Twizzlers holds a special place in the pantheon of classic American candies. These chewy licorice twists come in a variety of fruity flavors and have been enjoyed for generations. But for those avoiding pork products, a crucial question arises: does Twizzlers contain pork?
Let’s unravel the truth about whether this iconic candy contains hidden animal ingredients.
Why Would Twizzlers Contain Pork?
It may seem odd that a fruit-flavored candy would contain pork. But pork byproducts like gelatin are sometimes added to gummy candies and licorice to improve texture.
Gelatin is made by boiling animal parts like skin bones and connective tissue. It helps achieve the characteristic chewy yet somewhat firm consistency of products like marshmallows, gummy bears, and certain licorice candies.
Without gelatin, these confections would simply be sweetened liquids rather than satisfyingly chewable candies. That’s why carefully inspecting ingredients for pork-derived gelatin is important for those avoiding meat products.
This brings us back to the pressing question…
Examining the Ingredients: Does Twizzlers Contain Gelatin from Pork?
To get to the bottom of whether Twizzlers contain pork, we need to closely analyze the ingredients list.
According to the Twizzlers website, the main ingredients in original Twizzlers Strawberry Twists are:
- Wheat flour
- Corn syrup
- Sugar
- Palm oil
- Cornstarch
- Salt
- Artificial flavors
- Glycerin
- Soy lecithin
- Red dye #40
Reviewing this list, there is no evidence of gelatin or other pork-derived ingredients being used in the classic Strawberry Twizzlers.
Instead of animal-based gelatin, the chewy rope-like texture seems to come from glycerin, a plant-based additive Glycerin is a sugar alcohol derived from vegetable oils that helps preserve moisture.
The lack of gelatin in the ingredients indicates that original Twizzlers Strawberry twists contain no pork products. But what about other Twizzlers varieties?
Are Other Twizzlers Flavors and Styles Also Pork-Free?
According to the manufacturer, The Hershey Company, these additional Twizzlers flavors and types are also free of pork-derived gelatin:
- Twizzlers Cherry Twist
- Twizzlers Pull ‘n’ Peel
- Twizzlers NIBS
- Twizzlers Filled Twists
- Twizzlers Bites
However, it’s always smart to double check the ingredients list for specialty and limited edition Twizzlers, as formulations can change.
As long as you stick with standard Twizzlers products though, you can enjoy them pork-free. The classic chewy candy gets its texture from plant-based ingredients, not animal derivatives.
Pork-Free Alternatives to Gelatin-Containing Candies
While Twizzlers are gelatin-free, many other chewy candies do contain pork-derived gelatin and other animal products like:
- Starburst
- Skittles
- Swedish Fish
- Haribo gummy bears
- Jelly Belly jelly beans
- Marshmallows
Luckily, with the rise of vegan diets, there are more and more innovative gelatin-free candies available, such as:
- YumEarth gummy candies
- Surf Sweets gummy worms
- Lieber’s jelly beans
- Annie’s Homegrown Bunny Tails
- Dandies vegan marshmallows
These provide satisfyingly chewy candy options without hidden animal ingredients.
The Verdict: Twizzlers Are Pork and Gelatin Free
After thoroughly inspecting the ingredients list, we can definitively conclude that classic Twizzlers products contain no pork-derived gelatin or other animal ingredients.
The characteristic chewy texture comes from plant-based glycerin instead of animal-based gelatin. This makes beloved Twizzlers styles like Strawberry and Cherry Twists totally free of pork products and suitable for vegetarian, vegan, and halal diets.
So when a chewy candy craving strikes, Twizzlers lovers can twist away with the confidence that this iconic treat’s unique texture comes from plants, not pigs! The mystery of whether Twizzlers contains pork has been definitively solved.
Posted by Aaron Seminoff on August 18, 2017
Twizzlers are one of Americas most popular licorice candy products. Licorice is named after the root that gives black licorice its flavor. It is usually sold as either black licorice or red licorice.
Some people might say that Twizzlers don’t taste much like real licorice because they don’t have any licorice root or extract in them. However, the fact that they don’t taste like licorice may help them become so popular, especially with kids.
As well as Twists, Pull n Peel, NIBS, Filled Twists, and Bites in cherry, black, and even chocolate flavors, they come in a lot of different shapes and flavors.
But are Twizzlers Vegan?
Vegan foods are those that dont contain any animal products or byproducts. It might seem strange for animal products to be hidden in candy, especially non-chocolate candy, but byproducts are used a lot. The most commonly found animal ingredients in candy are:
- Gelatin – made from animal skin, bones, and tendons
- Bugs are used to make carmine, which is sometimes used as a red dye.
- Milk fat.
Twizzlers are tough and chewy, so one might suspect that they contain gelatin and therefore arent vegan. Are Twizzlers gelatin based? Lets take a look at the ingredients!.
- Corn syrup
- Wheat flour
- Sugar
- Cornstarch
- Palm oil
- Salt
- Artificial flavor
- Glycerin
- Citric acid
- Potassium sorbate
- Artificial color (red 40)
- Soy lecithin
*This list for the strawberry twists. Ingredients for other flavors can be found at Hershey website.
Good news for Twizzlers fans: Twizzlers don’t have gelatin in them, so vegans don’t have to worry about them.
The only potentially non-vegan ingredient on this list is glycerin, a byproduct of soap manufacture that commonly uses animal fat. Fortunately, Hershey describes their glycerin as “a food additive made from various vegetable oils.”
And while Twizzlers are red, their color does not come from carmine; in this case, the red color is red dye #40, which made without insects. To sum up, Twizzlers are vegan! You can eat them and be proud to wear your Vegan for the Animals shirt!
This vegan-friendly ingredient list means Twizzlers are frequently included on lists of vegan junk food and guides to vegan Halloween candy.
All in all, Twizzlers may be vegan, but they still have ingredients that are bad for you and the environment. Nobody expects candy to be perfectly healthy, but there are a few other issues in play here.
Twizzlers contain red dye #40 comes, which comes from petroleum distillates or coal tar, as well as palm oil which is driving deforestation and contributing to the destruction of animal habitats. Some people may also object to the corn syrup and preservatives. So all in all, may be worth your while to explore some other brands of licorice.
Other brands of licorice often have a much simpler ingredient list compared Twizzlers, and many are vegan. A lot of homemade recipes use gelatin or condensed milk to make them thick, but most store-bought brands are vegan (check the label before you buy). Here are a few vegan options to try:
Panda Licorice offers several flavors of vegan licorice. The Panda Licorice website offers the option to filter products to see only those that contain “no animal ingredients.” Beware that the licorice creams arent vegan, but the raspberry and original black licorice bites, and even the soft licorice bears, are vegan!
YumEarth proudly brands all of their candies as vegan (as well as gluten-free, kosher, no nuts, non-GMO and organic). They offer four flavors of licorice!
Newmans Own Organics Licorice claims to be, “the first licorice twist made with organic ingredients.” These licorice twists come in all sorts of flavors beyond black and cherry (including some crazy stuff like sour mango), all vegan and organic.
So there you have it – Twizzlers are suitable for vegans. Even though Twizzlers are tasty and great for when you’re on the go, there are probably better treats out there that are better for you and the environment.
If you want better licorice than Twizzlers, try some other brands. People who don’t like licorice might find that it’s not so bad after all. Just make sure to read the list of ingredients twice before you buy.
What is your favorite licorice? Have you seen a big difference between brands? Let us know in the comments! Want to make your favorite junk food at home? Check out our guides on Gushers and Oreos.
Do Twizzlers Have Gelatin?
FAQ
Is Twizzlers made with pork?
What candy has pork in it?
Is there pork product in licorice?
Is Twizzlers vegan or vegetarian?
Are Twizzlers vegan?
Unfortunately, whether certain Twizzler products like chocolate Twizzlers and cherry Twizzlers are vegan remains uncertain. Upon contacting the Hershey Company, they refused to confirm whether specific Twizzler products are vegan-friendly. If you don’t want to take the risk of Twizzlers not being vegan, here are some truly vegan candy alternatives:
What is a Twizzler candy?
Twizzlers are a popular brand of twisted candy manufactured by the Hershey Company. They were first introduced in 1845 and have since become a global staple in candy aisles. These candies are best known for their unique twist design, chewy texture, and vibrant colours. They come in a wide variety of fun flavours to satisfy the taste buds of many.
Do Twizzlers have gelatin?
No, none of the Twizzler products have gelatin or other pork-derived ingredients. Gelatin is an animal-derived ingredient that can be added to candies to improve texture, but Twizzlers are typically gelatin-free.
What are Twizzlers made of?
While Twizzlers are made from several ingredients, most products share many of the same ingredients. Common ingredients in Twizzler’s Twist and Pull-N-Peel products include enriched wheat flour, corn syrup/starch, sugar, vegetable oil, and salt.