ›
By standard definitions, regular Sour Patch Kids candies are vegan because they don't contain animal products. However, the sugar in all of the Sour Patch Kids candies was likely, at least in part, processed with animal bone char. That may be reason enough for some vigilant vegans to abstain.
Are the yellow Skittles vegan? ›
The mainstream varieties of Skittles do not contain any animal-derived ingredients. However, it's best to read the label for special edition varieties, which may use ingredients not found in the original varieties.
Are Skittles Giants vegan? ›
A sharing size pouch of Skittles Giants sweets 141 grams. Skittles Giants Fruits bag includes Orange, Lime, Lemon, Blackcurrant and Strawberry flavours. Suitable for Vegetarians. Suitable for vegans.
Are shell less Skittles vegan? ›
Softer texture!. Suitable for Vegetarians. Suitable for vegans. Keep cool and dry.
Are Ring Pops vegan? ›
Although traditional Ring Pops are generally considered vegan-friendly, Ring Pop Gummies are certainly not vegan. These chewy cousins of regular Ring Pops contain gelatin. This ingredient is a protein that comes straight from animals.
