Are Swedish Fish Vegan?
It Depends
Not certifiedMost standard-packaged Swedish Fish (boxes and regular bags) are vegan-friendly since they contain no gelatin and use carnauba wax, but certain packaging formats and manufacturing origins introduce beeswax, making those varieties not vegan.
The catch: Beeswax: peg-bag varieties (typically sold at gas stations and vending machines) list beeswax as an ingredient, and some Turkish-manufactured batches also use beeswax, while Canadian-manufactured versions (common in U.S. retail) use only plant-based carnauba wax.
Category
Candy
Verdict
It Depends
Brand
Mondelez International (formerly Cadbury Adams)
Which Swedish Fish flavors are vegan?
| Flavor | Vegan? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Original Red (standard retail boxes and resealable bags) | Vegan | carnauba wax (plant-derived), no gelatin, no beeswax in Canadian-manufactured US retail stock |
| Mini Soft and Chewy (standard retail bags) | Vegan | same carnauba wax formulation as original retail, no animal-derived coating |
| Tropical (Mini Tropical Soft and Chewy) | Vegan | carnauba wax, no gelatin or beeswax; titanium dioxide is a mineral and does not affect vegan status |
| Swedish Fish Oreo cookies | Vegan | no dairy ingredients in the cookies or Swedish Fish creme, but made on shared equipment with milk products |
| Jelly Beans | Not Vegan | contains both confectioner's glaze (shellac, insect-derived) and beeswax as confirmed coating agents |
| Tails (two-flavor fish) | Vegan | carnauba wax, no gelatin; formulation matches standard retail line |
| Mini Glow Ups Strawberry-Watermelon | Vegan | carnauba wax, no beeswax or gelatin; plant-based confetti colors from radish, cabbage, spirulina, and turmeric |
| Peg-bag format (hang-tab bags sold at gas stations and vending machines) | It Depends | older stock lists beeswax and palm kernel oil instead of mineral oil; PETA reports manufacturing returned to a carnauba recipe, but check the label on any peg-bag unit you purchase |
S. are typically manufactured in Canada and use carnauba wax (plant-derived), making them suitable for most vegans.
Peg-bag versions, the hang-tab bags sold in gas stations and vending machines, substitute palm kernel oil for mineral oil and add beeswax, which is animal-derived. Swedish Fish Jelly Beans also contain beeswax and are not vegan, while Swedish Fish Oreos are confirmed vegan.
S. sugar refining, though no bone char ends up in the final product.
The original Malaco-brand Swedish Fish sold in Sweden (and Swedish candy specialty shops) may have different formulations, including a black licorice variety that has been reported to contain gelatin, always check the label on imported versions.
Related ingredient guides: Is sugar vegan? · Is gelatin vegan? · Is beeswax vegan?
What makes it non-vegan
- ✕Beeswax (present in peg-bag packaging variants and some manufacturing runs)
Vegan alternatives
- ✓ Surf Sweets Fruity Bears (certified vegan, no beeswax)
- ✓ YumEarth Gummy Bears (vegan, no artificial dyes)
- ✓ SmartSweets Fruity Gummies (plant-based, lower sugar)
- ✓ Trader Joe's Swedish Fish-style gummies (check label, generally vegan)
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Prefer to make it from scratch? Try our vegan caramel, marshmallow fluff, or chocolate ganache recipes, or browse all vegan swaps.
Other candy
Frequently asked
Are Swedish Fish Vegan?
Most standard-packaged Swedish Fish (boxes and regular bags) are vegan-friendly since they contain no gelatin and use carnauba wax, but certain packaging formats and manufacturing origins introduce beeswax, making those varieties not vegan.
Are Swedish Fish gluten-free?
Yes, the standard US ingredient list contains no gluten-containing ingredients (sugar, invert sugar, corn syrup, modified corn starch, citric acid, white mineral oil, natural and artificial flavor, carnauba wax, and colorings). However, Swedish Fish are not certified gluten-free and Mondelez does not label them as such. Consumers with celiac disease should check each pack's allergen statement, as formulas can change and shared-facility risks are not always disclosed.
Are US Swedish Fish the same as the UK or European versions?
No. The original Malaco-brand Swedish Fish sold in Europe (including through UK Scandinavian import shops) contains gelatin AND beeswax as a glazing agent, making it definitively not vegan. The US product is manufactured in Canada for the mainstream retail market and uses carnauba wax with no gelatin. Always check the label on any imported or specialty-store pack.
Were Swedish Fish ever non-vegan in the US?
Yes. At some point the US formulation included beeswax, prompting PETA to campaign for a change. PETA subsequently published a victory notice stating that all Swedish Fish manufacturing returned to a vegan recipe (carnauba wax). Peg-bag units with the old beeswax list may have remained on shelves after the reformulation, which is why label-checking on peg bags remains the standard advice.
Do Swedish Fish Oreos contain dairy, and is cross-contamination a concern?
Swedish Fish Oreos do not list any dairy ingredient in the formulation. However, Nabisco/Mondelez states that Oreos are manufactured on shared equipment with milk products, so the cookies carry a milk cross-contact risk. People with milk allergies (not just vegans avoiding dairy for ethical reasons) should treat Swedish Fish Oreos as a shared-equipment product.
What is the catch with Swedish Fish?
Beeswax: peg-bag varieties (typically sold at gas stations and vending machines) list beeswax as an ingredient, and some Turkish-manufactured batches also use beeswax, while Canadian-manufactured versions (common in U.S. retail) use only plant-based carnauba wax.
What can I use instead of Swedish Fish?
Vegan options include Surf Sweets Fruity Bears (certified vegan, no beeswax), YumEarth Gummy Bears (vegan, no artificial dyes), SmartSweets Fruity Gummies (plant-based, lower sugar), Trader Joe's Swedish Fish-style gummies (check label, generally vegan).
Is Swedish Fish certified vegan?
Swedish Fish does not carry a third-party vegan certification, so the verdict here is based on its current ingredient list and manufacturer information.
Sources
- www.kathysvegankitchen.com/are-swedish-fish-vegan
- www.mashed.com/467011/what-vegans-should-know-about-swedish-fish
- www.worldofvegan.com/are-swedish-fish-vegan
- www.peta.org/about-peta/victories/swedish-fish-vegan-again
- www.snackworks.com/brands/swedish-fish/products
- www.kroger.com/p/swedish-fish-red-jelly-beans-easter-candy/0007046243403
- www.scandikitchen.co.uk/product/malaco-original-swedish-fish-350g
- meaningfuleats.com/are-swedish-fish-gluten-free
- www.amazon.com/SWEDISH-Strawberry-Watermelon-Chewy-Candy-12-3-08/dp/B0DKYKGHVB
Last verified June 21, 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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