What Makes Swedish Fish Vegan: Unraveling The Ingredients

Are Swedish Fish cruelty-free? Despite their playful resemblance to ocean-dwelling creatures, it’s important to clarify that Swedish Fish are entirely free from any animal products, and they always have been. These iconic, fish-shaped candies have no connection to real fish in their production. So, rest assured that when you enjoy Swedish Fish, you are indulging in a vegan treat that doesn’t harm marine life or any animals. This information is accurate as of September 26, 2022.

Is Red Dye 40 used as an ingredient in Swedish Fish? To answer this question, let’s take a look at the list of ingredients from the package. Swedish Fish are made with a combination of ingredients, including sugar, invert sugar, corn syrup, and modified corn starch, which form the base of this popular candy. In addition to these primary components, Swedish Fish contain less than 2% of other ingredients. Among them are citric acid, which adds a tangy flavor, white mineral oil for texture, and a combination of natural and artificial flavorings to achieve the signature taste. Notably, Red 40 is also listed as an ingredient, which is a common food dye used to give the candy its iconic red color. Finally, carnauba wax is included, likely as a coating agent to give the candy its shiny finish. So, yes, Red Dye 40 is indeed used in the making of Swedish Fish to achieve their distinctive red hue.