Does Starburst Have Gelatin?
Starburst candies are vegan in the UK but not in the USA. Why does this happen? There are two reasons. First, the US FDA requires food manufacturers to list any artificial coloring used in foods on the label. Second, the US FDA allows only natural flavors to be listed on labels. Since gelatin is considered a flavor, it cannot be listed on the label.
However, if you buy starburst popular candies online, you’ll find that they are labeled as vegan. This means that they do not contain any animal products.
So, why is starburst vegan in the UK but non-vegan in the US? Well, the difference comes down to the ingredients. In the UK, starburst candies contain no gelatin at all. However, in the US, starburst candies may contain gelatin.
This is due to the fact that the US FDA allows only naturally derived flavors to be listed on food labels. Therefore, starburst candies must contain a naturally derived flavor, which is gelatin.
So, next time you’re wondering whether starburst candies are vegan or not, remember that they are vegan in the UK. But, if you’re buying them in the US, you might want to consider checking out the ingredients label.
What Is Starburst?
Starburst is a candy brand that originated in Canada and was later introduced to the United States. There are two main types of starburst candies available: jelly beans and hard candies. Both varieties are made primarily using corn syrup, sugar, and various fruit juices. Some varieties may also include gelatin, but most don’t.
Jelly beans are small round candies that come in a wide array of flavors. They are typically sold individually wrapped in plastic bags and sometimes packaged in boxes. Hard candies are larger pieces of candy that are usually sold in bulk containers. They tend to be more expensive than jelly beans because they cost more to produce.
Both jelly beans and hard candies are considered vegan because they don’t contain animal products. However, there is another type of starburst treat that is commonly found in grocery stores that isn’t vegan. These starbursts are gelatin free and are known as confections.
Unlike jelly beans and hard candy, confections are made entirely out of corn syrup and sugar. They are also flavored with fruit juices, although they don’t necessarily taste like fruit. Gelatin is used to give them a chewy texture. Because they are made with gelatin, they are not considered vegan.
If you want to avoid buying any starbursts, you should stay away from confections. Although they are technically vegan, they still contain gelatin which is derived from animals.
What Is Gelatin?
Gelatin is a food common ingredient made from the connective tissue of animals. It is used to bind candy ingredients together and gives them a soft, chewy texture. Gelatin is derived from collagen, which comes from the skins, bones, ligaments, and tendons of cows, pigs, sheep, goats, and deer.
Vegan-friendly alternatives include agar-agar, pectin, and carrageenan. Agar-agar is a seaweed-derived product that is similar to gelatin in its ability to qualify liquids. Pectin is found naturally in fruit sources and vegetables and is a thickening agent. Carrageenan is extracted from red algae and is commonly used as a stabilizer in ice cream.
The United States starburst manufacturers prefer to use the animal-based by-products of gelatin. No one seems to know why.
Disputable Ingredients For Vegans
Sugar
Starburst’s favorite candies are delicious treats that come in various flavors including strawberry and chocolate. However, they are notorious for their high levels of sugar content.
The organic sugar content of Starburst’s favorite candies varies depending on the flavor. Strawberry and Chocolate varieties have the highest sugar content at 45g per 100g serving.
While most people enjoy eating sweets, some prefer to eat healthier alternatives. Some people avoid foods with added sugar altogether. Others are concerned about the effects of excessive natural sugar intake on their overall health.
The controversy surrounding sugar stems from the fact that it is highly debated whether or not vegan diets should include sugar. Many vegans believe that generic sugar is unhealthy and that it causes weight gain. On the other hand, others argue that since the process of sugar cane is derived from plants, it is perfectly fine for vegans to consume.
Regardless of whether or not vegans should eat sugar, we can agree that Starburst’s colorful candies are delicious and addictive. So, if you’re craving a sweet treat, try out Starburst instead of reaching for the traditional Hershey bar!
Flavorings
Starburst has natural flavors in its jelly flavors in candies. These flavors include vanilla bean, orange peel, raspberry, strawberry, pineapple, coconut, lemon, lime, cherry, grapefruit, and banana. Starburst does not use any artificial ingredients or additives in its candy products.
There is no debate about whether or not there should be artificial flavors in food. Artificial flavors are used to add depth and complexity to foods. Without them, our meals wouldn’t taste nearly as delicious. However, if you prefer natural flavors, then you’ll find them in most of the food items available today.
For example, you may enjoy eating a bagel with cream cheese and cinnamon raisin bread spread. You might not realize that the cinnamon raisin bread spread was made using artificial flavors. Or maybe you’d rather eat a chocolate chip cookie without knowing that it contained artificial flavors. Either way, you’ve still enjoyed a tasty treat.
Food Colorings
There are two types of food colorings that are commonly found in candy makers: artificial and natural. Artificial food colorings are made using chemicals that are extracted from plants and minerals. Natural food colorings are made from plant extracts, insects, fish scales, algae, lichens, and fungi. Both types of food colorings are safe for human consumption, but there are still concerns regarding whether or not they are safe for animal friendly.
Some vegan advocates believe that no animal should ever be harmed for the sake of our enjoyment. As such, they refuse to eat anything that was tested on animals. Other vegans may be willing to consume certain foods that were tested on animals, but they won’t buy products that were tested on animals unless they are 100% certain that the product doesn’t contain any animal byproducts.
Palm Oils
There are many reasons why vegans avoid using palm oil products. One reason is that it’s made by destroying rainforests and causing harm to endangered species. Another reason is that palm oil is produced in a harmful manner that destroys ecosystems and kills wildlife.
However, there are many vegan options available today that are safe for the environment.
Starburst Jelly Beans Ingredients
Starburst products, Jelly Beans are made of white sugar, corn syrup, water, acid citric acid, acid malic acid, natural flavors, artificial colors flavorings, yellow 5 carotenes, red 40 carotenes, blue 1 carotene, green 3 carotenes, annatto oil, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, calcium propionate, titanium dioxide, xanthan gum, guar gum, pectin, cellulose gum, dextrose monohydrate, sucralose, polysorbate 60, and/or polysorbate 80.
While starburst jelly beans are not vegan, they are not made using gelatin. Instead, they are coated with a glaze that contains animal products.
Shellac
Jelly beans are delicious treats that everyone loves. However, if you’re vegan, then you might find yourself avoiding jelly beans due to the fact that they contain shellac.
This is the natural ingredient list that gives Jelly Beans their glossy appearance. It’s also used to give wooden furniture its shine and protect it from scratches. Unfortunately, shellac isn’t edible, so it’s gross.
However, there is another product called shellac that is safe to consume. It’s made from the secretions of female lac bugs and is dissolved in alcohol. You can buy it online or at craft stores.
You’ll notice that shellac doesn’t look very appetizing. It’s kind of slimy and sticky. But it does add a nice sheen to products like wooden furniture and paintbrushes.
Where Can I Find Vegan Starburst?
If you want to find vegan starburst, you’ll have to look online. You can buy international versions of starburst at Amazon or private online sellers. Some online stores may even do gift boxes of British candies.
However, it can be more challenging to find out whether or not the starburst you purchase is vegan. Most packages won’t say anything about it. So, you’ll have to rely on the packaging itself.
You should be able to determine if the package says “vegan” somewhere on it. If it does, then you’re good to go. Otherwise, you’ll have to ask the seller where the product was made.
Some online stores may even do vegan starburst. But, you might have to search for it.
Is Starburst Dairy Free?
Starburst is made using gelatin, which is derived from collagen found in cows’ bones. While there are no warnings on the package, it does say that the product is vegan-friendly. However, if you prefer not to eat meat, you may want to avoid eating this candy.
There are no warnings on the box, so it’s unlikely that the manufacturer uses separate machines to produce and manufacture the candy. Instead, it’s probably manufactured at the same facility where they make other favorite childhood candies.
That means that the chances of cross-contamination between food items are pretty high. As long as you keep an eye out for labels, you should be fine.
Should You Buy Starbursts?
Starbursts are delicious and ever-so-popular candy treats that come in a variety of flavors. While they may seem innocent enough, there is quite a bit of controversy surrounding them. Some people think that they should never be bought at all, while others believe that they shouldn’t be avoided either.
There are two main reasons that people avoid buying starbursts. One reason is that they are produced using gelatin, which comes from cows. And is one of the controversial Ingredients. Gelatin is derived from collagen, which is found in the skin and connective tissues of animals. Because of this, many vegans feel that it is wrong to buy starbursts since they are indirectly supporting the dairy products industry.
Another reason that people avoid buying starbursts is that they are accidentally vegan. According to the website Vegan Food Guide, starbursts are accidentally vegan if they are made without condensed milk powder. However, they are not accidentally vegan if they are manufactured with milk powder.
So, should you buy starbursts? Well, it depends on whether or not you are concerned about animal rights. If you are, then you probably won’t buy any starbursts at all. If you are not concerned about animal rights, then you might consider buying them occasionally. Just don’t eat them every day.
FAQs
Are Mini Starbursts Vegan?
Starburst Minis are vegan in the UK, but not in the USA. As mentioned above, the American version contains an ingredient called Confectioner’s Glaze. The confectioner’s glaze is derived from insects and is therefore not considered vegan friendly.
However, there is a way to find out whether or not mini starbursts are vegan-friendly. You can simply ask the manufacturer of the gummy candy itself. If they say that the fruity candy is vegan, then it probably is. If they say otherwise, then it’s probably not.
As long as the product is labeled correctly, it should be fine to consume. Just remember that you might be eating a little bit of bug juice.
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!