Chewy and fruity Starburst are colorful candies. However, if you have eliminated animal products from your diet, you may wonder, Are Starburst Vegan? In this post, I review everything you need to know about this fruity treat, so you can make an informed choice when grabbing a piece of this popular candy.
I get a lot of questions about whether or not certain foods, especially candy, are vegan-friendly. In the past, I have answered…
- Are Sour Patch Kids Vegan?
- Are Oreos Vegan?
- Is Cocoa Powder Vegan?
- Are Rice Krispies Vegan?
- What Halloween Candy Is Vegan?
- Are M&Ms Vegan?
Starburst is a popular chewy and fruity candy made by the Wrigley Company that has been around for decades. If you follow a vegan diet and want to indulge in a candy treat, reaching for a fruity candy might seem like a safe bet.
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Are Starburst Vegan?
No, Starburst candies are not vegan. When you turn the package around and examine the ingredient list of this popular candy, you’ll see a long list that is difficult to decipher. Before you reach for your favorite fruity-flavored candy, there are a few ingredients you should look out for, not only in Starburst but in other popular candy brands. Many artificial food colorings, preservatives, texture agents, and sugars are not vegan. Let’s take a closer look at exactly what ingredients are in Starburst candies.
Starburst Candy Ingredients
Let’s take a look at the ingredient list. It is interesting to note that Starburst made and sold in the United States has one significant ingredient difference from those made and sold in the United Kingdom.
US Starburst Ingredients
Ingredients: Corn Syrup, Sugar, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil; Less than 2% of: Apple Juice from Concentrate, Citric Acid, Tapioca Dextrin, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Gelatin, Modified Corn Starch, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Colors (Red 40, Yellow 6, Yellow 5.
As you can see, Starburst is not full of healthy natural ingredients. But the most concerning ingredient for vegans is gelatin. Gelatin is made from the proteins and peptides that come from bones, connective tissues, and the skin of animals.
Therefore, Starburst, made and sold in the US, is not vegan.
UK Starburst Ingredients
Ingredients: Glucose Syrup, Sugar, Palm Fat, Concentrated Fruit Juices 1.4%* (Apple, Orange, Blackcurrant, Strawberry, Lime, Lemon), Acid Citric Acid, Modified Starch, Acid Malic Acid, Dextrin, Flavourings, Maltodextrin, Antioxidant Ascorbic Acid, Emulsifier Lecithin, Colours Anthocyanins, Beta-Carotene, Spirulina Extract,*Equivalent to 11,5% Fruit Juice.
Taking a look at the ingredients in the UK Starburst, you will notice one significant difference. They do not contain gelatin. So, does that mean that Starburst, made in the UK, is vegan?
The label on the UK version of Starburst indicates that it is suitable for vegetarians. There is no added dairy to the UK Starburst, so by those accounts, Starburst made and sold in the UK is vegan-friendly.
Controversial Ingredients
While it is with certainty we can say that Starburst made in the US are not vegan, and the label on the Starburst made in the UK says they are suitable for vegetarians, there are a few controversial ingredients in the UK version worth noting.
Palm Fat: Otherwise known as palm oil. Palm oil is not made from animal products, however, the process and production is not animal friendly. Rainforests are deforested to make room for crops, and as a result, animals lose their homes. The production of palm oil also leads to ethical concerns over the exploitation of workers and child laborers. As a result, many vegans do not consider palm oil to be a vegan-friendly ingredient.
Glucose Syrup: Glucose syrup is usually made from the hydrolysis of corn starch. Although it is not explicitly stated what type of starch the glucose comes from, it is most likely corn, so this ingredient would be considered vegan.
Sugar: White sugar is vegan-friendly unless processed with bone char. This is a common practice in the US, not in the UK, so in this case, this sugar is likely vegan-friendly.
Other Starburst Products
In addition to their popular square fruity chews, Starburst makes several other products, including Starburst Minis, Starburst Gum, and Starburst Jelly Beans.
These products share similar ingredient lists to the original, but there are a few important differences.
Are Starburst Minis vegan?
No, Starburst Minis are not vegan.
Ingredients: Sugar, Corn Syrup, Palm Oil; Less than 2% of: Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Pectin, Apple Juice from Concentrate, Mono- and Diglycerides, Confectioner’s Glaze, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Colors (Yellow 6, Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1), Carnauba Wax.
Above is the list of ingredients in the US version of Starburst Minis. You will notice that the Starburst Minis do not contain gelatin. However, there is sugar, of course, and it is difficult to determine whether it is processed with bone char. Therefore, it is difficult to say that Starburst Minis are vegan.
In addition, artificial colors, such as yellow 6, red 40, yellow 5, and blue 1, are tested on animals. Therefore, while they do not contain animal-derived ingredients, the fact that they are tested on animals does not make these ingredients vegan.
Is Starburst Gum Vegan?
No, Starburst Gum is not vegan, if you avoid products that use ingredients that have been tested on animals.
Ingredients: Xylitol, Gum Base, Acacia, Citric Acid, Soy Lecithin, Sorbitol, Aspartame, Malic Acid, Mannitol, Acesulfame K, Carnauba Wax, Sucralose, Fumaric Acid, BHT (to Maintain Freshness), Coloring (Includes Red 40 Lake)., Less than 2% of: Natural and Artificial Flavors.
Xylitol is a plant-derived sweetener, and carnauba wax is derived from a plant native to Brazil. However, the ingredient to be concerned about here is the food coloring, Red 40 Lake, which is likely tested on animals.
Whenever you see the words natural or artificial flavors on an ingredient list, beware. There are no regulations regarding the use of these words on an ingredient list, so it could be literally anything!
Are Starburst Jelly Beans vegan?
No, Starburst Jelly Beans are not vegan.
Ingredients: Sugar, Corn Syrup, Modified Corn Starch, Less Than 2% of: Citric Acid, Acacia, Sodium Citrate, Apple Juice from Concentrate, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Confectioner’s Glaze, Carnauba Wax, Colors, Mineral Oil, Beeswax.
Confectioner’s glaze, also known as shellac, is derived from insect secretions. It is used to create a shiny coat on jelly beans and other candies. While it doesn’t sound like it is non-vegan at first glance, it is derived from insects and, therefore, is not vegan-friendly.
You will note that the last ingredient listed is beeswax. Beeswax comes from the honeycomb of the honeybee. Since this ingredient is derived from animals, or in this case, insects, it is not considered vegan.
Are Starburst Gummies vegan?
No, Starburst Gummies are not vegan.
Ingredients: Corn Syrup, Sugar, Modified Corn Starch, Water, Gelatin, Fumaric Acid; Less than 2% of: Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Calcium Lactate, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Colors (Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1).
Like the original Starburst chews, the Starburst gummies contain gelatin, natural and artificial flavors, and artificial food coloring.
Starburst FAQS
Starburst, which is made in the United States, contains gelatin. However, Starburst, which was made in the UK, does not. The packaging says that the candy is vegetarian-friendly.
Yes, Starburst candies are dairy-free.
Yes, Starburst are gluten-free.
Vegan Alternatives to Starburst
These vegan products are an excellent substitute for traditional Starburst candies and are readily available for purchase.
Torie and Howard Chewie Fruities
Made with organic ingredients, it’s gluten-free, non-GMO, and has no artificial flavors or colors. It’s also certified vegan, so you can feel better about indulging in this chewy fruit treat.
Lovely Organic Chewy Candies
Organic, gluten-free, non-GMO, no artificial ingredients, and vegan certified. Plus its Climate Pledge Friendly which means that it uses sustainable ingredients that help preserve our Earth.
Yum Earth Organic Chewys
Organic, certified vegan ingredients, gluten-free, non-GMO, and free of the 8 most common allergens. With no artificial flavors, dyes, or high fructose corn syrup.
Final Thoughts
While Starburst, made in the United States, is not vegan-friendly, several vegan and organic alternatives will satisfy your sweet tooth. These treats still contain sugar but are made with natural food coloring from fruits and vegetables. Enjoy them on occasion!
More Helpful Vegan Tips!
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