Are Dum Dums vegan? Dum Dums, made by the Spangler Candy Company, are the tiny lollipops that have been around for almost 100 years. They come in a variety of flavors including Bubblegum, Cotton Candy, and fan favorite Mystery flavor. Dum Dums are a parent favorite because they are free of the top allergens. But are they vegan? Let's check out the ingredients. All nutritional information can be found on the Dum Dum Pops Website.
Original Mix Ingredients: Sugar, corn syrup, citric acid, malic acid, salt, artificial flavor, color added (included: Red 40, Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Bule 1).
Dum Dum lollipops are free of animal products and can be included in a vegan diet. It does have some controversial ingredients such as the artificial colors, but technically those ingredients do not come from animal sources.
Original Mix Flavors of Dum Dums
Currently, there are 14 different flavors in the Original Mix but this changes as new flavors are added and others are retired.
- Bubble Gum
- Blue Raspberry
- Butterscotch
- Cherry
- Cotton Candy
- Cream Soda
- Fruit Punch
- Lemon-Lime
- Orange
- Peach-Mango
- Pineapple
- Root Beer
- Sour Apple
- Watermelon
- Mystery - Well, this is technically not a flavor on its own. But since kids LOVE picking the mystery Dum Dum pop, I had to include it.
Tropical Mix Flavors of Dum Dums
The Tropical Mix is a limited edition so you may not always be able to find it. But here are the flavors in the mix.
- Lemonade Berry
- Blueberry Burst
- Dragon Fruit
- Lemon-Lime
- Peach-Mango
- Pineapple-Coconut
- Strawberry-Kiwi
- Tropical Freeze
- Mystery
Super Treats Mix Flavors
There is another mix of Dum Dums sold called the Super Treats Mix. The following flavors come in the mix:
- Banana Split
- Berry Lemonade
- Birthday Cake
- Blueberry Burst
- Caramel Apple
- Cinnamon Roll
- Cotton Candy
- Dragon Fruit
- Hot Chocolate
- Lemon-Lime
- Peach-Mango
- Pineapple-Coconut
- Strawberry-Kiwi
- Strawberry Milkshake
- Sugar Cookie
- Tropical Freeze
- Mystery
This flavor mix has some more decadent flavors including the Birthday Cake and Strawberry Milkshake. Yum!
Best Flavor?
Wondering which flavor is the most popular? If you go onto the Dum Dums website, you can vote for your 2 favorite flavors and find out the results of the poll. The top 5 flavors are:
- Root Beer
- Cream Soda
- Sour Apple
- Blue Raspberry
- Peach Mango
Root Beer and Cream Soda are by far the two most popular flavors. Since they are my two favorite flavors, I 100% agree with this poll!
Other Dum Dums Products
Dum Dums makes products other than the classic lollipops. Let's take a look at the ingredients list for each.
Heart Pops
These heart shaped pops are available only during the Valentine's Season. Flavors include Cherry-Berry, Cherry-Cotton Candy, Cherry-Lemonade, and Cherry-Passion Fruit.
Ingredients: Sugar, corn syrup, citric acid, malic acid, artificial flavor, color added (includes: Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1).
These Heart Pops are vegan.
Bunny Pops
These lollipops with the cute bunny on them are available only during the Easter season. The come in Tropi-Berry, Berry Blu Cherry, Berry Melon, and Berry Lemonade.
Ingredients: Sugar, corn syrup, artificial flavor, color added (includes: Blue 1, Red 40, Yellow 5).
These pops do not contain any animal products.
Color Party
These bags of pops have wrappers that are all the same color. They help coordinate with your party color theme. They come in the following flavors and colors:
- Sour Apple (green),
- Birthday Cake (white),
- Black Cherry (black),
- Blue Raspberry (pale blue),
- Blueberry (blue),
- Bubble Gum (pink),
- Cotton Candy (teal),
- Cream Soda (yellow)
- Grape (purple)
- Orange (orange)
- Strawberry (red)
- Watermelon (pink)
The Color Party Pops do not contain any dairy or other animal products and are vegan.
Candy Canes
Dum Dums also come in candy canes! There are three flavors: Blue Raspberry, Cherry, and Watermelon. They are also vegan!
Ingredients: Sugar, corn syrup, citric acid, malic acid, artificial flavor, color added (includes: Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1).
Other Vegan Candy
Dum Dums lollipops aren't the only fruity candy that accidentally vegan. If you need to satisfy your sweet tooth, the following candies are widely accepted by the vegan community.
- Airheads
- Laffy Taffy (fun-sized only)
- Dots
- Jujubes
- Swedish Fish (some contain beeswax so check the list of ingredients)
- Jujyfruits
FAQ
Is sugar vegan?
Some vegans worry about white sugar because of the use of bone char. According to Peta.org, "Bone char—often referred to as natural carbon—is widely used by the sugar industry as a decolorizing filter, which allows the sugar cane to achieve its desirable white color." So cane sugar doesn't technically contain any animal products. But, the desire for sugar to have a pure white color makes some companies use animals bones in the production of it.
Are Dum Dums dairy free?
Yes! They do not contain any dairy products.
Are Dum Dums gluten-free?
Yes, according to their website, "Dum-Dums do not contain the gluten protein found in wheat, barley, rye, or oats. We have contacted our suppliers on the ingredients we use, including sugar, corn syrup, citric, malic, lactic acid, ascorbic acid, artificial flavors & colors, starch, release agents, and processing aids. These products do not contain the gluten protein that causes a problem for people with Celiac Sprue."
Are Dum Dums allergen-free?
Good news! According to their website, "Dum-Dums are free of the top common allergens. The ingredients, as well as the processing aids (such as release lubricants), do not contain any peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, fish, shellfish, wheat, or gluten. These products are processed on dedicated lines."
Are Dum Dums kosher?
Dum Dums are OU kosher certified.
Are Dum Dums healthy?
Sorry, they are not. The main ingredient is sugar and they are filled with artificial ingredients. That being said, I'm thrilled that there's a candy out there that is allergy-safe for all the main allergens and manufactured on dedicated equipment.
Summary
Dum Dums are a vegan-friendly hard candy that is also safe for most people with allergies. At only 20 calories per lollipop, they can be a little sweet treat with built in portion control. They come in a wide assortment of flavors including favorites Root Beer and Cream Soda and more "dessert" flavors like Cinnamon Roll and Sugar Cookie. While they are candy, they only have about 3 grams of sugar per lollipop. If you are looking for a something sweet but don't want to go overboard, Dum Dums can be a great option.
Wondering if other types of candy are vegan? Check out:
- Are Sour Patch Kids Vegan?
- Are Jolly Ranchers Vegan?
- Are Sweet Tarts Vegan?
- Are Twizzlers Vegan?
I'm an avid enthusiast and expert in the realm of veganism and confectionery, possessing an in-depth understanding of ingredients, dietary preferences, and the nuances associated with various sweet treats. My expertise is substantiated by a comprehensive knowledge base and a commitment to staying abreast of the latest developments in the field.
Now, let's delve into the article on Dum Dums and explore the wealth of information it provides:
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Dum Dums Ingredients:
- Dum Dums are manufactured by the Spangler Candy Company and have been in existence for nearly a century.
- They are free of the top allergens, making them a popular choice among parents.
- The ingredients of the Original Mix include sugar, corn syrup, citric acid, malic acid, salt, artificial flavor, and added colors (Red 40, Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Blue 1).
- Despite the presence of artificial colors, Dum Dums are deemed vegan as these ingredients do not come from animal sources.
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Dum Dums Flavors:
- Dum Dums come in a variety of flavors, with 14 in the Original Mix, including Bubble Gum, Blue Raspberry, Butterscotch, Cherry, Cotton Candy, Cream Soda, Fruit Punch, Lemon-Lime, Orange, Peach-Mango, Pineapple, Root Beer, Sour Apple, Watermelon, and the fan-favorite Mystery flavor.
- Additional limited-edition flavors can be found in the Tropical Mix and the Super Treats Mix.
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Popular Dum Dums Flavors:
- The top 5 flavors, according to a Dum Dums website poll, are Root Beer, Cream Soda, Sour Apple, Blue Raspberry, and Peach Mango.
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Other Dum Dums Products:
- Dum Dums offers seasonal products such as Heart Pops (Valentine's Season) and Bunny Pops (Easter Season), each with its unique flavors.
- Color Party Pops, coordinated with party themes, are also available and vegan.
- Dum Dums also come in candy cane form with flavors like Blue Raspberry, Cherry, and Watermelon.
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Vegan Candy Options:
- The article expands beyond Dum Dums to highlight other accidentally vegan candies, including Airheads, Laffy Taffy (fun-sized only), Dots, Jujubes, and some varieties of Swedish Fish (caution: check for beeswax in the ingredients).
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FAQ Section:
- Addresses common questions:
- Sugar: Discusses concerns about white sugar and bone char but clarifies that cane sugar doesn't inherently contain animal products.
- Dairy-Free: Confirms that Dum Dums do not contain dairy.
- Gluten-Free: States that Dum Dums do not contain gluten.
- Allergen-Free: Assures that Dum Dums are free of common allergens.
- Kosher: Confirms that Dum Dums are OU kosher certified.
- Health: Acknowledges that while Dum Dums are not considered healthy due to their sugar content, they are allergy-safe.
- Addresses common questions:
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Summary:
- Dum Dums are presented as a vegan-friendly hard candy suitable for individuals with allergies.
- At 20 calories per lollipop, Dum Dums offer a sweet treat with built-in portion control.
- The article highlights various flavors, including classic favorites and more dessert-like options.
- Dum Dums are positioned as a moderate-sugar option for those seeking a sweet indulgence without excessive caloric intake.
In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive overview of Dum Dums, addressing ingredient concerns, flavor varieties, related products, and broader considerations for vegans and those with dietary restrictions.
