

When consumed in large amounts, it can dangerously increase your blood sugar levels and cause diabetic-related symptoms such as swelling or loss of vision. Compared to other sugars, dextrose is incredibly simple, which allows our bodies to quickly absorb it.Ĭhemically speaking, it’s actually identical to the blood sugar in our own bodies!īecause it’s absorbed so readily by the body, dextrose is also considered one of the least healthy sugars. 1) Dextroseĭextrose is a simple sugar that’s usually derived from corn or wheat. So, with that in mind, here are the main ingredients used to make Nerds candies. Whenever I write these types of posts, I always like to give an in-depth breakdown of the main ingredients used to make the food in question. What Are Nerds Made Of? What Vegans Need To Know This is where lines can sometimes get blurred as a vegan, though, so I’ll let you make your own decisions as far as this is concerned. So, by purchasing a package of multi-colored Nerds and then just eating the ones that aren’t red or pink, you’re still doing the same damage by supporting a mostly non-vegan product. Then again, the whole idea of going vegan is to not support companies that use animal by-products. If you happen to find a container of pure purple, blue, or white-colored Nerds, they should be more vegan-friendly, since they don’t contain carmine. That being said, the red and pink Nerds are the main ones you need to stay away from. This cruel practice was used long before chemical dyes and food coloring was created, which is one of the only reasons it’s still used today. The red-colored cochineal beetles are mass-farmed and then methodically crushed, which causes them to exude a deep red-colored dye. The main issue with Nerds is that the pink and red-colored Nerds are made with carmine dye, which is derived from crushed-up cochineal beetles. Technically speaking, some colors of Nerds could be considered vegan-friendly. Yupik Organic Vegan Gummy Bears ( link).


Secondly, the gummy balls underneath the Nerds are primarily made of animal-derived gelatin, making them even less vegan-friendly. For one, the Nerds covering them are non-vegan due to carmine dye. Just like Nerds Ropes, however, Nerds Gummy Clusters are not vegan-friendly. They’re basically small gummy circles that are coated with small Nerds. Nerds Gummy Clusters are the latest invention from the Nerds factory. If you’re not a strict vegan and don’t mind consuming white sugar, then these can give you the chewy fix you’re looking for. If you’re looking for a soft, rope-like treat, then I recommend Twizzlers instead. The gooey ropes that candy lovers enjoy so much are made almost entirely of gelatin and sugar, making them just as non-vegan as the small nerds that coat them. Not only are they covered with non-vegan Nerds (which use animal-derived dye) but they also contain pork-derived gelatin. Unfortunately, Nerds Ropes are not vegan. The turn of the century deserved a new type of candy, and sweet-tooth candy lovers everywhere loved the combination of the hard Nerds-covered exterior with the soft, gooey, sugary “rope” underneath. Willy Wonka released the first version of their original Nerds Rope in 2001, just over twenty years ago!

The Verdict – Vegans Should Avoid Nerds.What Are Nerds Made Of? What Vegans Need To Know.
