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

Figuring out whether candy canes are safe for vegans to consume can be challenging.

Candies often contain many ingredients and some of them may be animal derived.

To ensure that you’re only eating food that aligns with your vegan diet and lifestyle, I’ve looked into the ingredients and production processes of candy canes.

Here’s what I found out.

Are Candy Canes Vegan?

Yes or no. Some candy cane brands are vegan while others are not.

It depends on the ingredients and production process of the candy canes.

Candy canes are made from sugar, corn syrup, water, and artificial food colorings. These ingredients are all vegan friendly, except for the sugar, which is often processed using bone char.

Bone char is a type of carbon that is made from the bones of animals. It is often used to filter and process sugar, giving it a white color. So, if the sugar used to make candy canes has been filtered with bone char, then it is not considered vegan.

Additionally, some candy canes may also contain milk products, gelatin, or beeswax.

Milk, of course, is a product of the dairy industry.

Gelatin is a protein that is derived from the skin, tendons, and bones of animals.

Beeswax is a type of wax that is produced by bees and used as a glazing agent or to make candy canes shine.

So, if you’re looking for vegan candy canes, be sure to check the ingredients list and the sugar content to make sure they are free of animal products.

Are Candy Canes Cruelty-Free?

No. Candy canes are not cruelty-free products.

Most candy cane products don’t need to be tested on animals because the ingredients have been used in food products for many years. However, candy canes also contain artificial food coloring, which is often tested on animals.

Animal testing is a gruesome and outdated practice that should be stopped. Fortunately, there are some companies that are working towards making all of their products cruelty-free.

What Are Candy Canes Made Of?

Here are the ingredients of candy canes:

Sugar
Corn syrup
Peppermint oil
Artificial colors

These additional ingredients may also be present depending on the brand:

Cane sugar
Chocolate
Milk
Beeswax
Organic brown rice syrup
Organic sugar

Let’s break down each ingredient of candy canes:

Sugar

Sugar is a type of refined carbohydrate that is made from sucrose. It is derived from sugar cane or sugar beets. Refined sugar is used as a sweetener in food and drinks. Sugar is a vegan-friendly ingredient if it isn’t refined sugar filtered with bone char.

Bone char is still widely used as a refining agent, thus I can’t really say at first glance that candy canes in the market are vegan until they label their sugar either “organic,” “raw,” or “unrefined.”

Corn syrup

Corn syrup is a type of sugar that is made from cornstarch. It is often used as a sweetener or thickening agent in food. Corn syrup is a vegan-friendly ingredient.

Peppermint oil

Peppermint oil is an essential oil that is made from the peppermint plant. It is often used for its flavor or scent. Whether natural or artificial flavors, peppermint oil is a vegan ingredient.

Artificial colors

Artificial colors are synthetic dyes that are used to add color to food. They are usually made from petroleum. Red food coloring is the common one used in candy canes and it is vegan.

Cane sugar

Cane sugar is a type of sugar that is made from sugar cane. It is often used as a sweetener in food and drinks. Cane sugar is considered vegan if it is not filtered using bone char.

Chocolate

Chocolate is a type of food that is made from cocoa beans. It is often used as a flavor or coating for candy. Chocolate is a vegan ingredient if it does not contain milk products.

Milk

Milk is a type of liquid that comes from cows. It is often used as a drink or ingredient in food products. Milk is not a vegan ingredient.

Beeswax

Beeswax is a type of wax that is produced by bees. It is often used as a glazing agent or to make the candy canes shine. Beeswax is not a vegan ingredient.

Organic brown rice syrup

Organic brown rice syrup is a type of sweetener that is made from organic brown rice. It is often used as an alternative to sugar. Organic brown rice syrup is a vegan ingredient.

Organic sugar

Organic sugar is a type of sugar that is made from organic sugar cane or beet. It is often used as a sweetener in food and drinks. Organic sugar is vegan because it is not processed with bone char.

Why Aren’t Candy Canes Vegan?

As you can see, candy canes are not vegan because most of them contain animal products and questionable ingredients, such as refined sugar. However, there are also vegan-friendly options that you can choose from. Be sure to check the ingredients list and production processes to make sure they are free of animal products before buying them.

Are Brach’s Bob’s Peppermint Candy Canes Vegan?

No. Brach’s Bob’s Peppermint Candy Canes are not vegan. They don’t contain any animal-derived ingredients, but unless the sugar in them is cleared as vegan, you should assume that they are not.