Unmasking the Real Halloween Horrors: Shocking Ingredients in Your Candy
Vegan Products
Halloween is a time for spooky costumes, haunted houses, and indulging in sweet treats. But while you're focused on zombies, ghosts, and monsters, there’s something far more sinister lurking in your candy bowl: the ingredients list. Many Halloween candies contain hidden animal products and other unsettling ingredients that can turn your holiday treats into tricks.
‘‘Many Halloween candies contain hidden animal ingredients like carmine, gelatin, and confectioner’s glaze. These spooky additives come from insects, animal bones, and bugs. Opt for vegan alternatives to enjoy Halloween guilt-free, supporting both cruelty-free living and healthier choices. Compassion is the sweetest treat!’’
Once you learn what’s really inside some of these confections, you may think twice before indulging. Luckily, there are vegan alternatives that offer all the sweetness without the scarier side effects.
The Real Monsters in Your Candy
As you fill your trick-or-treat bag, you may assume all candy is just sugar and flavoring. Unfortunately, many of your favorite Halloween candies are hiding ingredients derived from animals. The five most common offenders are:
Carmine
Carmine, also known as cochineal or carminic acid, is a bright red dye made from crushed beetles. Yes, you read that correctly—thousands of cochineal insects are crushed to extract the dye that gives certain candies their vibrant red hue. It’s found in various red and pink candies, including gummy treats and hard candies. While it’s approved for use in food, many people are unaware that their sweet treat contains insect-based coloring. For a plant-based alternative, look for candies colored with beet juice or other natural plant dyes.Milkfat
Milkfat, or butterfat, is another common ingredient used to give candies a creamy texture. It’s found in chocolate bars, caramels, and nougat-based sweets. While milkfat is derived from dairy, many vegans and people with lactose intolerance avoid it. Thankfully, there are plenty of dairy-free and vegan chocolates available now, often made with coconut or almond milk to replicate that rich, creamy flavor.Confectioner’s Glaze
Confectioner’s glaze sounds innocent enough, but it’s actually made from shellac, a resin secreted by the lac bug. This glossy coating is used to give certain candies—like jelly beans and candy-coated chocolates—their shiny appearance. If you prefer your sweets without insect secretions, opt for candies that use plant-based alternatives like carnauba wax instead of shellac.Gelatin
Gelatin is used to give gummy candies, marshmallows, and chewy treats their bouncy, flexible texture. However, this ingredient is made by boiling animal bones, ligaments, and tendons, typically from cows and pigs. The process of making gelatin is as unappetizing as it sounds. Fortunately, vegan alternatives like agar-agar (derived from seaweed) or pectin (from fruit) are increasingly popular in gummy candies, offering the same chewy texture without the animal-derived nastiness.Honey
While honey may seem like a natural sweetener, it is still an animal product. Found in some hard candies and honey-flavored treats, honey is a byproduct of bees, which makes it non-vegan. There are plenty of plant-based alternatives to honey, such as agave syrup, maple syrup, and even date syrup, which provide sweetness without exploiting bees.
Scanning Labels: The Key to Vegan-Friendly Treats
The good news is that there are plenty of vegan Halloween treats on the market. The key is to carefully scan ingredient labels for these common animal-based ingredients. Many mainstream candy companies have started producing vegan versions of their products, making it easier than ever to indulge without compromising your values.
Some popular vegan candies include:
Twizzlers
Swedish Fish
Smarties
Sour Patch Kids
Airheads
For a more extensive list of vegan-friendly candies, you can explore PETA’s vegan candy guide.
Opting for Vegan Alternatives
Luckily, the world of vegan candy is growing, and there are many delicious options for those who want to avoid animal-based ingredients. Vegan-friendly brands like Unreal, No Whey! Foods, and Lenny & Larry’s are creating Halloween treats that taste just as good—if not better—than their non-vegan counterparts. These alternatives are cruelty-free, environmentally friendly, and free from the terrifying ingredients mentioned above.
Another perk of choosing vegan candy? Many vegan products are also free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, making them a healthier option overall. And as awareness grows about the environmental and ethical impact of using animal products in food, the demand for vegan options continues to rise.
Final Thoughts: Avoiding Tricks in Your Treats
As you prepare for Halloween, take a moment to consider what’s really in your candy. By choosing vegan alternatives, you’re not only avoiding ingredients derived from animals, but you’re also making a more compassionate and environmentally friendly choice. The real horror isn’t the haunted houses or costumes—it’s what’s hidden in that candy bar.
So, this Halloween, swap out those tricks for kinder treats, and fill your bag with goodies that are sweet for everyone—including the animals.
Resources:
Complete Vegan Halloween Candy List
Discover and share a wide range of vegan memes, from hilarious to thought-provoking, by visiting my Facebook page.
Get my new booklet ‘‘25 Vegan Myths Debunked!’’
This concise guide is invaluable for anyone curious about veganism, offering evidence-based insights and practical guidance to navigate vegan living confidently. All proceeds benefit the promotion of animal rights worldwide!
Visit My Amazon Store!
Notice: As an Amazon Associate, we earn a commission from qualifying purchases that help promote animal rights worldwide!General Resources
Books:
Dominion: The Power of Animals in Nature and in Our Imagination by Matthew Scully
Animal Liberation by Peter Singer
Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer
A Billion Hungry Mouths: Feeding the World Without Consuming the Planet by Colin Tudge
Websites and organizations:
Documentaries:
Articles:
"The Case for Animal Rights" by Tom Regan
‘‘Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism’’ by Melanie Joy
‘‘Animal Rights: The Abolitionist Approach’’ by Gary L. Francione
‘‘Fellow Creatures: Our Obligations to the Other Animals’’ by Christine Korsgaard
Seeds of Compassion: Finding Jesus Christ in a Vegan World by Michael Corthell
Receive a single informative article daily at 12:01 AM by email. Explore my homepage with exciting vegan and plant-based news content and delightful and delicious recipes for additional updates. Stay connected to the vegan world and all it has to offer.
Visit The Vegan Project Global my Facebook page for more vegan outreach and education.
The information on this vegan/plant-based blog is for general informational purposes only. It is not intended as legal, medical, or professional advice. Readers should consult with appropriate professionals for specific advice tailored to their situation. The blog owner is not responsible for any reliance on the information herein.
Makes me so sad to think about all the little vegan kids who have to worry about this when they just want to enjoy trick-or-treating like all their friends
For everyone North of the boarder (Canada) note that in Smarties here are called "Rockets" and that in Canada the candy that is labeled as "Smarties" (a candy coated chocolate suspiciously similar to M&Ms) does contain dairy, and probably shellac etc.