Are Starbursts Vegan, And Do They Contain Gelatin? (2024)

FAQs

Are Starbursts Vegan, And Do They Contain Gelatin? ›

Starburst candies and chews made in the United States are sadly not vegan. They contain animal-derived products including gelatin, which is sourced from animal bones and skin, and confectioner's glaze, made from the secretions of lac beetles.

Why Most Starburst Candies Are Not Vegan. Like many chewy candies, Starburst chews, gummies, and airs rely on animal-based gelatin to provide that familiar, toothy texture. But other, less familiar animal products also lurk in these seemingly sweet ingredients generally made from small animals.

Because animal-derived components such as confectioner's glaze (produced from lac beetle secretions) and gelatin (an ingredient sourced from collagen found in animal bones) are used in most Starburst candies, they are not vegan.

Other varieties

In 2021, Starburst released their first vegan gummy candy in the US. A range of non-taffy Starburst products for the Australian and New Zealand markets were produced from 1997 to 2020; products included 'Snakes' gummies and 'Sucks' lollipops.

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.

Candies with a toothy texture often contain gelatin, a byproduct of the beef and pork industries. But lucky for vegans, Twizzlers do not contain gelatin or other animal products. The Hershey Company, however, only lists specific varieties as vegan-friendly. Find out more in our vegan guide to Twizzlers.

While the fruity and natural flavors of Starburst can be tempting, due to the inclusion of beef gelatin in the ingredients list in the USA, American versions of Starburst would be haram.

"Our Starburst products are imported from Europe and, like many businesses that are importing products from overseas, the brand has been exposed to supply chain difficulties and rising cost pressures over the last two years," a spokesperson for the company said.

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.

Do Airheads have gelatin in them? Yes, three varieties of Airheads do contain animal-based gelatin: Soft Filled Bites, Xtremes Sourfuls, and Gummies. Other varieties include other animal products, while others are generally considered vegan-friendly.

Do jolly ranchers have gelatin? ›

Yes there is gelatin in the jolly ranchers.

Unlike many similar sweets, Skittles do not contain gelatin. The major candy brand removed it from the ingredients over a decade ago. There may be some confusion among some Skittles fans, though, as they are only labeled as suitable for vegetarians, not vegans, in some countries.

Since Sour Patch Kids don't contain gelatin, the only vegan-questionable ingredient is sugar, which strict vegans evaluate based on processing. Otherwise, the natural and artificial flavors, colors, and texturizers are all plant-based or were created synthetically in a lab.

Starburst in the US

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.

Twizzlers: All Twizzler candy flavors are vegan and don't have gelatin or dairy.

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.

Ingredients : SUGAR, GELATIN, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF THE FOLLOWING: FUMARIC ACID, SODIUM CITRATE, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, MALIC ACID, SUCRALOSE, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM, YELLOW 5, YELLOW 6.

Why are Starbursts, marshmallows, and Jell-O not vegan? These seemingly innocent products contain gelatin. The use of this ingredient means these foods and others are not only unsuitable for vegans, but prohibited for vegetarians as well.

If you're a long-time vegan, you may have been avoiding Skittles and other candies that contain gelatin—a food texturizer rendered from animals. Fortunately, you can now taste the rainbow in a variety of flavors without breaking your plant-based diet. Skittles no longer uses gelatin in its chewy candies.

It's not safe to eat Starburst wrappers. Although Starburst wrappers aren't harmful in small quantities, you should avoid eating them. They're not designed for consumption and could pose health risks if consumed in large amounts.