Are Albanese Gummy Bears Vegan & Cruelty Free? (2024)

Trying to figure out if Albanese Gummy Bears are vegan can be complicated.

This is because they use many different ingredients and often, non-vegan ones are sneaked in and masked with vague terms such as “natural and artificial flavor.”

To make sure you’re only eating foods that align with your diet and ethics, I’ve investigated the ingredients and production methods of Albanese Gummy Bears.

Here’s what I found.

Are Albanese Gummy Bears Vegan?

No. Unfortunately, these colorful and delicious gummy bears are not vegan. According to their FAQ page, Albanese Gummy Bears use gelatin in all their gummy flavors and varieties.

Gelatin is made from the skin, bones, and tendons of animals. It’s commonly used in food as a gelling agent, thickener, and stabilizer. That means it’s in a lot of different foods, especially those that are jiggly or have a smooth texture, like gummy bears, marshmallows, yogurts, and jelly desserts.

So if you’re vegan, Albanese Gummy Bears are a no-go.

Are Albanese Gummy Bears Cruelty-Free?

These gummy bears are also not 100% cruelty-free since they use food dyes that are routinely tested on animals.

The food dyes used in Albanese Gummy Bears are Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, and Red 40. The animals used in tests are typically rats, mice, guinea pigs, and rabbits. Animal testing is a gruesome practice that tortures and exploits innocent animals.

What Are Albanese Gummy Bears Made Of?

Here are the ingredients of Albanese Gummy Bears:

Corn syrup (from corn)
Sugar (from beets)
Water
Gelatin
Citric acid
Natural and artificial flavors
Pectin (derived from fruits)
Vegetable oil (coconut, canola)
Carnauba leaf wax (to prevent sticking)
Colors (Yellow 5, Red 40, Yellow 6, Blue 1)

Let’s break down each ingredient of Albanese Gummy Bears:

Corn syrup (from corn)

Corn syrup is a liquid sweetener made from corn. It is often used in processed foods because it is cheaper than sugar. Corn syrup is made by breaking down the starch in corn and converting it into glucose. It is vegan since it comes from a plant and doesn’t involve any animal products in its production.

Sugar (from beets)

Beet sugar is a type of sugar that is made from beets. It is vegan since it is plant based and doesn’t get filtered through animal bone char.

Water

Water is used as a solvent in many food products. It is, of course, vegan.

Gelatin

Gelatin is an animal-derived ingredient that comes from the collagen of animals. It is often used in processed foods as a thickener or stabilizer. Gelatin is made by boiling the skin, tendons, and bones of animals. It comes from animals.

Citric acid

Citric acid is a sour flavoring agent made from citrus fruits. It is vegan because it is derived from fruits.

Natural and artificial flavors

Natural and artificial flavors are used to add flavor to food products. They can be made from animal, plant, or synthetic sources. The flavors used in Albanese Gummy Bears are likely plant based given their fruity flavors.

Pectin (derived from fruits)

Pectin is a plant-derived ingredient that is used as a thickener or stabilizer in food products. Pectin is made from the peel of fruits. It is vegan.

Vegetable oil (coconut, canola)

Vegetable oil is a type of fat made from plants. It is often used in processed foods as cooking oil or shortening. Vegetable oil is vegan.

Carnauba leaf wax

Carnauba leaf wax is a plant-derived ingredient that is used to coat gummy bears and prevent them from sticking together. Carnauba leaf wax is made from the leaves of a Brazilian palm tree. It is vegan.

Yellow 5, Red 40, Yellow 6, Blue 1

These are food dyes that are made from synthetic sources. They are vegan.

Why Aren’t Albanese Gummy Bears Vegan?

These soft and chewy gummy bears are not vegan because they contain pork gelatin. Gelatin is what gives these gummy bears their chewy and jiggly texture.

Gelatin is definitely a no-no for vegans because it is made from the skin, tendons, and bones of animals.

Are Albanese Ultimate 8 Gummi Bears Vegan?

No. Albanese Ultimate Gummi Bears contain gelatin. Gelatin is an animal-derived ingredient that comes from the collagen of animals.