Trying to figure out whether Bomb Pops are vegan can be a bit difficult.
Popsicles often contain many ingredients and some of them may be derived from animals.
To ensure that you are only consuming food that aligns with your vegan diet, I’ve investigated the ingredients and production processes of Bomb Pop.
Here’s what I found.
Are Bomb Pops Vegan?
Sadly no. Bomb Pops popsicles are not vegan.
The Original Bomb Pop flavor contains refined sugar that may be processed with animal bone char. In the US, bone char is commonly used to process refined sugar. Bone char is made from the ground-up bones of animals and is not considered vegan.
Some Bomb Pop flavors also contain milk, which is definitely an animal product, and confectioner’s glaze in their ingredients list. Confectioner’s glaze, or shellac, is made from the excretions of the female lac bug. It is used to give a shiny coating to Bomb Pop.
The good news is that while the Bomb Pop is not vegan, there are many other delicious frozen treat options that are. Many companies have caught on to the demand for vegan popsicles and have started to produce them.
Are Bomb Pops Cruelty-Free?
No. Bomb Pops are not a cruelty-free product.
Bomb Pops aren’t tested on animals at any stage of production, but they do contain artificial coloring, which is often tested on animals. The FDA requires that any new color additives be tested for safety on animals before they can be used in food products.
Animal testing is a gruesome and unnecessary practice that often leaves innocent animals disfigured, injured, or dead. There are many other food coloring products that are not tested on animals and are just as effective, so there’s really no excuse for companies to still be using animal-tested ingredients.
What Are Bomb Pops Made Of?
Here are the ingredients of Original Bomb Pop:
- Water
- Sugar
- Corn syrup
- High fructose corn syrup
- Citric acid
- Natural and artificial flavors
- Guar gum
- Cellulose gum
- Xanthan gum
- Blue 1
- Red 40
Water
Water is the main ingredient of the Bomb Pop and is vegan. It helps to mix all the ingredients together and is what gives Bomb Pop its popsicle form.
Sugar
Sugar is a crystallized carbohydrate that is a commonly used sweetener in food. Refined sugar is often processed using bone char, which makes it non-vegan.
Corn syrup
Corn syrup is a liquid sweetener made from cornstarch. It is vegan.
High fructose corn syrup
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a type of corn syrup that has been processed to make it sweeter. HFCS is vegan.
Citric acid
Citric acid is a sour flavoring agent that is often used in food. Citric acid naturally occurs in lemons, oranges, and other citrus fruits. It is a vegan ingredient.
Natural and artificial flavors
Natural and artificial flavors are used to give Bomb Pop its flavor. Natural flavors can be vegan or non-vegan depending on the source of the flavors, while artificial flavors nowadays are always vegan friendly.
Guar gum
Guar gum is a thickening agent that is used to stabilize food. It is vegan.
Cellulose gum
Cellulose gum is another thickening agent that helps to keep food stable. It is also vegan.
Xanthan gum
Xanthan gum is a thickening agent and emulsifier that helps to keep ingredients mixed together. It is vegan.
Artificial food color (Blue 1, Red 40, Yellows 5 & 6, Red 3)
Artificial food color is used to give Bomb Pop its bright colors. These are often derived from coal tar, a petroleum product. They are vegan though not cruelty-free because they are tested on animals.
Why Aren’t Bomb Pops Vegan?
Bomb Pops are not vegan because they contain sugar that is likely to have been processed with bone char. Some flavors also contain milk and milk derivatives, as well as confectioner’s glaze, which is made from shellac, a secretion of the lac beetle.
There are also questionable ingredients to other Bomb Pop flavors, such as natural flavors, mono- and diglycerides, and polysorbate 80, all ingredients that could be either vegan or non-vegan, depending on their sources, which are frequently undisclosed by food manufacturers.
When it comes to the Bomb Pop it’s best to be on the safe side and assume it is not vegan until it is confirmed by the manufacturer to be vegan.
Is Bomb Pop Strawberry Vegan?
No. Bomb Pop Strawberry flavor contains sugar and confectioner’s glaze, a sugar-based ingredient that is made from shellac derived from the lac bug.
This frozen treat is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is Bomb Pop Crush Vegan?
No. Bomb Pop Crush contains sugar processed with bone char.
This tasty treat is not safe for vegan consumption.
Is Bomb Pop Banana Fudge Vegan?
No. Bomb Pop Banana Fudge contains refined sugar and milk and its derivatives, as well as mono- and diglycerides.
This frozen treat is not safe for a vegan diet.
Is Bomb Pop Original Sugar-Free Vegan?
Yes! Bomb Pop Original Sugar-Free is vegan. This sugar-free flavor does not contain refined sugar. Instead it contains sucralose and acesulfame potassium as its sweeteners.
This popsicle is safe for a vegan diet.
Is Bomb Pop Jolly Rancher Vegan?
No. Bomb Pop Jolly Rancher contains refined sugar that is likely to have been processed with bone char.
This popsicle is not safe for a vegan diet.
What About Other Ice Pop Brands?
There are lots of ice pop brands on the market today and many are non-vegan. Products like Turkey Hill and Popsicle Ice Pop Strawberry Banana Blue Raspberry flavor contain milk and milk derivatives, as well as refined sugar. These products are unsafe for vegans to consume.
Vegan Alternatives to Bomb Pops
Looking for a vegan alternative to Bomb Pop popsicles? Try these vegan popsicles or ice cream brands instead!
- Annie’s Organic Fruit Juice Pops Cheerful Cherry
- GoodPop Organic Freezer Pops
- Chloe’s Fruit No Sugar Added Grape Pops
- Modern Pop
- Outshine No Sugar Added Strawberry Tangerine Raspberry Fruit Bars
If you want to create your own vegan fruity pops there are plenty of vegan popsicle recipes online that are easy to follow and only require a few ingredients. Give one of these recipes a try.
Final Words
So, there you have it! Bomb Pops are not vegan primarily because their flavors contain refined sugar that is likely to have been processed with bone char. Other flavors are worse because they also contain milk and milk derivatives, as well as confectioner’s glaze, which is made from bug-based shellac.
The good news is that there are plenty of vegan popsicle brands and recipes that you can try instead. So, go ahead and enjoy the summer without feeling guilty about contributing to animal cruelty.