Sour Patch Kids are a popular gummy candy, that has been around since the late 1970s and is known for its initial sour flavor that turns sweet! But you may be wondering, are Sour Patch Kids vegan-friendly?
We will discuss the ingredients of these sweet treats below so you can decide whether or not they fit into your vegan lifestyle.
What are the ingredients in sour patch kids?
Sugar, invert sugar, corn syrup, modified corn starch, tartaric acid, citric acid, natural and artificial flavor, yellow 6, red 40, yellow 5, blue 1.
Based on the ingredients list for the original Sour Patch Kids, they do not contain any animal-derived ingredients, making them suitable for vegans to consume. So, if you are avoiding foods that contain animal products, Sour Patch Kids should be safe to enjoy. Some vegans, however, may still choose to avoid them based on some controversial ingredients, which we will discuss below.
Sugar
Sugar is the first ingredient in Sour Patch Kids, and many other types of candy. Cane sugar, however, is often a controversial ingredient for vegans. While sugar itself is not an animal product, the refining process can be non-vegan in some cases. The process of sugar suppliers differ, but sugar is sometimes processed using bone char, which is derived from the ground bones of cattle.
If the ingredients list of a product does not specify the source of the sugar it uses, it is difficult to determine if it is cruelty-free. Some vegans avoid refined sugar for this reason, so whether or not you decide to consume it is up to you.
If the ingredients list of a product lists beet sugar as the sweetener, you can be confident that this ingredient is vegan as beet sugar is derived from beets and is not processed using animal bones.
Artificial Colors
Sour Patch Kids get their bright colors from the artificial dyes yellow 6, red 40, yellow 5, and blue 1. Some vegans choose to avoid artificial dyes due to concerns over animal testing on rats and mice during their production process, but they are artificial and are not made using any animal products.
Natural and Artificial Flavor
The ingredients list does not specify the source of the natural and artificial flavors in Sour Patch Kids. If you are concerned that the natural flavors may be derived from animal products, you can reach out to the producer of Sour Patch Kids, Mondelez International. Some vegans choose to consume natural and artificial flavors, and others do not over concerns about sourcing and animal testing.
Are sour patch kids watermelon vegan?
These sour candies also come in a watermelon variety. The ingredients list for Sour Patch Kids Watermelon is:
Sugar, Invert Sugar, Corn Syrup, Modified Corn Starch, Citric Acid, Tartaric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Titanium Dioxide, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Blue 1
Sour Patch Kids Watermelon flavor does not contain any non-vegan ingredients. As long as you choose to consume sugar, natural/artificial flavors, and artificial colors they can also be considered vegan-friendly.
Do sour patch kids contain gelatin?
Gelatin is a common ingredient in chewy candies as it serves as an aerator to give them their signature texture. Gelatin, however, is typically derived from the skin, ligaments, tendons, and bones of pigs and cows, and therefore is not vegan-friendly.
Sour Patch Kids do not contain gelatin. It uses modified cornstarch, a plant-based ingredient, to achieve its chewy texture.
Are sour patch kids gluten-free?
Neither Sour Patch Kids nor Sour Patch Kids Watermelon are made with gluten ingredients, and therefore they are both gluten-free!
Vegan gummy candy options
If you are looking to take the guesswork out of your sweet snacks and want some options for gummy candies that you can be confident are vegan, check out the list below!
- Surf Sweets Organic Fruity Bears - these fruity bears are perfect if you love gummy candy, but don't wants something sour! They do not include any controversial ingredients.
- Yum Earth Organic Sour Giggles - this candy is labeled vegan so you can be sure that the natural and artificial flavors are not derived from animals.
- Project 7 Sour Gummy Worms- the brand Project 7 makes a variety of vegan candies that do not use gelatin and are made with organic cane sugar, which is cruelty-free.
- Candy People Sour Viking - this candy carries the vegan logo and is also certified gluten-free! It includes a variety of flavors like orange, lemon, and strawberry!
- Smart Sweets Sour Blast Buddies - these candies are made with prebiotic soluble fiber (which is totally vegan) to achieve that classic gummy texture!
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