Are Altoids Vegan and Cruelty Free? (April, 2024 Update)

Figuring out whether Altoids are vegan can be a bit complicated.

This is because Altoids contain many different ingredients, some of which may be of animal origin. Additionally, Altoids are manufactured by a company that produces non-vegan products.

To make sure you are only eating foods that align with your vegan lifestyle, I’ve investigated the ingredients in Altoids.

Here’s what I found.

Table of Contents

Are Altoids Vegan?

The short answer is no. These breath mints are a non-vegan product because they contain gelatin. Gelatin is a protein that is derived from the collagen in animal skin and bone.

Altoid mints also contain sugar, which may be processed with bone char. Bone char is a carbon filter that is made by boiling animal bones. It is often used in the sugar industry to make sugar white. Mars Wrigley, which owns Altoids, did respond to my query asking if their sugar is processed with bone char or not.

Even the ones that are considered vegan by many people, like the Wintermint, Cinnamon, and Peppermint flavors of Altoids, are not vegan because they contain magnesium stearate. This ingredient can be derived from plants or animals. Altoids Magnesium stearate is animal derived.

So, unfortunately, if you’re looking for a vegan-friendly mint, Altoids are not the right choice.

Are Altoids Cruelty-Free?

Altoids is owned by the company Mars Wrigley, a known animal tester. This means that Altoids are not considered to be a cruelty-free product.

Additionally, Altoids are not certified by any of the major vegan organizations, such as PETA or The Vegan Society.

So if you are looking for a breath mint that is both vegan and cruelty-free, Altoids is not the right choice

What Are Classic Altoids Made Of?

Here are the ingredients of Altoids Classic Peppermint Breath Mint:

Sugar
Gum arabic
Natural flavors (Including peppermint oil)
Gelatin

Let’s break down each ingredient of Altoids Classic Peppermint Breath Mint:

Sugar

Sugar is a vegan ingredient. However, cane sugar is non-vegan if it’s processed with bone char. In this case, Altoids sugar is unclear if it’s processed with bone char or not, so it’s best to be on the safe side and assume this product’s sugar suppliers use bone char in its processing.

Gum arabic

Gum arabic is tree sap that is used as a stabilizer in the Altoids Classic Peppermint Breath Mint. It is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Natural flavors (including oil of peppermint)

Natural flavors are usually vegan, but they are sometimes derived from animals. In this case, the peppermint oil natural flavors in Altoids Classic Peppermint Breath Mint are vegan friendly.

Gelatin

Gelatin is an animal product. It is a protein that is derived from the collagen in animal skin and bone. Gelatin is used as a thickener in Altoids Classic Peppermint Breath Mint.

Why Aren’t Altoids Vegan?

Altoids aren’t vegan because of the animal products they contain—gelatin and refined sugar. Gelatin is a protein that is derived from the collagen in animal skin and bone. Sugar may be processed with bone char, which is a carbon filter that is made from the ground-up bones of cows.

Additionally, their products that are considered vegan have animal-derived magnesium stearate. Magnesium stearate can be derived from plants or animals, but Altoids’ magnesium stearate is confirmed to come from animal sources.

So, if you’re looking for a vegan-friendly mint, Altoids are not the right choice.

Are Altoids Sugar-Free Smalls Peppermint Vegan?

No. Altoid Smalls Peppermint Sugarfree Mints are not vegan even though it doesn’t have gelatin and sugar because they contain magnesium stearate, which is an animal-based product.