Are Skittles Vegan?
It Depends
Original Skittles (Original, Wild Berry, Tropical, Sour) are free of direct animal-derived ingredients and widely accepted as vegan, but the Squishy Cloudz variety contains gelatin and is not vegan.
The catch: Variety matters: classic hard-shell Skittles are vegan, but Skittles Squishy Cloudz contain gelatin (animal collagen); additionally, the cane sugar used may be refined through bone char, which strict vegans consider non-vegan.
Category
Candy
Verdict
It Depends
Brand
Mars Wrigley
Mars Wrigley removed gelatin from the US original formula around 2009 and removed carmine (cochineal beetle-derived red dye, E120) from UK Skittles by 2015, so both US and UK original varieties are now free of direct animal ingredients. However, Skittles Squishy Cloudz, a softer, gummy-style variety sold in Europe, list gelatin in their ingredients and are not vegan.
The cane sugar in Skittles is not certified organic, meaning it may have been refined through bone char (a filter made from animal bones); no animal residue remains in the final candy, but strict vegans and some vegan organizations flag this as a concern. Hydrogenated palm kernel oil is present in most varieties and is technically plant-based, though some ethical vegans avoid it due to deforestation impacts.
What makes it non-vegan
- ✕Gelatin (in Squishy Cloudz only)
Vegan alternatives
- ✓YumEarth Organic Fruit Chews (certified vegan, non-GMO)
- ✓Surf Sweets Fruity Bears (gelatin-free, vegan)
- ✓Swedish Fish (no gelatin, widely accepted as vegan)
- ✓Airheads (no gelatin or carmine, vegan-friendly)
Looking to make your own? Browse our vegan swaps.
Other candy
Sources
Last checked June 19, 2026. Always confirm on the current product label, since recipes change. Product photo via Open Food Facts.
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