Are Black Forest Gummies Vegan? (April, 2024 Update)

Figuring out whether Black Forest Gummy Bears are vegan can be a bit tough.

Soft candies often contain many ingredients and some may be of animal origins.

To make sure you are only eating food that aligns with your vegan diet and lifestyle, I’ve investigated the ingredients and production processes of Black Forest Gummy Bears.

Here’s what I found.

Are Black Forest Gummy Bears Vegan?

No. This gummy fruit-flavored candy is not vegan.

Gelatin is the main non-vegan culprit in this product.

Gelatin is a protein that is derived from the partial hydrolysis of collagen, which is extracted from the bones, skin, and connective tissues of animals such as pigs and cows. In Black Forest Gummies’ case, pork gelatin is used, based on their FAQs page.

This means that Black Forest Gummies are not only non-vegan but also not vegetarian. If you have a gelatin allergy, these gummies are definitely not for you either—gelatin is present in all of the flavors. So, even though there are no dairy products or eggs in Black Forest Gummy Bears, they are simply not safe for vegans to consume.

If you’re looking for a delicious and vegan-friendly alternative to Black Forest Gummy Bears, there are many in the market that do not contain gelatin.

Are Black Forest Gummies Cruelty-Free?

Yes. Black Forest Gummies is a cruelty-free brand.

This brand does not test its products on animals at any stage of production nor does it use any ingredients tested on animals. Artificial colors are a common ingredient in gummies and these are often tested on animals.

Fortunately, Black Forest Gummies only use natural colors from fruits and vegetables.

They use USDA-approved organic ingredients, making them a great choice for those who are looking for gummies that do not use any synthetic pesticides.

So even though they are not vegan due to the use of gelatin, they are conscious of the environment and animal welfare, which is also something vegans consider important.

What Is Gelatin?

Gelatin is a common ingredient in most gummy bears, including Black Forest Gummies.

Gelatin comes from the collagen in animal skin and connective tissue. Collagen is extracted from the bones, skin, and connective tissues of animals such as pigs and cows and is then processed to create gelatin.

Gelatin is what gives gummy bears their chewy texture.

What Are Black Forest Gummies Made Of?

Here are the ingredients of Black Forest Gummy Bears:

Corn syrup
Gelatin
Modified food starch (corn)
Citric acid
Apple juice from concentrate
Sodium citrate
Natural and artificial flavors
Coconut oil
Colors (black carrot juice, beta-carotene, spirulina extract, turmeric)
Carnauba wax
Adds a trivial amount of fat

Some organic ingredients in their flavors are:

Organic tapioca syrup
Organic tapioca starch
Organic sunflower oil
Organic cane sugar

Let’s break down each ingredient of Black Forest Gummies:

Corn syrup

Corn syrup is a liquid sweetener that is made from corn starch. It is often used in candy and baking because it is cheaper than sugar and prevents crystallization. Corn syrup is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Gelatin

Gelatin is a protein that comes from the partial hydrolysis of collagen. It is extracted from the bones, skin, and connective tissues of animals such as pigs and cows. It gives the gummy bear its chewy texture. Gelatin is not a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Modified food starch (corn)

Modified food starch is a type of starch that has been extracted from corn and then treated to make it easier to cook with and digest. It is used as a thickening agent and stabilizer in food. Modified food starch is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Citric acid

Citric acid is a type of natural preservative that is found in citrus fruits. It is often used to add an acidic or sour taste to food. Citric acid is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Apple juice from concentrate

Apple juice concentrate is a type of syrup that is made by removing the water from apples. It is often used to add sweetness and flavor to food.

Real fruit juice is one of the many vegan-friendly ingredients found in Black Forest Gummies.

Sodium citrate

Sodium citrate is a type of salt that is made from citric acid and sodium carbonate. It is often used as a preservative or to add flavor to food. Sodium citrate is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Natural and artificial flavors

Natural flavors are made from plants or animal sources, while artificial flavors are made artificially in a lab. In this case, it is unclear if the natural and artificial flavors used in Black Forest Gummies are vegan friendly or not.

However, this product is based on fruit flavors, so it is likely that the natural flavors come from plant sources and are vegan friendly.

Coconut oil

Coconut oil is a type of vegetable oil that is made from the flesh of coconuts. It is often used in food as a vegan-friendly alternative to butter or other animal-based oils.

Colors (black carrot juice, beta-carotene, spirulina extract, turmeric)

The colors used in Black Forest Gummies are derived from plant sources.

Black carrot juice is a type of juice that is made from black carrots. It is rich in vitamins and minerals and can be used as a natural food coloring. Beta-carotene is a type of pigment that is found in plants. It can be used as a natural food coloring. Spirulina extract is a type of blue-green algae that is often used as a natural food coloring. Turmeric is a type of spice that is often used as a natural food coloring.

These colors are all vegan friendly.

Carnauba wax

Carnauba wax is a type of waxy substance that is made from the leaves of the carnauba palm tree. It is often used as a food coating or to prevent it from sticking together. They are also used to make furniture polish. Carnauba wax is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Organic tapioca starch

Organic tapioca starch is a type of starch that is made from the root of the cassava plant. It is often used as a thickening agent or stabilizer in food. It is also used to make tapioca pudding. Organic tapioca starch is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Organic sunflower oil

Organic sunflower oil is a type of vegetable oil that is made from sunflower seeds. It is often used in food as a vegan-friendly alternative to butter or other animal-based oils.

Organic cane sugar

Black Forest Gummies use organic cane sugar to sweeten their products. Cane sugar is a type of sugar that is derived from sugar cane. It is not processed with animal bone char and is therefore vegan friendly.

Why Aren’t Black Forest Gummies Vegan?

Black Forest Gummies are not vegan gummy bears because they contain gelatin. Gelatin is a substance made from the collagen of animal bones, so anything that contains gelatin cannot be vegan. Black Forest Gummies use gelatin to give the gummy bear its chewy texture.

The majority of the ingredients in Black Forest Gummies are vegan friendly, and if not for the gelatin, the product would be vegan.

If you’re in the mood for a chewy gummy candy, you’re better off finding a gelatin-free option. There are many vegan gummy candies on the market that do not use gelatin as an ingredient.

Are Black Forest Gummy Worms Vegan?

No. Black Forest Gummy Worms are not vegan gummy bears. This product contains gelatin as an ingredient, which is not vegan friendly.