- Fact Checked
Last Updated: November 4, 2019
Gummy bears look as adorable as they taste delicious and why should going vegan mean you can’t eat bear? Well, those that are also gummy candies at least and honestly who has ever said “mmm gelatin, such a lovely flavor”? But we’ll get stuck into that particular gelatinous mess a little later.Gummy bears are a chewy, fruity, sweet that take you back to your childhood. Whether you want it as a treat for yourself or your kids, here’s our pick of the tastiest vegan gummies on the market.
If you’re looking to find some vegan gummy bears of your own, there are a few common ingredients that make them definitely not vegan to watch out for.
This is the main reason a lot of gummies are animal-based. Gelatin is a binding agent and is what is usually used to give them that bouncy gummy texture. It’s made from all the parts of animals that the rest of the industry throws away, like hooves, skin, ground bones, and even connective tissue. I know, yummy right?
Watch out for candy that has a gummy texture, as it often contains gelatin. Be sure to check the ingredients list on the label.
PETA
There are plenty of plant-based and animal-friendly alternatives to be found that still give that gelatinous texture and some of the most common are agar agar, carrageenan, and pectin, which are prepared from either seaweed or fruit (see jackfruit) peel.
Another common ingredient used in gummy bears and other candies that will make them not vegan is beeswax (see also ‘ Can Vegans Use Beeswax Products? ‘). It’s not added for flavor, texture, or consistency at all.
Instead, it’s used as a coating to stop the candy from sticking to each other.
This makes it either unnecessary or easily replaced.Honey and beeswax are examples of an ingredient that some vegans disagree on. It’s produced by melting down honeycomb with boiling water and then straining it. Some vegans think honey is okay, but realistically they can only back this up on a local level with farms or keepers they know and trust.
On large commercial farms, the queen bee often has her wings removed and is artificially inseminated against her will on a “rape rack”, not too mention the countless bees that are crushed to death with haphazard collection technique.
This is the ingredient that can trip you up the easiest. It’s also the one with a little bit of wiggle to it. Well, depending on if you’re okay with munching on bugs or not.
A lot of candy and especially gummy bears may not contain gelatin, but you still won’t find vegan labelling, and that might be because of red food color number 4. The red dye is derived from thousands of crushed up beetles. I know, almost as yummy as gelatin right?The majority of the gummies on our list are all organic and use natural food colorings. Some others in the market might still be vegan and use artificial colors, but don’t be worried by all of them.
Red food color number 40 is a common alternative and completely vegan — no beetles were harmed.
It’s true that vegan gummy bears are typically made from organic or all-natural ingredients, but it doesn’t mean they are healthy. Obviously, they are a little better for your health than regular gummy bears might be, but they are still candy and should only be eaten in moderation.
The significant health risk they present is sugar content at varying levels.
I’m sure I don’t need to lecture you on why sugar is something you want to avoid in high numbers on any health and wellbeing level. That doesn’t mean to avoid it completely though. Gummy bears like these, when portion-controlled and eaten as part of a balanced diet, are fine.
No, vegan gummy bears won’t make you poop. This is likely confusion from a different viral gummy bear story. The story centers around some sugar-free gummy bears and the reviews that were left on their Amazon listing.
They are either comedy genius or a gross and graphic account of the gastronomic terror that can be wrought on a human body.The likely reason for the problem was sugar alcohol found in the ingredient lycasin. It’s less calorie-dense than sugar and doesn’t affect blood sugar as much so is often used in products marketed to people with diabetes (lose weight while diabetic). It does have one major drawback though, and that is in some cases — serious and uncontrollable diarrhea.You don’t have to worry about that with the vegan gummy bears, the ingredients are all-natural, and I’ve personally, painstakingly tried every delicious bag with no such problem.
No, Haribo gummy bears are not vegan — they’re made using gelatin. In Turkey where they make halal/kosher Haribo, they use bovine gelatin, but typically pork gelatin is used in their products. The company has recently made a vegan soft gummy without the use of gelatin, but as of the time of writing the gelatin alternative is still the most common.
That’s our pick of the best vegan gummy bears available, and it’s hard to choose a winner when they’re all so delightfully delicious in their own special ways. But for me, you can’t find finer gummies than Kanibi Organic Gummies.
The company has committed to producing only ethical products that they believe in, and that means that the taste has to be right too. It’s all vegan and 100% organic, and I’m as happy to support that as I am to enjoy Organi Gummies.
What’s your favorite vegan gummy bear? Have I missed a contender for the top spot, I’ll happily continue my research, just drop us a comment below.
.
At VL, our story is one of overcoming the challenges life has thrown our way. We’ve faced personal and professional setbacks, endured mental and physical struggles, and emerged with a deep understanding of how to live with intention. Over the past 35 years, we’ve committed to building a life centered around health, happiness, and purpose. This site is a result of those experiences, designed to help others, like you, navigate times of change and discover opportunities for growth. We would be honored to have you join us on this path toward a fulfilling future.
Address: 1300 Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente, CA 92673, United States | Phone Number: +1 (949) 248-0131 | Email: contact@veganliftz.com