When it comes to dietary restrictions, we do not often look further than nut allergies.
However, knowing what is in your candies can be extremely important for those with dairy intolerances or vegans.
Jelly beans do not have any milk or any other dairy products in them. They also do not have any gluten or nuts, making them a good candy choice for people concerned about allergies and restrictions.
Read on to learn what jelly beans are made of and whether or not they are vegan.
Are Jelly Beans Dairy Free?
Most jelly beans are dairy free. Not only are they not made with milk, but they do not contain any dairy products in the ingredients whatsoever.
They are also peanut-free, gluten-free, and fat free.
What Is In Jelly Beans?
Typically, jelly beans are made with sugar, tapioca, or corn syrup and combined with pectin or starch.
There are also small amounts of lecithin, which is an emulsifying agent.
Anti-foaming agents, such as beeswax or carnauba wax, which is edible, and confectioner’s glaze are also used.
Ingredients such as beeswax are animal by-products, meaning that while jelly beans' ingredients will work for vegetarians, they will not work for vegans.
Additionally, although jelly beans are not made using any dairy products, they are still manufactured in facilities that may have trace elements.
Check out this video from Huggbees to see the entire process of how Jelly Beans are made.
Are Jelly Beans Vegan?
Jelly beans are not guaranteed to be vegan. Some jelly beans use animal by-products, such as beeswax, to achieve the shiny and crunchy shell.
The confectioner’s glaze, sometimes used for jelly beans, also known as shellac, is an insect by-product.
The inclusion of such ingredients means jelly beans cannot be vegan.
However, certain companies have opted not to use these animal by-products, which means whether or not jelly beans are vegan will vary from company to company.
Related: Is There Milk in Milky Way Bars?
Which Jelly Bean Brands Are Vegan?
If you are seeking a vegan jelly bean brand, there are only certain companies that will fit the bill.
Below is a brief list of some jelly bean brands that are vegan or that have vegan options available.
- Jolly Rancher Jelly Beans
- WarHead’s Sour Jelly Beans
- 7-Select Speckled Jelly Beans
- YumEarth Naturals’ Sour Jelly Beans
- Haribo Jelly Beans
Unfortunately, Jelly Belly does not have a vegan jelly bean option, although they currently have a vegan gummy.
Additionally, the Harry Potter Bertie Bott’s Every Flavor Beans do not currently have a vegan option available either.
Conclusion
If you are looking for milk-free candy that is safe for kids with dairy intolerance, then jelly beans are a good choice.
With so many brands and flavors, you can take it a step further and select a vegan option so everyone can enjoy this fun candy together.
