Is Mike and Ike Vegan?
Not Vegan
Not certifiedMike and Ike are chewy fruit-flavored candies made by Just Born. The good news is they contain no gelatin, dairy, or egg. The bad news is every standard variety is coated in confectioners glaze, which is shellac, a resin secreted by the female lac bug. Shellac is an insect-derived ingredient, and its harvesting kills large numbers of insects in the process. No flavor of Mike and Ike skips this coating, so the candy is not vegan by any standard that avoids insect exploitation.
The catch: Confectioners glaze (shellac) coats every piece. It is secreted by lac bugs and its production kills insects at scale, present in all flavors, no workaround.
Category
Candy
Verdict
Not Vegan
Brand
Just Born
5% of Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Fumaric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Dextrin, Confectioners Glaze, Carnauba Wax, Medium Chain Triglycerides, Red 40, Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Blue 1. There is no gelatin, no dairy, no egg, and no carmine, which makes Mike and Ike better than many chewy candies on those counts.
The single sticking point is confectioners glaze (shellac). Just Born's own FAQ describes it as liberated from the lac beetle, acknowledging its insect origin.
Shellac is the hardened resin scraped from tree branches where lac insects live and die; estimates suggest tens of thousands of insects are killed per kilogram of shellac produced. Some vegans draw the line at vertebrates only and accept shellac; strict vegans and most vegan advocacy groups do not.
There is no shellac-free version of Mike and Ike currently available. The presence of carnauba wax alongside shellac is not a concern, carnauba is a plant-derived palm wax.
Artificial colors (Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6) involve animal testing but are not themselves animal-derived; most vegans accept them. The verdict here is not-vegan on the basis of the shellac coating alone.
What makes it non-vegan
- ✕Confectioners Glaze (Shellac)
Vegan alternatives
- ✓ YumEarth Organic Chewys (certified vegan, no shellac, no artificial dyes)
- ✓ Surf Sweets Fruity Bears (vegan certified, pectin-based)
- ✓ SmartSweets Fruity Gummies (plant-based, no gelatin or shellac)
- ✓ Sour Patch Kids Original (no gelatin, no shellac in US formulation)
- ✓ Swedish Fish (no gelatin, no shellac in US formulation)
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Looking to make your own? Browse our vegan swaps.
Other candy
Frequently asked
Is Mike and Ike Vegan?
Mike and Ike are chewy fruit-flavored candies made by Just Born. The good news is they contain no gelatin, dairy, or egg. The bad news is every standard variety is coated in confectioners glaze, which is shellac, a resin secreted by the female lac bug. Shellac is an insect-derived ingredient, and its harvesting kills large numbers of insects in the process. No flavor of Mike and Ike skips this coating, so the candy is not vegan by any standard that avoids insect exploitation.
What is the catch with Mike and Ike?
Confectioners glaze (shellac) coats every piece. It is secreted by lac bugs and its production kills insects at scale, present in all flavors, no workaround.
What can I use instead of Mike and Ike?
Vegan options include YumEarth Organic Chewys (certified vegan, no shellac, no artificial dyes), Surf Sweets Fruity Bears (vegan certified, pectin-based), SmartSweets Fruity Gummies (plant-based, no gelatin or shellac), Sour Patch Kids Original (no gelatin, no shellac in US formulation).
Is Mike and Ike certified vegan?
Mike and Ike does not carry a third-party vegan certification, so the verdict here is based on its current ingredient list and manufacturer information.
Sources
Last verified June 20, 2026. See how we verify. Always confirm on the current product label, since recipes change. Product photo via Open Food Facts.
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