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Are Sour Patch Kids Vegan? Do They Contain Gelatin?

Are Sour Patch Kids Vegan? Do They Contain Gelatin?

Are Sour Patch Kids Vegan?

Are Sour Patch Kids Vegan?

Sour Patch Kids are often thought to be vegan because they don’t include any animal-derived ingredients. However, they still contain ingredients derived from animals. These ingredients come from the sugar cane used to make the candy. Sugar cane is harvested using harmful methods that cause pain and suffering to the animals involved.

Sour Patch Kids are made from sugar cane, which comes from sugar beets and is a chewy candy Sugarcane is grown using harmful methods that cause great amounts of pain and suffering to the sugar cane itself. As a result, the sugar cane must be harvested using painful methods.

This means that there is no way to avoid the use of animal products in making Sour Patch Kids. Even though they claim to be vegan products, they still contain ingredients that come from animals. So, no they are not safe for vegans.

You may think that Sour Patch Kids are safe because they don’t contain any animal-derived ingredients, but they still contain ingredients that came from animals. You should not buy Sour Patch Kids if you are concerned about being vegan.

Do Sour Patch Kids Contain Gelatin?

Do Sour Patch Kids Contain Gelatin?

Sour Patch Kids do not contain gelatin. Gelatin is made from the collagen in animals’ skin and bones. The amount of gelatin in Sour Patch Kids, however, is relatively small. There are many rumors on the internet about what type of animal proteins are used to make the Sour Patch Kid ingredients, but we do not know for sure which types of animals they come from.

Therefore, it is impossible to tell how much gelatin Sour Patch Kids contain through reading their labels. Therefore it is best just not to eat them at all if you’re vegan and don’t want any animal product involved in your food.

What Exactly Are Sour Patch Kids?

What Exactly Are Sour Patch Kids?

Sour Patch Kids are a type of gummy candy that is sour and sweet at the same time. They are made into eight soft and chewy shapes, including hearts, stars, dots, lightning bolts, fireworks, and musical notes.

Sour Patch Kids have an intensely sour taste with hints of watermelon or fruit punch. They also have a great tangy aftertaste that makes them perfect for any kind of eat-in or snack food. Sour Patch Kids’ chewy texture is ideal for snacking on in between meals or as a dessert.


What Are The Ingredients Used In Sour Patch Kids?

All of the ingredients used in Sour Patch Kids are safe for vegans unless they are derived from animals.

There is no listing of calories on the packaging. That doesn’t mean that they don’t have any. Instead, it means that they have less than five calories per serving. The number of calories in Sour Patch Kids may vary depending on the serving size and the brand purchased.

However, this means that you do not need to limit your portions when eating Sour Patch Kids because you won’t be adding much extra to your daily calorie count if you eat them in moderation.


Sour Patch Kids Vegan Varieties

Sour Patch Kids Vegan Varieties

The varieties of Sour Patch Kids that are suitable for vegans are hearts, stars, and dots-shaped gummies. These are available in many different flavors, including sour watermelon and sour candy apple, but they all contain the following ingredients: sugar, cornstarch citric acid, tartaric acid, dextrose (or high fructose corn syrup), citrus fruits (d-limonene), aspartame, natural flavors  (orange and watermelon), and artificial colors.

Sugar is made from sugar cane and can come from a variety of different sources. Sugar cane is also called sugar beets. The process of extracting sugar from sugar beets is quite gruesome and causes large amounts of pain and suffering to the animals involved in this process.


Do Sour Patch Kids Contain Any Gluten?

Sour Patch Kids do not contain gluten. Gluten is a protein found in certain grains and foods made from these grains. Although it is not a complete list, here are some of the products that may contain gluten.

They include barley, bulgur, ciabatta, couscous, tartaric acid, durum flour, enchilada sauce, malic acid, farina, farro flour (ancient grain and high in gluten), French fries (potato based), Graham crackers (gluten-free options available), hulled barley (ancient grain and high in gluten), ice cream cones and cones. They also include malt vinegar and many types of beer.


Are Sour Patch Kids Free Of Dairy?

Are Sour Patch Kids Free Of Dairy?

 Sour Patch Kids are dairy-free. Dairy is an animal product and Sour Patch Kids does not contain any animal products.

Sour Patch Kids were first released by the Just Born company in 1982 under the name Sugar Daddy Sweets. They were created by a former Tootsie Roll employee who worked at a Chicago candy store as a child during the Great Depression.

The person behind this original creation was Walter Marsh, who is now deceased and known as the “Father of Sour Patch Kids.


Is It Possible To Make Sour Patch Kids At Home?

The answer is yes, you can make Sour Patch Kids at home. You can do this by following these steps:

Ingredient List:

  • 1 large bag of organic sugar
  • 1½ cups of water
  • 2 tablespoons of corn syrup
  • Glucose Syrups
  • Paprika Extract
  • 2 teaspoons of baking soda

Makes 2 pounds (900 g) of gummi candy with this recipe. The preparation time is approximately ten hours. Yields about 60 Sour Patch Kids per pound (roughly 30 per kg).

The total preparation time is about 10 hours and requires a thermometer and a candy/fat thermometer. This recipe is not vegan-friendly due to the use of corn syrup, which may be refined with animal bones char.

Controversial Ingredients In Sour Patch Kids

These are the main issue on controversial ingredients found in Sour Patch Kids. They are not suitable for strict vegan and others should also take note that these ingredients can cause harm to their health.

1. Sugar

The main controversial ingredient in Sour Patch Kids is sugar. Sugar is refined from organic cane sugar or beet sugar, which is produced by the crushing of the stems and leaves of a plant. The process is quite gruesome and causes large amounts of pain and suffering to the animals involved in this process.

The products that result from this process may look like food, but they are not. They are highly processed foods that have been refined with bone char according to some of the sugar suppliers.

It is important to note that not all vegan sweets avoid refined sugar completely, but most do because it has been associated with a number of health problems including tooth decay, obesity, diabetes type 2, insulin resistance, and heart disease.

2. Natural and Artificial

Next on the list is the use of artificial sour flavor. These are often used in foods that are not naturally flavored, but this makes it difficult to determine their exact makeup. Artificial flavors may contain MSG (monosodium glutamate), FD&C colors and in some cases, added plain sugar.

3. Candy People

This is the use of candy people in their products. Just Born makes claims that they are made from real people. They also go on to clarify that this use is permitted because it is the second skin of sorts, and it may be used in conjunction with other ingredients.

However, Just Born’s website states that they do not believe real human beings could be harmed by the use of these candy people. Furthermore, they claim that their products are made in facilities where there are strict operating procedures and regulations.

4. Gelatin

Gelatin may be found in the Sour Patch Kids, if so it is usually derived from pork bone. This is done by placing the bones in large machines and then extracting the gelatin from them.

However, it should be noted that gelatin substitutes are available for vegans. These are made from a plant source called agar and can be purchased online or at some health food stores. They are also used as a thickening agent and a substitute for gelatin in food products.

5. SmartSweets

The SmartSweets in Sour Patch Kids are different from the ingredients above. These are snacks that come in the form of gummies. They are made from dextrose, which is a type of sugar derived from cornstarch.

6. YumEarth

The YumEarth ingredient in Sour Patch Kids is sodium saccharin. This is a chemical sweetener used as an artificial sweetener. It has been linked to liver and kidney damage, cancer, birth defects, and early death.

7. Haribo

The main controversial ingredient in Sour Patch Kids is stevia. This component may be found in their energy gummies. It is used as a sweetener, but despite its health benefits, it does have some unwanted side effects such as nausea and stomach upset.

8. Project 7

The main controversial ingredient in Sour Patch Kids is carrageenan. This is a seaweed extract that is used to give the gummy candy its ‘gelatinous’ texture. The Food and Drug Administration has deemed this a food additive, but there are many other harmful ingredients that are allowed in food products, so it may be something to be cautious of.

Why Do Some Vegans Eat Sour Patch Kids?

The reason is that they taste good, and they claim that their products are plant-based ingredients. They are sweet and sour and they taste like candy. Many vegans dislike the taste of sweets because they are not sweet enough for them, but this is not the case with Sour Patch Kids. They are sweet and sour, which creates a tasty treat for a vegan lifestyle, or if you are still a bit sketchy about it try looking for alternative candy.

Hey'all I'm Amy, a born foodie and diagnosed with celiac disease 7 years ago. I refused to cave into tasteless, boring gulten free food and create my own!
On my blog you'll find info & cool facts along with recipes, all on gluten free foods!

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