Are Twizzlers Vegan?​

Twizzlers are a popular chewy candy, but whether they are vegan depends on the specific variety and how strictly you follow a vegan diet.

This guide explains what Twizzlers are made of, which flavors are generally vegan-friendly, and whether Twizzlers are officially certified vegan.

What Are Twizzlers?

Twizzlers are chewy, twisted candies best known for their strawberry flavor and licorice-style shape. The Hershey Company makes them, and they're widely available across the United States.

Although often called licorice candy, most Twizzlers varieties do not contain traditional licorice extract. They are mainly made from corn syrup, wheat flour, sugar, flavorings, and coloring agents.

Twizzlers come in several flavors and formats, including Strawberry, Cherry, Black Licorice, Pull 'n' Peel, Filled Twists, Bites, and Minis.

What Are Twizzlers Made Of?

Twizzlers are primarily made from corn syrup, enriched wheat flour, sugar, and cornstarch. Standard Strawberry Twizzlers also contain small amounts of palm oil, salt, artificial flavor, citric acid, mineral oil, artificial color such as Red 40, and lecithin.

The exact ingredients can vary by flavor and product type. For example, Filled Bites may contain additional ingredients such as pectin, glycerin, and carnauba wax. Because formulations differ, check each Twizzlers variety separately to determine whether it is vegan.

Are Twizzlers Vegan?

Yes, standard Twizzlers, such as Strawberry Twists, are generally considered vegan-friendly because their current ingredient list contains no gelatin, dairy, eggs, or other obvious animal-derived ingredients. Their main ingredients include corn syrup, wheat flour, sugar, cornstarch, palm oil, flavorings, and artificial colors. 

Are Different Twizzlers Flavors Vegan?

Many Twizzlers varieties are generally vegan-friendly based on their listed ingredients, but the formula differs by product.

I. Twizzlers Strawberry

Strawberry Twizzlers are generally considered vegan-friendly. Their ingredient list contains no gelatin, dairy, eggs, or other clearly animal-derived ingredients.

II. Twizzlers Cherry

Cherry Twizzlers are also generally vegan-friendly. They use ingredients such as corn syrup, wheat flour, sugar, cornstarch, palm oil, flavors, and Red 40, with no obvious animal-derived ingredient listed.

III. Twizzlers Black Licorice

Black Licorice Twizzlers appear vegan-friendly based on their ingredient list. Unlike Strawberry and Cherry varieties, they contain licorice extract, but no gelatin, milk, or eggs are listed.

IV.Twizzlers Pull 'n' Peel

Twizzlers Pull 'n' Peel are less clear for strict vegans. Cherry Pull 'n' Peel contains glyceryl monostearate, and its plant or animal source is not specified on the product label.

V. Twizzlers Filled Twists

Filled Twists are also not clearly vegan. Current varieties contain glyceryl monostearate along with ingredients such as vegetable oil, glycerin, carrageenan, and carnauba wax, so strict vegans may want to verify the ingredient source before eating them.

VI. Twizzlers Bites

Classic Cherry Twizzlers Bites are generally vegan-friendly based on their listed ingredients. They contain no gelatin, dairy, or eggs, although strict vegans may still have concerns about ingredients such as refined sugar and artificial colors.

VII. Twizzlers Minis

Twizzlers Mini Twists are not clearly vegan for strict vegans. Their current formula contains glyceryl monostearate, whose exact source is not stated, making their vegan status uncertain without manufacturer confirmation.

Are Twizzlers Certified Vegan?

Twizzlers are not currently marketed as certified vegan by a recognized third-party vegan certification organization.

Official Twizzlers product pages may display certifications such as the OU Kosher symbol, but kosher certification is not the same as vegan certification.

Hershey does maintain a list of products that it considers to qualify as vegan, but this is different from carrying an independent vegan certification seal.

How to Check Whether Candy Is Vegan?

The easiest way to check whether candy is vegan is to review its ingredient list for animal-derived ingredients. Look for ingredients such as gelatin, milk, whey, casein, butter, beeswax, carmine, and shellac.

You can also check for a recognized vegan certification on the package. Ingredients such as sugar, natural flavors, and certain additives may be less clear, so strict vegans may want to verify them with the manufacturer.

Final Verdict

Standard Twizzlers, including Strawberry Twists, are generally considered vegan-friendly because they do not contain obvious animal-derived ingredients such as gelatin, dairy, or eggs.

However, the vegan status of some varieties is less clear because ingredients like glyceryl monostearate may come from plant or animal sources.

Twizzlers are also not certified vegan, so strict vegans should check the ingredient list for each flavor and contact the manufacturer when an ingredient source is unclear.

FAQs

Are Twizzlers Vegetarian?

Standard Twizzlers are generally considered vegetarian because their listed ingredients do not include meat, gelatin, or other obvious animal-derived ingredients. However, formulas can vary by product.

Does Twizzlers have Pig Gelatin?

Standard Twizzlers Strawberry Twists do not contain pig gelatin or any other gelatin according to their current ingredient list. 

Are Twizzlers Gluten-Free?

Twizzlers are not gluten-free. Most Twizzlers products contain wheat flour, and Hershey states that no Twizzlers Twists products are labeled gluten-free.

Do Twizzlers Contain Dairy?

Standard Strawberry Twizzlers do not list milk or other dairy ingredients. Their current allergen statement identifies soy and wheat rather than milk.

Do Twizzlers Contain Eggs?

Standard Twizzlers do not list eggs as an ingredient or declared allergen.