If you’re vegan, or if you care about animal welfare, the answer to this question is probably important to you. Warheads are a type of candy that is popular among kids and adults alike. But are warheads vegan? Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients in Warheads and find out.
Are Warheads Vegan?
The beloved Warheads are vegan-friendly, and among the most fruit-flavored candy options for vegans. Although processed, containing a number of additives like many foods nowadays, they’re completely friendly for those who adhere to a vegan lifestyle.
Warheads Vegan Basic Ingredients
Ingredients for the traditional Warheads (Extreme Sour Hard Candy) include:
- Sugar
- Corn Syrup
- Citric Acid
- Microencapsulated Malic Acid (Malic Acid, Hydrogenated Palm Oil)*
- Gum Acacia
- Soybean Oil (Processing Aid)
- Ascorbic Acid
- Artificial Flavors
- Carnauba Wax
- Corn Starch
- Blue 1
- Red 40
- Yellow 5
Why Warheads Are Considered Vegan
Warheads Do Not Include Confectioner’s Glaze or Beeswax. While the presence of confectioner’s glaze would not make a food product automatically unacceptable for all vegans, it is often put on produce to improve visual appeal. Still, many vegans prefer to avoid the substance altogether, so it is helpful to know when a candy product does not include it.
Confectioner’s glaze is an alcohol-based solution that contains shellac.
Shellac is a secretion from lac bugs that forms “sticklac” on tree branches. The female Kerria lacca bug feeds off sap from the tree and excretes sticklac, which filtered out shellac can be used for various commercial purposes. To obtainshellacy, scrapers are utilized to gather it from trees where the bugs have been feeding.
The bugs create small lacquer and resin structures, called “cocoons,” although they don’tresemble traditional cocoons entomologically.
Are Warheads Chewy Cubes Vegan?
Warheads Chewy Cubes are vegan-friendly as they don’t use gelatin, egg whites, or any other animal-derived ingredients to achieve their texture. They also don’t contain beeswax, confectioner’s glaze, or carmine.
Are Warheads Warms Vegan?
Unfortunately, Warhead Worms are not vegan as they contain gelatin and lactose. There are also other potential problem ingredients like glycerin and glycerides.
Are Warheads Ok for Young Children?
Age isn’t the only factor to consider when buying warheads sour- some candies are only for those 4 and up due to choking hazards. And as tasty as sour chewy cubes is, it might not be everyone’s cup of tea- quite literally. Some folks have mouths more sensitive than others to acids in both food and candy (think: pineapple, citrus). The acids we use include Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, and Malic Acid- all approved by the FDA for general consumption!
Are Warheads Sour Twist Vegan?
Warheads Sour Twists also contain lactose. The ingredients are: 21 Corn Syrup Sugar Wheat Flour Modified Corn Starch, Lactose Malic Acid Citric Acid Palm Fat Lactic Acid Sodium Lactate Salt Trisodium Citrate Mono and Diglycerides Artificial Flavors Glycerin Artificial Color, Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5.
Final Thoughts on Are Warheads Vegan
Overall, if you’re looking for vegan-friendly fruit-flavored candy like sour jelly beans that packs a major punch of sourness, Warheads are a great option. They’re made with natural ingredients and don’t contain any animal products or byproducts. However, remember to check the ingredient labels carefully before purchasing them to ensure they haven’t changed their formulation. If you have any concerns about specific products, it’s always best to contact the manufacturer directly and ask for more information. And as always, if you have any food-related allergies or dietary restrictions, be sure to check with your healthcare provider before consuming any new foods.
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