Wikipedia says that Laffy Taffy is a brand of candy that was first made in the 1970s as “Beich’s Caramels,” but they were actually fruit-flavored taffy squares. Later, the original company changed the name of the product to “Beich’s Laffy Taffy.” This happened a few years before Nestlé bought the rights to distribute the line of products and then bought the whole line. You can get the candies in a chocolate mousse flavor as well as artificial fruit flavors like strawberry, banana, green apple, grape, and blueberry. ’ While all these flavors sound vegan friendly, is Laffy Taffy vegan?.
A full vegan-friendly analysis of each Laffy Taffy variety can be found in the following sections.
Before we begin our vegan analysis, we’d like to bring to your attention the ingredients that may cause some to question whether or not they are vegan. We think these ingredients are vegan, but we will still call them out if they show up in any posted ingredient lists. These controversial ingredients include:
In almost all candy products, one of the first few ingredients is Sugar. Vegans don’t like sugar because bone char is used to make refined cane sugar white. There are no bone char particles in the sugar itself, but it is not vegan because of how it was made. Since the type of sugar is typically not stated, it is assumed to be vegan in this analysis. If you choose to avoid non-vegan sugars than all of the products in this analysis should be avoided. If you want to know for sure if sugar is vegan, read our article called “Is Your Sugar Vegan? Lets Find Out!”
Palm oil is a controversial vegan ingredient not because it comes from animals, but because growing palm oil is very bad for the environment and hurts a lot of animals. You can learn more about palm oil in our article titled “Is Palm Oil Vegan?“.
Natural flavors can come from either plants or animals, but most of the time, animal flavors are used in candy. Those natural flavors from animal-origin will be highlighted if known.
Some food colors are controversial in the vegan community. This is because food colors are often tested on animals. Within this article, we think that all food colors are vegan, unless the color itself comes from an animal or insect source (e.g. g. Carmine).
For decades, both kids and adults have loved Laffy Taffy, a chewy candy that tastes like fruit. A lot of people remember this treat from their childhood because it’s stretchy and tastes sweet and sour like cherry, banana, and watermelon. But some have questioned if this classic candy contains pork or animal products. Let’s dig into the ingredients to find out.
A Brief History of Laffy Taffy
Laffy Taffy was first produced in the 1970s by Nestle under their Willy Wonka candy brand. The name refers to the laughs provoked by the jokes printed on the wrappers.
In 2018, Ferrara Candy Company acquired Nestle’s American candy brands, including Laffy Taffy. They still make the candy today, but now it comes in a lot of different shapes, sizes, and flavors, like Laffy Tape, Ropes, and Crunchers.
Does Original Laffy Taffy Contain Pork?
The traditional Laffy Taffy candy squares do not contain any pork, pork byproducts, meat, or animal-derived ingredients.
Here is a rundown of the main ingredients:
- Corn syrup – Adds sweetness
- Sugar – Provides texture and flavor
- Palm oil – Gives a smooth consistency
- Natural and artificial flavors – Creates fruit tastes
- Food coloring – Provides bright colors
While the candy is not vegetarian due to containing palm oil, it does not contain pork, beef, or gelatin ingredients. The wrappers caution that the production equipment processes milk ingredients, but milk is not directly added to the taffy itself.
What About Laffy Taffy Bites and Other Varieties?
While original Laffy Taffy is pork-free, some spin-off products do contain non-vegetarian ingredients:
-
Laffy Taffy Bites – These gummy versions contain pork-derived gelatin as the binding agent. Not vegetarian or halal.
-
Laffy Taffy Ropes – Same pork-free recipe as regular taffy. Vegetarian but not vegan.
-
Laffy Taffy with Sprinkles – Uses original pork-free recipe. Contains milk-derived confectioner’s glaze on sprinkles. Not vegan
-
Chewy Laffy Taffy – Chewier taffy texture but traditional pork-free ingredients. Not vegan.
So while most Laffy Taffy is pork-free, it’s important to read labels and avoid any products listing gelatin if avoiding pork.
Why Do People Think Laffy Taffy Contains Pork?
Despite no pork-derived ingredients being used in the original Laffy Taffy candy recipe, some consumers have questioned if it contains pork. There are a few reasons this misconception persists:
-
Association with gelatin– Since some gummy candies contain gelatin, some assume Laffy Taffy does too. But regular taffy uses a soybean oil emulsifier instead.
-
Sanders – Urban legend says Laffy Taffy was named after a pig owned by Willy Wonka’s founder Ernest Sanders. But there’s no evidence to support this being true.
-
Lack of halal certification – Since Laffy Taffy isn’t halal certified, some mistakenly think that means it must contain pork. In reality, the pork-free candy likely just didn’t undergo certification due to business reasons.
-
Misleading blogs – Some non-authoritative blogs have incorrectly stated that Laffy Taffy contains pork or gelatin. But a careful review of ingredients proves these claims false.
Should You Enjoy Laffy Taffy?
If you don’t eat pork for dietary, religious, or ethical reasons, you can safely eat regular Laffy Taffy squares, ropes, and bars that don’t list gelatin in the ingredients. Just be wary of chewy bite versions that do contain non-vegetarian gelatin.
While original Laffy Taffy is pork-free, whether you should indulge depends on your own dietary standards:
-
Vegans avoid palm oil and artificial colors/flavors. Consider fruit-flavored taffies from vegan brands instead.
-
Vegetarians can eat original Laffy Taffy as it doesn’t contain immediate animal ingredients.
-
Those who keep halal/kosher diets can enjoy plain Laffy Taffy as it doesn’t contain pork.
-
If allergies are a concern, check labels for potential milk traces from manufacturing equipment.
At the end of the day, myths about pork contents in classic Laffy Taffy seem to stem from misinformation, not the actual ingredients list. But as always, your own dietary needs should guide your final decision.
Laffy Taffy Rope Ingredients
Corn Syrup, Sugar, Palm Oil, And Less Than 2% of Mono- And Diglycerides, Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil, Malic Acid, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Artificial Flavors, Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6. [Source]
Are Laffy Taffy Ropes Vegan?
As they have the same ingredients as their mini counterparts, Laffy Taffy Ropes are also vegan!
Making Prison Laffy Taffy!
FAQ
Does Laffy Taffy have gelatin?
Are Laffy Taffys vegan?
What candy is made with pork?
What are the ingredients in Laffy Taffy?
Is Laffy Taffy vegan?
Laffy Taffy Stretchy and Tangy is not vegan as it contains egg albumin, a protein found in egg whites. Laffy Taffy Bites are also not vegan as they contain gelatin. The best vegan alternatives are YumEarth Organic Chewys and Dr. John’s Healthy Sweet Sugar-Free Taffy. Other than feeding a sugar obsession, Laffy Taffy has little nutritional value.
What is Laffy Taffy?
Laffy Taffy is a popular Halloween treat or candy store favorite with a stretchy, chewy, gooey, gummy texture and sweet fruity flavor (Mashed). It is often sold as a compact pop and was formerly produced under Nestle’s Wonka brand, but is now a product of the Ferrara Candy Company.
What are the main ingredients in Laffy Taffy?
The main ingredients in Laffy Taffy are: artificial flavoring, soy lecithin, malic acid, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, diglycerides, and monoglycerides. Artificial flavoring is the primary ingredient, followed by soy lecithin, malic acid, hydrogenated cottonseed oil, diglycerides, and monoglycerides. Other ingredients vary based on the flavor or Laffy Taffy subgenre.
What flavors does Laffy Taffy have?
Laffy Taffy comes in a wide range of flavors. Over the years, you might have encountered Blueberry, Sour Apple, Watermelon, and even Lemon Raspberry. But there are plenty of fruit flavors you might be less familiar with, too. Think along the lines of Guava, Orange Sorbet, Pineapple, Fruit Punch, and even Strawberries and Cream flavors.