Are Swedish Fish Vegan?
It Depends
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.
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)
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.
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)
Looking to make your own? Browse our vegan swaps.
Other candy
Sources
Last checked June 19, 2026. Always confirm on the current product label, since recipes change. Product photo via Open Food Facts.
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