Are Sweet Tarts Vegan? (Updated 2023)

Are Sweet Tarts vegan? Sweet Tarts (technically SweeTARTS) are the classic sweet and sour candy. They are crunchy, crumbly, and fruity. The popular candies come in several varieties including Original, Chewy, and Ropes. But are they vegan? The answer is that some Sweetarts products are and some aren't vegan.

All ingredients, allergen and nutritional information can be found on the SweeTARTS website.

Original Sweet Tarts

Below is the ingredients list for Original Sweet Tarts.

Original Sweet Tarts Ingredients: DEXTROSE, MALTODEXTRIN, DL-MALIC ACID, AND LESS THAN 2% OF CALCIUM STEARATE, NATURAL FLAVORS, ARTIFICIAL COLORS (BLUE 1 LAKE, BLUE 2 LAKE, RED 40 LAKE, YELLOW 5 LAKE).

The good news is that they don't contain animal ingredients and Original Sweet Tarts can be considered a vegan treat. But what about the other varieties and flavors? Let's check out the Chewy and Ropes varieties.

Chewy Flavors

There are different kinds of the chewy candy. Most have a candy shell with both a crunchy and chewy center. Let's check out the ingredients. Any non-vegan ingredients will be in bold.

Giant Chewy Ingredients: DEXTROSE, CORN SYRUP, HYDROGENATED COCONUT OIL, MALTODEXTRIN, AND LESS THAN 2% OF DL=MALIC ACID, CALCIUM STEARATE, EGG ALBUMEN, NATURAL FLAVORS, MONO-AND DIGLYCERIDES, BLUE 1 LAKE, BLUE 2 LAKE, RED 40 LAKE, YELLOW 5 LAKE.

Unfortunately, these contain egg albumen and are therefore not vegan.

Extreme Sour Chewy Ingredients: DEXTROSE, CORN SYRUP, DL-MALIC ACID, HYDROGENATED COCONUT OIL, MALTODEXTRIN, AND LESS THAN 2% OF CALCIUM STEARATE, EGG ALBUMEN, NATURAL FLAVORS, MONO-AND DIGLYCERIDES, CARNAUBA WAX, BLUE 1 LAKE, BLUE 2 LAKE, RED 40 LAKE, YELLOW 5 LAKE, YELLOW 6 LAKE.

These sour candies contain egg products and are not vegan.

package of sweet tarts chewy sour candy.

Mini Chewy Berries & Cherries Ingredients: CORN SYRUP, DEXTROSEM HYDROGENTATED COCONUT OIL, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF DL-MALIC ACID, CALCIUM STEARATE, EGG WHITE, NATURAL FLAVORS, MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, CARNAUBA WAX, BLUE 2 LAKE, BLUE 1 LAKE, RED 40 LAKE, YELLOW 5 LAKE.

Unfortunately, these contain egg products and aren't vegan.

Mini Chewy Mixed Fruit Ingredients: DEXTROSE, CORN SYRUP, HYDROGENATED COCONUT OIL, MALTODEXTRIN, AND LESS THAN 2% OF DL-MALIC ACID, CALCIUM STEARAGE, EGG ALBUMEN, NATURAL FLAVORS, MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES, CARNAUBA WAX, BLUE 1 LAKE, BLUE 2 LAKE, RED 40 LAKE, YELLOW 5 LAKE, YELLOW 6 LAKE.

These also contain egg.

Chewy Fusions Fruit Punch Medley Ingredients: DEXTROSE, SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, MALIC ACID (DL-MALIC ACID), CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF MODIFIED CORN STARCH, GELATIN, CONFECTIONERS GLAZE (LAC RESIN), CIRTIC ACID, LACTIC ACID, CELLULOSE GUM, SODIUM CITRATE, RED 40 LAKE, CARNAUBA WAX, YELLOW 5, NATURAL FLAVORS, YELLOW 5 LAKE, BLUE 2 LAKE, RED 40, BLUE 1, CARMINE (COLOR), BLUE 1 LAKE, WATERMELON JUICE CONCENTRATE.

These chewy candies with the tart shell contain both gelatin and confectioner's glaze and aren't vegan.

Unfortunately, all varieties of chewy Sweetarts contain animal ingredients and aren't suitable for vegans. Wondering what those controversial ingredients are?

What is Gelatin?

According to Peta.org, "Gelatin is a protein obtained by boiling skin, tendons, ligaments, and/or bones with water. It is usually obtained from cows or pigs. Gelatin is used in shampoos, face masks, and other cosmetics; as a thickener for fruit gelatins and puddings (such as Jell-O); in candies, marshmallows, cakes, ice cream, and yogurts; on photographic film; and in vitamins as a coating and as capsules, and it is sometimes used to assist in “clearing” wines. Gelatin is not vegan."

What is Confectioner’s Glaze?

According to tasteforlife.com, "Confectioner's glaze, also known as pharmaceutical glaze, is used by numerous candy companies to add a shiny, smooth finish on their products. It's made using shellac, but shellac is made of bug secretions" from the lac bug. It's a lot more appetizing for a company to list confectioner's glaze instead of lac bug secretions. At least they did list "lac resin" next to "confectioner's glaze" in the ingredients list. Want to learn more about confectioner's glaze? Click HERE to read more about it.

Sweet Tarts Ropes

Sweetarts Ropes are a chewy, rope-like candy with a filling. Let's check out the ingredient lists to see if they're vegan. Any non-vegan ingredients will be in bold.

Tangy Strawberry Soft & Chewy Ropes Ingredients: SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, WHEAT FLOUR, AND LESS THAN 2% OF WATER, CITRIC ACID, GLYCERIN, SORBITOL, CONFECTIONER'S GLAZE (LAC-RESIN), NATURAL FLAVORS, MALTODEXTRIN, SODIUM CITRATE, DL-MALIC ACID, GELATIN, FRUIT AND VEGETABLE JUICE COLOR, SALT.

The good news is that these are colored with fruit and vegetable juice instead of yellow, blue and red coloring. The bad news is that they contain confectioner's glaze and gelatin.

Mixed Fruit Ropes Bites Ingredients: SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, WHEAT FLOUR, WATER, LESS THAN 2% OF CITRIC ACID, SORBITOL, MALTODEXTRIN, SODIUM CITRATE, CORN STARCH, GLYCERIN, DL-MALIC ACID, GELATIN, NATURAL FLAVORS, VEGETABLE JUICE COLOR, CONFECTIONER'S GLAZE (LAC-RESIN), SALT, SPIRULINA EXTRACT COLOR, BETA-CAROTENE COLOR), TUMERIC OLEORESIN COLOR.

These soft bites also contain confectioner's glaze and gelatin.

Sour Apple Ropes Ingredients: SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, WHEAT FLOUR, WATER, LESS THAN 2% OF CITRIC ACID, SORBITOL, MALTODEXTRIN, SODIUM CITRATE, CORN STARCH, GLYCERIN, MALIC ACID (DL-MALIC ACID), GELATIN, VEGETABLE OIL (COCONUT, CANOLA), CONFECTIONER'S GLAZE (LAC-RESIN), SALT, NATURAL FLAVORS, SPIRULINA EXTRACT COLOR, ACETIC ACID, TUMERIC OLEORESIN COLOR.

These contain gelatin and confectioner's glaze.

Collision Watermelon Berry Ropes Ingredients: SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, WHEAT FLOUR, WATER, LESS THAN 2% OF SORBITOL, CITRIC ACID, MALTODEXTRIN, CORN STARCH, SODIUM CITRATE, GLYCERIN, MALIC ACID (DL-MALIC ACID), GELATIN, NATURAL FLAVORS, SALT, CONFECTIONER'S GLAZE (LAC-RESIN), VEGETABLE OIL (COCONUT, CANOLA), WATERMELON JUICE CONCENTRATE, SPRIRULINA EXTRACT COLOR, TURMERIC OLEORESIN COLOR, VEGETABLE JUICE COLOR.

These contain both confectioner's glaze and gelatin.

Twisted Mixed Berry Ropes Bites Ingredients: SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, WHEAT FLOUR, WATER, 2% OR LESS OF CONFECTIONER'S GLAZE (LAC RESIN), CITRIC ACID, SORBITOL, MALTODEXTRIN, NATURAL FLAVORS, SODIUM CITRATE, GLYCERIN, MALIC ACID (DL-MALIC ACID), GELATIN, FRUIT AND VEGETABLE JUICE COLOR, SALT, SPRIULINA EXTRACT COLOR, BETA-CAROTENE COLOR.

These contain gelatin and confectioner's glaze.

Twisted Rainbow Soft and Chewy Ropes Ingredients: SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, WHEAT FLOUR, WATER, 2% OR LESS OF CONFECTIONER'S GLAZE (LAC RESIN), SORBITOL, CITRIC ACID, MALTODEXTRINM SODIUM CITRATE, GLYCERIN, MALIC ACID (DL-MALIC ACID), NATURAL FLAVORS, GELATIN, FRUIT AND VEGETABLE JUICE COLOR, SALT, SPRIULINA EXTRACT COLOR, BETA-CAROTENE COLOR, TUMERIC OLEORESIN COLOR.

These contain confectioner's glaze and gelatin.

Cherry Punch Soft & Chewy Ropes Ingredients: SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, WHEAT FLOUR, AND LESS THAN 2% OF WATER, CITRIC ACID, SORBITOL, CONFECTIONER'S GLAZE (LAC-REDIN), MALTODEXTRINM SODIUM CITRATE, GLYCERIN, DL-MALIC ACID, GELATIN, VEGETABLE JUICE COLOR, NATURAL FLAVORS, SALT, BETA-CAROTENE COLOR.

These contain both gelatin and confectioner's glaze.

Unfortunately, all the the SweeTart ropes varieties contain both gelatin and confectioner's glaze and are NOT VEGAN.

FAQ

Is sugar vegan?

While sugar comes from sugar cane, which is a natural plant, the production process of some brands of white sugar uses bone char. According to Peta.org, "Bone char—often referred to as natural carbon—is widely used by the sugar industry as a decolorizing filter, which allows the sugar cane to achieve its desirable white color." So cane sugar doesn't technically contain any animal products. Some vegans choose to stay away from it because of how it's processed.

Are Sweet Tarts healthy?

Sorry but no. Their main ingredients are sugar and food colorings. Just because Original Sweet Tarts are vegan does not mean they're healthy.

Summary

The good news is that the Original Sweet Tarts can fit in with a vegan diet. The bad news is that all of the Chewy and Ropes varieties can not. They all contain either egg whites, gelatin, or confectioner's glaze. But if you're at the movies and looking for a candy with a sweet and sour taste, Sweet Tarts might be your best bet.

Wondering if other kinds of candy are vegan? Check out: