Behind Twizzlers

The history of the Twizzlers candy can be traced back to 1847, when it was first introduced as a licorice-flavored treat. The candy was developed by Pennsylvania candy maker Nicholas Bachman, who named the product after the twisting motion used to pull the licorice strings. Twizzlers remained a regional favorite until 1977, when the product was purchased by Hershey Foods Corporation and began to be marketed nationwide.

What is Twizzler?

A Twizzler is a type of candy made from twisted pieces of red licorice. It is often eaten as a snack or used as a dessert. Twizzlers are made by The Hershey Company and are available in many different flavors, including strawberry, cherry, blue raspberry, black licorice, and chocolate.

Now, Are Twizzlers Vegan?

Foods that do not include organic products or byproducts are called vegan foods. Foods with animal-based products include candy, especially the non-chocolate variety, as familiar sources for animal ingredients. The most common animal ingredients in candy are milk chocolate, white chocolate, and milk chocolate powder. Following Items are also common animal ingredients:

Gelatin: is created from animal skin, bones, and tendons.
The color of a red dye is made from a beetle.
Milk fat.

Twizzlers are hard and chewy, so they might be assumed to be gelatinous but are they are vegan? Are the Twizzlers gelatin-based? Let’s look at the ingredients!

Most Important Ingredients

Vegan does not necessarily mean healthy. And just because something is deemed vegan doesn’t mean it’s alright to eat everything regularly. To make sure you have a healthy relationship with food and your body, be aware of the foods you’re putting into it. Producing Twizzlers is not without its controversies; let’s look at some of the questionable elements that go into making this particular candy.

Palm Oil

Palm oil is another product that meets vegan requirements if the definition of vegan entails products made only from plants that mature. Palm oil is made from, of course, palm plants.

The environmental impact of making palm oil is dangerous and far-reaching. Palm oil production has been connected with the destruction of rainforest forests, the absence of wildlife, and the displacement of indigenous people. Due to these issues, many ethical vegans reject using the palm as a genuine vegan product.

Sugar

Twizzlers are made with both sugar and corn syrup. It produces Twizzlers very high in sugar content, with each slight twist containing 4 grams of sugar. The sugar you usually consume that’s slightly less than four teaspoons, like 4. 5 g/s. In just four small pieces, you’ll be consuming almost the equivalent of five tablespoons of white sugar! That’s an excess of purified sugar in just four short details. Some vegans may choose not to consider white sugar to be vegan due to its relationship with bone char. There is no actual bone in white sugar, but using bone char during its manufacturing process has led some vegans to consider it a non-vegan product.

Artificial Colors

Carmine is an example of an artificial dye that derives from animals. (yes, disgusting).Despite the red color in Twizzlers, none of the colors are made from animal-derived substances.

However, this does not mean that the colors in Twizzlers, such as those found in many Bertie Botts, are cruelty-free or healthy. Some studies suggest that artificial colors, such as those found in Twizzlers, have raised the risk of hyperactivity in children. Others contend that they could develop into a carcinogen. Additionally, there’s the side effect that color additives are frequently used in consumed foods. Red 40 is often used in Twizzlers, and many other candies—as well as different flavors of Truvia Natural Sweetener—and numerous experiments have been done on animals to determine whether they’re safe. Red 40 is among the eight chemicals banned in Europe but remains legal in the United States.

Trans Fats

Many varieties of Twizzlers contain what is known as “partially hydrogenated oils,” or trans fats, which is a fancy way of saying “monoglycerides and diglycerides.” Alcohols (substances found in Twizzlers) also contain trans fats. Hydrogen is added (aka α-reacting) during its constitution to make trans fats solidify at lower temperatures. Trans fats are among the worst of edible fats. They simultaneously lower your good (HDL) cholesterol and raise your bad (LDL) cholesterol, which is undesirable. Researchers believe that eating trans fats leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity.

It would help if you were wary with Twizzlers since not all Twizzler nutrition labels states they contain trans fats. According to the FDA, if there are only 0.25 g trans fats per serving, you may decrease the figure to “0” on the nutrition label. For that reason, even if a nutrition label reads “0 g” of trans fats, it may potentially have as much as 0.49 g per serving! Because small amounts of trans fats can be harmful, doctors warn against large consumption. While not all Twizzlers contain trans fats, some do. Inspect the nutrition list for anything described as “partially hydrogenated,” “monoglycerides,” or “diglycerides” instead of gambling on the “0 grams” offered underneath.

Are Twizzlers Gluten-Free?

This product contains both enriched wheat flour and flour, and neither of those items contains gluten. Avoid Twizzlers if you’re trying to avoid gluten in your treats.

Are Twizzlers GMO-Free?

No, they are not—of course. Two explicit identifiers include citric acid and modified potato starch. Notably, modified potato starch contains at least 50% genetically modified organisms.

Are Twizzlers Healthy?

The question that may take forever to resolve is that of Twizzlers! In reality, stated in reasonable terms, Twizzlers should not be considered unhealthy. The serving amount of any single formulation of Twizzlers is approximately four pieces per serving. Moderation is the best advice regarding candy intake.

Conclusion

It seems that Twizzlers are vegan. They are made with sugar, cornstarch, and flavoring, all of which are vegan-friendly ingredients. However, it is always important to double-check the ingredients list before purchasing any food item to be sure. So, next time you’re looking for a vegan-friendly snack, reach for a Twizzler. Check out other vegan friendly candy here!