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Animal testing is a gruesome and outdated practice that should be stopped.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.
This candy cane is not safe for vegan consumption
Are Spangler Peppermint Candy Canes Vegan?
No. Spangler Peppermint Candy Canes are not vegan. They don’t contain animal-derived ingredients, but they do have refined sugar as a questionable ingredient. Unless they are using cane sugar that is cleared as vegan, you should assume that they are not.
This candy cane is not safe for vegan consumption
Are Smarties Candy Canes Vegan?
No. Smarties Candy Canes are not vegan. All of their ingredients are plant based, but it is unclear if they use bone char in their sugar production process.
This candy cane is not safe for vegan consumption.
Are Nerds Holiday Candy Canes Vegan?
No. These Christmas candy sticks are not vegan. They do not disclose if their sugar is vegan-friendly, so you should assume it’s not.
This candy cane is not safe for vegan consumption
Are Ferrara Lemonhead Candy Canes Vegan?
No. These festive holiday candies are not vegan. Ferrara does not disclose if their sugar is processed in bone char or not.
This candy cane is not safe for vegan consumption
Are Jelly Belly Candy Canes Vegan?
No. Jelly Belly’s candy canes are not vegan. Unless their sugar is cleared to be vegan friendly, assume it is not.
This candy cane is not safe for vegan consumption
Vegan Alternatives to Candy Canes
There are also some vegan candy cane brands you can enjoy. These organic candy cane brands are made with plant-based ingredients and are free of animal products or by-products. Some of my favorite organic candy canes are:
There are also vegan recipes for candy canes, from the candy itself to candy cane flavored cookies. Here are some of my favorites:
- Vegan Candy Cane Cookies by Vegan Yack Attack
- Vegan Candy Cane Meringue Kisses by Wallflower Kitchen
- Homemade Candy Cane by The Spruce Eats
With these recipes, you can create your vegan candy canes. For the last one, you just need to substitute refined granulated sugar with vegan-friendly sugar. With many vegan alternatives to non-vegan ingredients of candy canes, making them at home might be the best option to get that desired flavor and stick to your vegan values.
Final Words
So, there you have it! Most candy canes on the market are not vegan. However, this does not mean that you have to miss out on this holiday tradition. There are many vegan alternatives that you can choose from. Just be sure to double-check the ingredients and their production process to make sure they are free of animal products.