

The cochineal lives on cacti in parts of Central and South America.

Unfortunately, carmine is not vegan as it comes from an insect called cochineal. It’s a red dye that essentially provides gummies with their dark-red color. Some gummy bears may include an ingredient called natural red dye or natural red 4, and in some instances, it may also be labeled as carmine or cochineal extract. In other words, these ingredients must be obtained through ethical beekeeping, a term that isn’t acceptable among most vegans. Some vegans argue that honey and beeswax can both be vegan as long as the bees are not hurt in the process, and as long as the beekeeper leaves enough honey for the bees to thrive. It gives the gummies shine and prevents them from sticking together in the bag.īeeswax (also termed as Cera alba in some labels) is a naturally occurring wax produced by honey bees to build honeycombs, the structure needed to store honey and safeguard younger bees. Used since the beginning of civilization, beeswax coats gummies like the Haribos at the end of the production process. Some of the better-known alternatives are called pectin, agar-agar, and carrageenan, and they’re either made from seaweed or fruit peel. The good news is that you can easily find alternatives. Sadly, it’s made from the leftovers discarded by the meat industry, and it usually includes parts like hooves, skin, ground bones, and even connective tissue. Gelatin is a binding agent and is essentially what gives gummy bears their unique gummy texture.

Gelatin is the main reason why a lot of the regular gummy bears are not vegan. Here are some of the ingredients that you might want to avoid: Gelatin Unfortunately, regular gummy bears contain ingredients that are not vegan, and as such you need to be mindful of the ingredients you ought to avoid when purchasing a vegan alternative. What To Look Out For When Buying Vegan Gummy Bears Maltitol, Soluble Tapioca Syrup, Purified Water, Organic Erythritol, Xylitol, Pectin, Citric Acid, Natural Orange Flavor, Sodium Citrate, Magnesium Citrate, Tricalcium Phosphate, Organic Stevia Leaf Extract, Evaporated Coconut Water, and Organic Sunflower Oil.

In this article, we’re going to explore in detail each of the vegan gummy bears, learn how vegan gummy bears can be made, and I’ll even share with you an amazing recipe to make vegan gummy bears at home. Trader Joe’s Scandinavian Swimmers Gummy.Here are the 10 best gelatin-free vegan gummy bears: And while it may be difficult to find some of these vegan alternatives in a grocery store near you, there’s no better place than online to find them. Most gummy bears are not vegan, hence why it’s important to provide vegans with alternatives they can enjoy and purchase feeling no guilt. Unfortunately, most gummy bears contain gelatin, which is essentially a protein made from the skin, bones, and connective tissues of animals such as cows, chickens, pigs, and fish. Gummy bears have been a household favorite for decades, and many of us certainly grew up while enjoying these delicious treats. Good for you, good for bears.This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you purchase through these links.
Organic gummy bears free#
Free from gelatin, palm oil, corn syrup, or nasty chemicals that harm your body and the environment, these sugar-dusted treats come in a post-consumer recycled pouch, and we donate 10% of net profits to the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) - a nonprofit dedicated to the conservation of all bear species. Our organic and vegan gummy bears use only natural colors and flavors like cherry, grape, lemon, strawberry, and grapefruit.
