Laffy Taffy is a popular brand of taffy candy, first produced in the 1970s by the Willy Wonka Candy Company, now owned by Ferrero.
The candy is known for its chewy texture, variety of fruit flavors, and the jokes printed on the inside of the wrappers.
But what we really want to know:
Is Laffy Taffy Vegan?
Answer: Depends. At this time, only the “Mini’s” product line would be considered Vegan, but not without any ingredients of concern.
Read on to find out about each product line…
Laffy Taffy Minis [🟢 Vegan]
Are Laffy Taffy Mini’s Vegan?
Answer: Yes, Laffy Taffy Mini’s would be considered vegan, as none of them contain any explicitly animal-derived ingredients such as gelatin or dairy.
However, several ingredients may be of concern to strict vegans.
Ingredients of Concern
Since the manufacturer doesn’t state how these ingredients of concern were sourced or created, it’s hard to know exactly the origin.
Use your best judgment or contact the manufacturer directly if you are unsure.
- Sugar: Not all sugar is considered vegan because some of it is processed using bone char from animals.
- Mono- and Diglycerides: These can be either plant or animal derived, and it’s not specified on the ingredient list.
- Natural Flavors: This is a vague term that can refer to both plant and animal derived substances. Normally they are plant-based in candies.
- Palm Oil: While not derived from animals, the production of palm oil is a major cause of deforestation and loss of animal habitat, and thus some vegans choose to avoid it.
- Food Colors (Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Red 40, Blue 1): These synthetic dyes are usually petroleum-derived and, while not derived from animals, they are often tested on animals. Some vegans choose to avoid them for this reason.
Ingredients by Flavor
CORN SYRUP, SUGAR, PALM OIL, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF MALIC ACID (DL-MALIC ACID), MONO AND DIGLYCERIDES, HYDROGENATED COTTONSEED OIL, SALT, SOY LECITHIN, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (COLOR), NATURAL FLAVORS, YELLOW 6 LAKE, RED 40, YELLOW 5, BLUE 1.
Corn syrup, Sugar, Palm Oil, and less than 2% of Mono- and Diglycerides, Hydrogenated Cottonseed oil, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor, Yellow 5.
Corn syrup, Sugar, Palm Oil, and less than 2% of Malic Acid, Mono- and Diglycerides, Hydrogenated Cottonseed oil, Salt, Natural Flavor, Soy Lecithin, Red 40.
Corn syrup, Sugar, Palm Oil, and less than 2% of Malic Acid, Mono- and Diglycerides, Hydrogenated Cottonseed oil, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor, Blue 1, Red 40.
Corn syrup, Sugar, Palm Oil, and less than 2% of Mono- and Diglycerides, Malic Acid, Hydrogenated Cottonseed oil, Salt, Natural Flavor, Soy Lecithin, Blue 1, Yellow 5.
Corn syrup, Sugar, Palm Oil, and less than 2% of Malic Acid, Mono- and Diglycerides, Hydrogenated Cottonseed oil, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor, Blue 1.
Corn syrup, Sugar, Palm Oil, and less than 2% of Malic Acid, Mono- and Diglycerides, Hydrogenated Cottonseed oil, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor, Red 40.
Laffy Taffy Laff Bites [🔴 Not Vegan]
Are Laffy Taffy Laff Bites Vegan?
Answer: No, Laffy Taffy Laff Bites are not vegan due to the inclusion of gelatin.
Ingredients of Concern
- Gelatin is a protein usually derived from the skin, bones, and connective tissues of animals such as cows, pigs, or fish
- Soy Lecithin: Is vegan but the product indicates it may have been processed in a facility that also processes animal products like milk and eggs, which might be a concern due to potential cross-contamination.
These other ingredients have similar potential issues to the ones listed above for the Minis:
- Sugar: It might be processed with bone char.
- Natural Flavors: Can be derived from both plant and animal sources.
- Palm Oil: Can be a concern due to environmental issues.
- Food Colors (Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6): Are often tested on animals.
Ingredients by Flavor
Sugar, Corn Syrup, Palm Oil, 2% or Less of Citric Acid, Soy Lecithin (an Emulsifier), Natural Flavors, Gelatin, Acacia (Gum Arabic), Carnauba Wax, Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5.
SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, SOYBEAN OIL, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF CITRIC ACID, SOY LECITHIN (EMULSIFIER), NATURAL FLAVORS, GELATIN, GUM ACACIA, CARNAUBA WAX, YELLOW 6, RED 40, TITANIUM DIOXIDE (COLOR), YELLOW 5.
CONTAINS: SOY. THIS PRODUCT WAS PACKAGED IN A FACILITY WHERE MILK, EGGS, TREE NUTS, PEANUTS AND WHEAT ARE USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF OTHER PRODUCTS.
SUGAR, CORN SYRUP, PALM OIL, 2% OR LESS OF SOY LECITHIN (AN EMULSIFIER). GELATIN, ACACIA (GUM ARABIC), NATURAL FLAVORS, CARNAUBA WAX, YELLOW 5.
CONTAINS: SOY. THIS PRODUCT WAS PACKAGED IN A FACILITY WHERE MILK, EGGS. TREE NUTS, PEANUTS AND WHEAT ARE USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF OTHER PRODUCTS.
Laffy Taffy Stretchy & Tangy [🔴 Not Vegan]
Are Laffy Taffy Stretchy & Tangy Vegan?
Answer: No, Looking at the ingredients for the various flavors of Laffy Taffy Stretchy & Tangy, none of these are vegan because they contain egg albumen.
Ingredients of Concern
- Egg albumen is the clear part of an egg – what we often refer to as the egg white. Therefore, it is an animal-derived ingredient and is not vegan-friendly.
As with the other product lines listed above, these ingredients below can also be of concern to strict vegans:
- Natural Flavors: Can be derived from both plant and animal sources.
- Monoglycerides: These can be either plant or animal derived.
- Food Colors (Yellow 5, Blue 1, Red 3, Red 40, Red 40 Lake, Yellow 6): Are often tested on animals.
Ingredients by Flavor
Corn syrup, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, and less than 2% of Malic Acid, Egg Albumen, Sodium Alginate, Calcium Acetate, Monoglycerides, Natural Flavor, Red 3, Blue 3.
Corn syrup, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, and less than 2% of Malic Acid, Egg Albumen, Sodium Alginate, Calcium Acetate, Monoglycerides, Natural Flavor, Red 3, Blue 3.
Corn syrup, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, and less than 2% of Malic Acid, Egg Albumen, Sodium Alginate, Calcium Acetate, Monoglycerides, Natural Flavor,Blue 1, Red 3, Yellow 6.
Corn syrup, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, and less than 2% of Malic Acid, Egg Albumen, Sodium Alginate, Calcium Acetate, Monoglycerides, Natural Flavor, Blue 1, Red 3, Yellow 6.
Corn syrup, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, and less than 2% of Malic Acid, Egg Albumen, Sodium Alginate, Calcium Acetate, Monoglycerides, Natural Flavor, Color Added, Red 40.
Corn syrup, Hydrogenated Coconut Oil, and less than 2% of Malic Acid, Egg Albumen, Sodium Alginate, Calcium Acetate, Monoglycerides, Carnauba Wax, Natural Flavor, Blue 1, Red 3, Red 40, Red 40 Lake.