Are Almond Joys Vegan & Cruelty Free? (April, 2024)

Trying to figure out if Almond Joys are vegan can be tough.

Almond Joy, just like other candy bars, has many ingredients, and sorting through them all to see if they’re vegan can be daunting. These products often contain ingredients you can even pronounce! But I’m here to help clear things up.

To make sure you’re eating foods that align with your vegan diet and ethical beliefs, I investigated the ingredients and manufacturing process of Almond Joy.

Here’s what I’ve found.

Are Almond Joys Vegan?

No. Unfortunately, this coconutty candy bar classic is not vegan.

The main ingredient that makes Almond Joy non-vegan is milk. Milk is a common ingredient in candy bars and is used to create a smoother texture and flavor. However, for vegans, this means that Almond Joys are off limits.

Almond Joys also contain controversial ingredients such as refined sugar and palm oil. Most refined sugar is processed with bone char, which is made from the ground-up bones of cows. This means that even if the sugar cane plant is vegan, the final product is not.

Not all sugar is filtered with bone char though. Some are bleached using a different filtering process. The problem is, as with all large food brands, Hershey sources their sugar from many suppliers and some of them do use bone char.

Is Almond Joy Cruelty-Free?

Almond Joy may not be vegan but it is cruelty-free. Almond Joys don’t have any ingredients that are tested on animals, like food dyes or artificial flavorings.

The company that makes Almond Joy, Hershey, also doesn’t test their products on animals. In fact, Hershey’s, in 2019, has renewed its commitment to stop cruel experiments on animals.

However, Almond Joys do contain palm oil, which some vegans may think negates any other cruelty-free qualities. The way palm oil is produced involves cutting down rainforests and destroying the habitat of animals like orangutans. The process also creates air pollution and is generally just terrible for the environment.

Palm oil production is responsible for widespread deforestation, which destroys the habitat of many animals. It also creates huge amounts of air pollution and greenhouse gases. For these reasons, some people choose to avoid palm oil altogether, even if it is vegan.

Luckily, the Hershey Company has committed to sourcing its palm oil sustainably, so you can be sure that Almond Joys are not contributing to deforestation and wildlife habitat destruction.

What Are Almond Joys Made Of?

Here are the ingredients of Almond Joy:

Corn syrup
Sugar
Coconut
Almonds
Vegetable oil (palm oil, shea oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, palm kernel oil)
Chocolate
Milk
Lactose
Milk fat
Skim milk
Cocoa
Whey
Salt
Lecithin
PGPR
Hydrolyzed milk protein
Sodium metabisulfite
Vanillin

Let’s break down each ingredient of Almond Joy:

Corn syrup

Corn syrup is a liquid sweetener made from corn starch. It’s often used in candy because it’s cheaper than sugar and doesn’t crystallize as easily. Corn syrup is generally considered vegan, but some people choose to avoid it because it’s highly processed.

Sugar

As I mentioned before, refined sugar is often processed with bone char. This means that even if the sugar cane plant is vegan, the final product is not. In the case of Almond Joy, the sugar was probably processed with bone char, so I can’t say that it’s safe for vegan consumption.

Coconut

Coconut is a vegan-friendly ingredient. Coconut flesh is the white meat inside the hard shell of a coconut. It’s often used in vegan recipes as a dairy-free alternative.

Almonds

Almonds are a type of nut. They are a good source of protein, fiber, and vitamin E. They’re a common ingredient in vegan baking because they can be used to replace milk or cream. Almonds are vegan.

Vegetable oil

There are several kinds of vegetable oil used in Almond Joys: palm oil, shea oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, and palm kernel oil. All of these are vegan, but some vegans may have an issue with palm oil.

The good news is that Hershey has committed to using sustainable palm oil, and all their suppliers are RSPO certified. This means that the palm oil used in Almond Joy is not contributing to deforestation or the destruction of animal habitats.

Chocolate

Most chocolate is vegan, but some brands use milk or cream. The chocolate in Almond Joy contains milk and milk derivatives so it isn’t safe for vegans to consume.

Milk

As you can probably guess, milk is not vegan. Milk is a dairy product made from cow’s milk. It’s a good source of protein, calcium, and vitamin D, but it is not safe for vegan consumption.

Lactose

Lactose is a sugar found in milk. It’s used as a sweetener and thickener in many food products. Lactose is not vegan because it comes from cows.

Milk fat

Milk fat is the fat that’s found in milk. It’s used as a flavor enhancer and thickener in many food products. Milk fat is not vegan because it’s a milk derivative.

Skim milk

Skim milk is a type of milk with the cream removed. It’s lower in calories and fat than whole milk. Skim milk is not vegan because it’s a milk derivative.

Cocoa

Cocoa is a powder made from the beans of the cacao tree. It’s used to make chocolate. Cocoa is vegan.

Whey

Whey is a by-product of cheese production. It’s often used as a protein supplement or as an ingredient in processed foods. Whey is not vegan because it comes from cows.

Salt

Salt is a mineral that’s used to add flavor to food. It’s a vegan-friendly and cruelty-free product.

Lecithin

Lecithin is an emulsifier that’s often used in processed foods. It can be derived from plants or animals, but the lecithin in Almond Joy is most likely plant based.

PGPR

PGPR is an emulsifier that’s often used in processed foods. It is vegan because it’s derived from plants.

Hydrolyzed milk protein

Hydrolyzed milk protein is a type of protein that’s often used as an ingredient in processed foods. It’s not vegan because it is a milk derivative.

Sodium metabisulfite

Sodium metabisulfite is a preservative that’s often used in processed foods. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Vanillin

Vanillin is a flavor enhancer that’s often used in processed foods. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Why Aren’t Almond Joys Vegan?

This coconut and almond candy bar is not vegan because it is made with milk and milk derivatives.

The milk products and whey listed as ingredients are enough to make Almond Joys unsafe for vegan consumption, but there’s more. The refined sugar in Almond Joys is not certified vegan because it may be processed with bone char.

If you’re looking for a vegan-friendly candy bar, you’re better off with a different brand. There are plenty of vegan candy bars on the market, so you’re sure to find one that you’ll love just as much as Almond Joys.

Are Hershey’s Nuggets Milk Chocolate Vegan?

No. Hershey’s Nuggets milk chocolate candy is not vegan. Some of the ingredients in Hershey’s Nuggets milk chocolate candy come from animals, including milk and milkfat.