Are Skittles Really Vegan? Facts, Ingredients & Surprising Details

• Written by Jul, 17 2025
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Colorful, chewy, and delightfully tangy—Skittles look innocent, just little rainbows of sugar. But if you’re vegan or thinking of making the switch, one question might have stopped you mid-grab: Are Skittles vegan, or are they just another sweet treat with secret animal ingredients? Back in college, I remember a heated group chat argument over whether the red Skittles used actual beetles for coloring. Spoiler: the answer is way more complicated than just yes or no, and honestly, candy labeling isn’t as transparent as we’d like.

What Makes Candy Vegan Anyway?

Before diving into Skittles, let’s talk about what makes a candy vegan. It goes beyond meat, milk, or eggs. True, you won’t find a cheeseburger-flavored Skittle (though imagine the chaos if you did), but candy makers love to sneak animal products into sweets. Common red flags? Gelatin (from animal bones), carmine (crushed beetles for red dye), shellac (secreted by insects for a shiny coating), and even certain sugars processed with bone char. To be genuinely vegan, a candy can’t have animal byproducts or be made using animal-derived processing agents.

Some candies scream their animal ingredients—a gummy bear almost always packs gelatin. Others, like some marshmallows, hide it well. And with Skittles, things get especially murky thanks to ingredient changes over the years. Some places still sell older formulas, while the U.S. versions have had a makeover. Just tracking which bag is on your supermarket shelf can feel like decoding a treasure map.

The Great Skittles Ingredient Evolution

Let’s get this out of the way—Skittles have changed. Before 2010, if you grabbed a pack, chances were high you’d bite into animal products. Gelatin took center stage, providing that irresistible chew. Red Skittles famously got their color boost from carmine, that infamous beetle extract. In 2009, Mars Wrigley (the company behind Skittles) announced it would phase out animal ingredients in the UK and US. By 2010, US Skittles said goodbye to gelatin and carmine, swapping in plant-based alternatives like modified corn starch and new color additives.

Ingredient lists now look a bit more reassuring: sugar, corn syrup, hydrogenated palm kernel oil, fruit juice concentrates, citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, colors (Red 40, Yellow 5, etc.), and very few mystery items. At first glance, all good! But the story isn’t finished. Other countries still sometimes use non-vegan ingredients in Skittles. If you buy Skittles in Europe or Asia, read the label—there are plenty of reports of pre-2010 formulas still floating around. U.S. Skittles? Technically vegan since 2010. But technically isn’t always the same thing as totally.

What’s In Skittles Today? Breaking Down The Ingredients

If you grab a fresh bag in the U.S. right now, here’s what you’re likely to find (and yes, I rummaged through my kitchen countertop just to double-check):

• Sugar
• Corn Syrup
• Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil
• Citric Acid
• Modified Corn Starch
• Flavorings (natural and artificial)
• Fruit Juice Concentrates (apple, lemon, strawberry… but in tiny amounts)
• Colors: Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1
• Acidity Regulators
• Artificial Flavors

There are no animal fats, no gelatin, no carmine, no shellac, and no other “obvious” animal products. So yes, U.S. Skittles as of 2025 don’t contain animal byproducts. But here’s why things get messy—sugar. The sugar in Skittles might be filtered with bone char, depending on supplier and region. Companies don’t have to tell you if their sugar is processed with animal bones, and Mars Wrigley hasn’t offered written confirmation about each specific sugar supplier. And let’s not forget palm oil—the environmental impact is another ethical question for plant-based eaters.

Still, compared to the pre-2010 version, new U.S. Skittles are a massive improvement for vegans. But cautious vegans, especially those strict about sugar processing and cross-contamination, might hesitate to call Skittles 100% vegan.

Are All Skittles Varieties Vegan?

This is where it gets wild. Classic Skittles (original, wild berry, tropical, sour) in the U.S.? All technically vegan, at least based on the ingredients list. But if you’re eyeing other varieties—think Skittles Dips, Skittles Chewies, or Skittles Gummies—check again. Skittles Gummies made a splash recently, but those are back to square one, loaded with gelatin like old-school candies. All the fun of Skittles, but not vegan. Skittles Dips look innocent, but that yogurt-like coating tends to use animal-based ingredients like milk powder or gelatin for texture. It’s really about reading every label and not getting too comfortable. Ingredient lists can flip without warning, and not every Skittles flavor is made the same.

Here’s a look at some popular Skittles options and their vegan status—

If you’re a vegan who only wants plant-based food down to the last molecule, I’d recommend skipping the novelty Skittles and sticking with that iconic red bag—always checking the label, just in case manufacturers change anything without warning.

Tips for Vegan Candy Lovers

Being a vegan with a sweet tooth can honestly feel like being on constant alert. Here’s what I’ve learned (the hard way) from years of squinting at labels:

• Always check the ingredients, even if you’ve bought the same brand before—recipes can change without warning.
• Check for sneaky ingredients: gelatin, carmine/cochineal (E120), shellac, beeswax (often used as a shiny coating).
• For UK and EU readers: Skittles might still differ from the U.S. version, and there’s variability between batches.
• If you want to avoid sugar processed with bone char, look for certified organic candies (USDA Organic sugar can’t use bone char) or candies made with beet sugar (which is never bone-char filtered).
• Consider supporting smaller vegan candy brands. They tend to be more transparent and responsive about their manufacturing process.
• Don’t stress over accidental traces. Unless you’re vegan for allergy reasons, most experts agree that tracing minuscule cross-contamination isn’t worth the headache. Focus on progress, not perfection.

I keep a “safe” candy stash in my glovebox for road trips. Harrison always laughs, but he’s the first to dig in when he’s missing a sugar rush. If you need a quick vegan fix, classic Skittles are quick, widely available, and a colorful way to fight a snack attack.

How Skittles Fit in a Vegan Diet and Lifestyle

Skittles might pass the vegan test for most eaters, but what about the bigger picture? Candy is still candy—and Skittles, despite skipping animal products, are pretty much sugar, artificial flavors, and colors. If you’re ditching animal products for health, Skittles won’t add much nutrition to your day. No fiber, not a single noteworthy vitamin, just a blast of quick-burning carbs wrapped up in cheerful colors. For plant-based eaters who love balance, Skittles are more a rare treat than a daily snack. And for anyone worried about artificial colors, there are studies linking some dyes to hyperactivity in children. It’s a risk for sensitive folks to consider.

Here’s a quick comparison of standard Skittles nutrition per serving (about 40g, or one bag):

Skittles fit fine for an occasional treat if you’re vegan, but your body will probably thank you if your snacks also include fruit, nuts, and whole grains most of the time. It’s also worth mentioning: vegan or not, Skittles aren’t safe for dogs—so keep that rainbow out of your pup’s reach.

So next time you get your candy fix, know that most U.S. Skittles varieties are now vegan, though there are little technicalities around sugar sourcing that purists might debate. If you want a guaranteed animal-free sweet, look for vegan-certified brands. If you’re craving those original chewy bites, grab a red bag, check the label, and taste the rainbow without (much) guilt.