Figuring out whether Andes Chocolate Mints are vegan is a complicated task.
Andes Mints is one of the products of Tootsie Rolls Industries, one of the largest food brands in the world. Their products have many ingredients, some of which are not vegan, and these are often masked under vague labels such as “natural and artificial flavors.”
To make sure you only eat foods that align with your vegan lifestyle, I’ve looked into the ingredients and production methods of Andes Chocolate Mints, and here’s what I’ve found.
Are Andes Mints Vegan?
Unfortunately, Andes Mints are not vegan. These minty milk chocolate candies have a number of milk-based ingredients, which means they are not suitable for people following a vegan lifestyle.
Milk, an ingredient commonly found in candy and chocolate, helps to create a smooth and creamy texture in chocolate. Andes Mints may not have gelatin or honey like some other mints, but they do have milk.
In addition, Andes Mints also have refined cane sugar. While sugar itself is vegan, the way it’s processed is not always vegan. To produce refined sugar, sugar cane is often whitened using bone char.
Bone char is charcoal made from the bones of animals, usually cows. It is used to remove impurities and color from the sugar. This means that even though Andes Mints don’t have any animal products in them, the sugar used to make them is not vegan.
So, unfortunately, Andes Mints are not suitable for vegans.
Are Andes Mints Cruelty-Free?
Andes Mints are not a 100% cruelty-free product. Andes Mints, despite not being tested on animals themselves, contain food color that is often tested on animals.
Animal testing is a cruel practice that is used to test the safety of products. Animals are often subjected to cruel and painful experiments, and many of them die as a result.
So, Andes Mints are not suitable for people who are looking for a completely cruelty-free product.
What Are Andes Mints Made Of?
Here are the ingredients of Andes Mint Parfait Thins:
- Sugar
- Palm kernel and palm oil
- Nonfat milk
- Cocoa (processed with alkali)
- Lactose
- Milk protein concentrate
- Partially hydrogenated vegetable oils
- Soy lecithin (an emulsifier)
- Natural and artificial flavor
- Peppermint oil
- Colors (Yellow 5 Lake, Blue 1 Lake)
Let’s break down each ingredient of Andes Mints:
Sugar
Sugar is a carbohydrate found in many candies. It’s made up of sucrose, which is a combination of the two simple sugars glucose and fructose.
It can be hard to tell if the sugar in Andes Mints is vegan since Tootsie Roll sources its sugar from many suppliers, and some may use bone char while others may not.
Palm kernel and palm oil
Palm kernel oil and palm oil are both oils that are extracted from the fruit of palm trees. Palm kernel oil is made from the kernel of the fruit, while palm oil is made from the flesh of the fruit. They are often used in cosmetics and skin care products, but they can also be found in some foods.
These oils are usually vegan, but some vegans avoid palm oil because of the role it plays in deforestation and wildlife habitat destruction.
Nonfat milk
As the name suggests, nonfat milk is a type of milk that has had fat removed from it. It is also known as skimmed milk. This ingredient comes from cows and is not vegan.
Cocoa (processed with alkali)
Cocoa is made from the beans of the cocoa tree. It is used to make chocolate and other products. The alkali process is a method of treating cocoa beans with an alkaline solution, which helps to remove the bitterness from the cocoa. This ingredient is vegan.
Lactose
Lactose is a type of sugar found in milk. It is made up of the two simple sugars glucose and galactose. This ingredient comes from cows and is not vegan.
Milk protein concentrate
Milk protein concentrate is a powder made from milk. It contains all the essential amino acids that are needed for human health. This ingredient is not vegan.
Partially hydrogenated vegetable oils
Partially hydrogenated vegetable oils are made by adding hydrogen to vegetable oils. This process makes the oil more solid at room temperature. These oils are often used in margarine and shortening. This ingredient is vegan.
Soy lecithin (an emulsifier)
Soy lecithin is a type of emulsifier that is made from soybeans. It is used in food to help keep different ingredients from separating. This ingredient is vegan.
Natural and artificial flavor
Natural and artificial flavors add flavor to food. They can be made from a variety of sources, both natural and synthetic. Given the minty flavor of Andes Mints, these natural flavors are likely plant-based flavoring.
Peppermint oil
Peppermint oil is an essential oil made from the peppermint plant. It adds flavor and scent to food and cosmetics. This ingredient is vegan.
Colors added (yellow 5 Lake, Blue 1 Lake)
Yellow 5 Lake and Blue 1 Lake are two of the many synthetic dyes that add color to food. These dyes are vegan because they are derived from coal tar, a petroleum by-product.
Why Aren’t Andes Mints Vegan?
These minty chocolate candies are not vegan because they contain milk and milk derivatives such as lactose and milk protein concentrate. The refined sugar in Andes Mints also may be processed with bone char, which is derived from animal bones. For vegans who avoid palm oil, the fact that Andes Mints also contain palm kernel oil and palm oil may also be a deal-breaker.
Are Andes Mints Mint Cookie Crunch Vegan?
No. Andes Mints Mint Cookie Crunch contain milk, lactose, and milk protein concentrate. This product is not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Andes Mints Toffee Crunch Vegan?
No. Andes Mints Toffee Crunch contain milk, lactose, and milk protein concentrate. This product is not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Andes Mints Cherry Jubilee Vegan?
No. Andes Mints Cherry Jubilee contain animal-derived ingredients. This product is not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Andes Baking Chips Vegan?
No. Andes Baking Chips contain milk, lactose, and milk protein concentrate, which are all animal-derived ingredients. This product is not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Andes Snap Bars Vegan?
No. Andes Snap Bars contain animal-derived ingredients. This product is not safe for vegan consumption.
Are There Any Vegan Andes Mints?
Unfortunately, no. Most of Andes Mints varieties share the same non-vegan ingredients. The good news is there are many companies that do make vegan versions of chocolate mints.
Vegan Alternatives to Andes Mints
- Endangered Species Dark Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Bars
- Little Secret’s Peppermint Dark Chocolate
- Nibmor Peppermint Dark Chocolate
- Lake Champlain Dark Chocolate Peppermint Coins
- Living Raw Power Mint Patty
These dairy-free alternatives to Andes Mints are all vegan and delicious! With a dark chocolate coating and a peppermint center, these little mints will surely satisfy your sweet tooth.
Final Words
As you can see, Andes Mints are clearly not vegan since they contain milk and milk derivatives. Andes Mints also contain refined sugar, which may or may not be filtered with animal bone char. Andes Mints also contain palm oil, which is a controversial ingredient for some vegans.
If you are looking for a vegan alternative to Andes Mints, there are many options available on the market, but as always, be sure to check the ingredients list to make sure the product has not changed its formula.