Are Dum Dums Vegan? Dum Dum Lollipop Ingredients
The sweet taste of Dum Dum clams everyone’s soul. It is one of the most popular candies and is loved by kids and adults across the globe like Twizzlers, Sour Patch Kids, Lifesavers and many more. It comes in a variety of fruity flavors and bright colors. But, are Dum Dum candies vegan? Let us quickly find out!
If you are following a vegan diet and are equally tempted by your favorite Dum Dum candies, here you go. We have scrutinized several candies like Pop Tarts, Airheads, Lifesavers, Sour Patch Kids, Starburst and many more for their vegan status. Now, this review will help you learn whether Dum Dums are vegan friendly. Scroll down to know the ingredients, nutritional aspects, and many more unknown facts about Dum Dum candies.
What Are Dum Dums?
Originated from Akron Candy Company in Bellevue, Ohio, in 1924, Dum Dum has remained as one of the most popular candies across the globe. It is currently available in 16 flavors, with new flavors rotating often. A fun part every fan of this candy knows about is the Mystery Flavor, which is created by mixing the end of one batch with the next batch. It means they do not clean machines in between flavors.
Are Dum Dums Vegan?
Dum Dums are generally considered vegan-friendly. They are free from gelatin and do not contain any animal-derived ingredients. While Dum Dums are not certified vegan, they are widely regarded as suitable for vegans. Howevr, it’s important to note that manufacturing practices may vary, and cross-contamination could occur.
Dum Dums ingredients
The basic ingredients of Dum Dums include sugar, corn syrup, citric acid, malic acid, salt, artificial flavor, and color added (reference). Though these ingredients are assumed vegan, some of these are still controversial owing to their production process. These are mentioned below.
- Sugar
- Flavorings
- Colors
1. Sugar
For those following a strict vegan lifestyle, sugar is a controversial ingredient. The pure white color of refined cane sugar is a result of its processing method, which includes bone char. Though sugar itself doesn’t contain any bone char particles, the production process makes it animal-derived for some ingredients.
2. Flavorings
Both natural and artificial flavorings can come from animal or plant sources. Usually, the natural flavorings used in candies are sourced from plants. If any product uses flavors from animal-origin, it is highlighted in the label. Since there is no mention of any animal sources in the label, we can assume that Dum Dum candies are vegan-friendly.
3. Colors
Food colors are often tested on animals and therefore, are controversial ingredients for the vegans. There are a number of food colors that are derived from plants and are not tested on animals
Are Non-Original Dum Dums Vegan?
Yes, all the non-original Dum Dum candies produced from the same brand are vegan. Some of the non-original popular Dum Dum candies from the same brand are Color Party, Limited Edition, Heart Pops, Bunny Pops. These variations use exactly the same ingredients as the original Dum Dum candies. Sometimes these do not contain the salt and it makes a little difference in the taste quotient, but there is no difference otherwise.
However, you should also check the brand before assuming the candies vegan. The products from other brands might not be vegan and you should always check the label to determine it.
Conclusion
Based on the above analysis, Dum Dums are vegan as well as dairy-free, gluten-free, peanut-free, and allergen-free candy. Hence, if you were wondering whether to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings with these colorful candies when you are on a vegan diet, the answer should be a yes.
Go ahead and pamper yourself and your kids with the classic Dum Dum candies without any worry. Each Dum Dum Pop has less than 25 calories and no fat, making it a safer option than the other candies. Said that we cannot state that Dum Dums are one of the healthiest candies you can have.
Since Dum Dums vegan candies contain sugar, flavoring, and colors, it is essential not to indulge in them too often. Like any other sweet item containing sugar, portion control is the key to prevent obesity and the oral cavity when it comes to relishing your favorite Dum Dums. You can also have a look at the scrutiny of other candies like Twizzlers, Skittles, Swedish Fish and others in our vegan FAQs section.
