Are Warheads Vegan?

Warheads is a sour candy brand that comes in many flavors and varieties, ranging from hard to chewy candy. All varieties of Warheads candy are vegan, except the Sour Twists. 

Here is a breakdown of what’s exactly in each of the Warheads variations

Warheads Extreme Sour Hard Candy (VEGAN)

Corn Syrup, Sugar, Microencapsulated Malic Acid (Malic Acid, Hydrogenated Palm Oil), Citric Acid, Gum Acacia, Soybean Oil (Processing Aid), Ascorbic Acid, Artificial Flavors, vegan Carnauba Wax, Corn Starch, vegan Blue 1, vegan Red 40, Yellow 5.

Manufactured in a facility that processes milk, peanut, and wheat products.

Although a lot of vegans are fine with it, many do not agree with the deforestation impact the sourcing of palm oil has on the environment. Sourcing palm oil displaces orangutans and other animals from their home so it is a personal choice whether you think they’re vegan or not. 

Sour Warheads Chewy Cubes (VEGAN)

Sugar, Corn Syrup, Corn Starch, Modified Corn Starch, Citric Acid, Tartaric Acid, Red 40, Yellow 5, vegan Yellow 6, Blue 1, Artificial Color, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Fumaric Acid, Sodium Citrate.

Manufactured in a facility that processes milk, peanut, and wheat products.

Sour Warheads Dippin’ Pucker Packs (VEGAN)

Stick: vegan Dextrose, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Maltodextrin, Fumaric Acid, Magnesium Stearate, Anti-Caking Agent (Oat Fiber, Calcium Phosphate, Magnesium Carbonate, Magnesium Phosphate, Sodium Carbonate), Artificial Flavors, Blue 1 Lake, Red 40 Lake, Sucralose. Powder: Dextrose, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Fumaric Acid, Artificial Flavors, Silicon Dioxide, Tricalcium Phosphate, Red 40 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, Blue 1 Lake, Sucralose.

Manufactured in a facility that processes soy.

Warheads Sour Twists (NOT VEGAN)

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.

Manufactured in a facility that processes soy and peanuts.

Sour Warheads Jelly Beans (VEGAN) 

Sugar, Glucose Syrup, Modified Corn Starch, Fumaric Acid, Citric Acid, Natural, and Artificial Flavors, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1.

Manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts, milk, wheat, soy, and eggs.

Sour Dippers (VEGAN)

Blue Raspberry – Sugar, Corn Syrup, Fumaric Acid, Malic Acid, Citric Acid, Natural, and Artificial Flavors, Ascorbic Acid, Magnesium Stearate, Blue 1, Blue 1 Lake, Red 40. Cherry – Sugar, Corn Syrup, Fumaric Acid, Malic Acid, Citric Acid, Natural, and Artificial Flavors, Ascorbic Acid, Magnesium Stearate, Red 40, Red 40 Lake. Watermelon – Sugar, Corn Syrup, Fumaric Acid, Malic Acid, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Ascorbic Acid, Magnesium Stearate, Blue 1, Blue 1 Lake, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 5 Lake.

Manufactured in a facility that processes soy products.

Super Warheads Sour Spray Candy (VEGAN)

Blue Raspberry – Water, Sugar, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Malic Acid, Lactic Acid, Artificial Flavors, Potassium Sorbate Preservative, Blue 1. Green Apple – Water, Sugar, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Malic Acid, Lactic Acid, Artificial Flavors, Potassium Sorbate Preservative, Blue 1, Yellow 5. Watermelon – Water, Sugar, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Malic Acid, Lactic Acid, Artificial Flavors, Potassium Sorbate Preservative, Red 40.

Warheads Sour Double Drops (VEGAN)

Blue Raspberry – Green Apple – Sugar, Water, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Malic Acid, Artificial Flavors, Potassium Sorbate Preservative, Blue 1, Yellow 5. Blue Raspberry – Watermelon – Sugar, Water, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Malic Acid, Artificial Flavors, Potassium Sorbate Preservative, Blue 1, Red 40. Watermelon – Green Apple – Sugar, Water, Citric Acid, Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Malic Acid, Artificial Flavors, Potassium Sorbate Preservative, Blue 1, Yellow 5, Red 40.

Manufactured in a facility that processes egg products.

Sour Coolers (VEGAN)

Dextrose, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Maltodextrin, Fumaric Acid, Magnesium Stearate, Anti-Caking Agent (Oat Fiber, Calcium Phosphate, Magnesium Carbonate, Magnesium Phosphate, Sodium Carbonate), Artificial Flavors, Yellow 5 Lake, Blue 1 Lake, Red 40 Lake, Sucralose.

Manufactured in a facility that processes soy.

Super Sour Candy Canes (VEGAN)

Sugar, Corn Syrup, Tartaric Acid, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Artificial Flavor, Glycerine, Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5, Palm Oil, Canola Oil, Sunflower Lecithin.

Manufactured in a facility that processes tree nuts, milk, egg, soy, and wheat.

Why are Warheads Considered Vegan?

Apart from Warheads Sour Twists, all Warheads variations are suitable for vegans. 

Warheads Don’t Contain Gelatine

Gelatine is made from boiling skin, tendons, ligaments, and bones with water. It usually comes from cows and pigs and is used in foods like Jell-O, candies, marshmallows, cakes, and yoghurts. This isn’t a vegan product, so if you find it in your favourite candy – it isn’t vegan.

They don’t contain shellac or beeswax

Shellac is a substance secreted on tree branches by lac bugs. The female lac bug sucks sap from the tree and secretes sticklac and shellac is filtered out. It’s 90% sap, however, as it’s harvested from bugs, it isn’t considered vegan. It would take around 50,000 to 300,000 bugs to make a single kg of shellac!

Beeswax is another ingredient that appears in candy often. It is used as a glazing agent, usually to improve the visual appeal of candy. 

They don’t contain carmine

Carmine (otherwise known as Red 4) is derived from beetles. The red pigment comes from carminic acid found in certain bugs and the method of getting it can sometimes involve non-vegan substances like egg white, fish glue, and gelatine. 

However, Warheads contains Red 40 which is petroleum derived and even sometimes derived from strawberries. 

Are Warheads suitable for vegans?

Yes, the vast majority of Warheads products are suitable for vegans. That being said, some ingredients listed are consumed depending on the individual and their ethics. 

With anything vegan, it’s important to make your own conscious decision first. Warheads don’t contain any ingredients that come from animals, however, they do contain some controversial ingredients that some vegans choose to avoid. This also depends on what country you are in so be sure to check the packaging before you purchase them! 

Now you know they’re mostly okay to eat, you can add them to your vegan-friendly candy list. Enjoy your candy!