The 31st of October is Halloween – a day of grotesque yet guilt-free indulgence in glimmering treats amid macabre-costumed neighbours leaning on your doorbell to claim their share. It’s been a real deathly downer in previous years for the plant-based demographic when we’ve been stuck eating hummus and crackers while others could sinfully indulge in their favourite candies. But in 2024 we no longer have to as ProVeg South Africa has grave-robbed a list of 123 legitimate and delectable vegan sweets to scare up your blood sugar. Banished and exorcised are the days when vegans had to rely on an apple and some raisins for their fructose-loading.

Not all candies are vegan. There are a few freaky & sneaky animal ingredients that find their way into chocolates, gummies, caramels, others – such as dairy milk, animal fats, butter, whey, and that ectoplasmic gelatin frequently added for chewiness. Carmine, made from crushed cochineal beetles, is sometimes used as a red colouring in candy, and shellac, which comes from insect secretions, can sometimes be used as confectioner’s glaze and various other food applications. Even white sugar itself is often refined with bone char. This all demonstrates how pervasive the use of animal byproducts is in the food industry, which is why it’s vital that brands get licensed for their vegan products through certification bodies such as V-Label to build trust and support among these consumers.

Vegan food tends to come with a health halo. Plant-based versions of meat and dairy products are usually healthier in various respects; but like other candies, the majority of vegan candy isn’t the most nutritious thing you could possibly be eating. Candy generally contains high amounts of added sugar and calories, regardless of animal product content – but don’t let that stifle your sweet tooth – this night of fiendish and frenzied candy consumption comes but once a year, and healthy habits are what we do most of the time.

Excluding non-candy confectionery products that are ‘accidentally vegan’ such as Oreos – the world’s best-selling cookie – here is ProVeg’s monster-list of vegan candies available nationally at retailers such as Checkers, Pick & Pay, Woolworths and Spar:

Vegan candy in South Africa

Jelly sweets

Jelly Tots Original
Jelly Tots Numbers
Jelly Tots Alphabet
Jelly Tots Power Sour
Jelly Tots Craziberries
Woolworths Free From Gelatine Sour Jelly Beans
Woolworths Free From Gelatine Jelly Beans
Woolworths Fantasy Galore
Woolworths 10 Mini Fruit Pastilles Bags
Woolworths Mini Soft Eating Gums
Woolworths Mini Fruit Pastilles
Woolworths Free From Gelatine Fruity Juice Chews
Woolworths Free From Gelatine Soft Eating Gums
Woolworths Liquorice & Fruit Flavoured Duos
Woolworths Dream Dance Duo
Candy Break Tommy’s Bear Sour Vegan
Chewits Blue Raspberry Flavour Juicy Bites
Chewits Xtreme Apple & Lemon Flavour Sour Bites
Fini Magic Carpets
Fini Smoo Free Koala
Fini Smoo Free Vibes Mix
Fini Gourmet Candy Fruits
Hitschies Saure Schnüre Fruchtgummi / Fruit Gum
Hitschies Saure Spinnenbeine Fruchtgummi / Fruit Gum
Lolilu Froggums
Lolilu Vine Gums
Candy Break Tommy’s Bears Vegan Mixed Fruit
Candy Break Tommy’s Bears Vegan Tropical Mixed Fruit
Bebeto Fizzy Blue Raspberry Laces
Bebeto Rainbow Laces
Bebeto Apple Spaghetti
Bebeto Strawberry Spaghetti
Rowntree’s Fruit Pastilles
Rowntree’s Fruit Pastilles Strawberry & Blackcurrant
Rowntree’s Jelly Tots
Rowntree’s Dessert Pastilles
Rowntree’s Fruit Pastilles Giant Tube
Rowntree’s Fruit Pastilles Roll
Popsuga Vegan & Gelatine Free Sour Gums
Popsuga Vegan & Gelatine Free Sweet Gums Peach & Cherry Flavour
Sugarlean Juicy Fruit Jellies
Sugarlean Mini Soft Gums Fruits Galore

Liquorice

Woolworths Liquorice Twists
Woolworths Original Soft Eating Liquorice
Woolworths Dutch Salty Flavoured Liquorice
Allsorts Liquorice Mini Twists
Mister Sweet Soft Eating Liquorice Original Flavour

Mister Sweet Soft Eating Liquorice Cherry Flavour
Mister Sweet Soft Eating Liquorice Strawberry Flavour
Mister Sweet Cherry & Berry Twists
Fini The Black Liquorice Gourmet Lemon Filled
Fini Liquorice Blacks

Hard candy

Starburst Minis
Swizzels Curious Chews
Swizzels Love Hearts Lipstick
Swizzels Original Love Hearts
Swizzels Scrumptious Sweets
Swizzels Sweet Shop Favourites
Swizzels PUDS Chew Bars
Swizzels Chew Crew
Swizzels Giant Fizzers
Swizzels Flic ‘n’ Lic
Tango Blue Razz Bubblegum Filled
Tango Milk Valley Chewy Centre
Tango Wacky Mix Bubblegum Filled Tongue Paint
Skittles Giants Crazy Sours
Skittles Fruits
Skittles Wild Berry
Jawbreaker Black Cherry
Jawbreaker Blackcurrant
Jawbreaker Blue Razz
Jawbreaker Ice Cream
Jawbreaker Sour

Jawbreaker Strawberry
Jawbreaker Tropical
Mentos Spearmint
Mentos Strawberry
Mentos Fruit
Mentos Mint
Caring Candies Sugar Free Hard Candies Assorted Citrus Fruits
Caring Candies Sugar Free Hard Candies Assorted Comforts
Caring Candies Sugar Free Hard Candies Assorted Fruits
Caring Candies Sugar Free Hard Candies Assorted Sours
Caring Candies Sugar Free Hard Candies Liquorice Flavour
Caring Candies Sugar Free Hard Candies Peppermint Flavour
Caring Candies Sugar Free Hard Candies Toffee Mint Flavour
Caring Candies Little Lovies Assorted Citrus
Caring Candies Little Lovies Assorted Comforts
Caring Candies Little Lovies Assorted Fruits
Caring Candies Little Lovies Assorted Sours
Caring Candies Little Lovies Liquorice Flavour
Caring Candies Little Lovies Peppermint Flavour
Caring Candies Little Lovies Toffee Mint Flavour
Caring Candies Little Lovies Hot & Spicy Cinnamon Flavour
Stockley’s Chocolate Limes
Stockley’s Sherbet Lemons
Amajoya Mixed Fruit Flavoured Candy

Marshmallows

Navinos Vegan Marshmallows
The Synergy Candy Company Vegan Marshmallows
Marshmelts Veg Marshmallows
Popsuga Vegan Toasted Mini Mallows
Popsuga Vegan Chocolate Mini Mallows
Popsuga Vegan Creamy Mallows
Buy Organic Chocc-Vegan Marshmallows
Fine & Fabulous Sweets & Treats Vegan Pink & White Mini Marshmallows

Lollipops

Swizzels Luscious Lollies
Swizzels Lots of Lollies
Caring Candies Sugar Free Doc’s Pops Lollipops
Caring Candies Sugar Free Doc’s Pops Lollipops Raspberry
Caring Candies Sugar Free Doc’s Pops Lollipops Blackcurrant
Caring Candies Sugar Free Doc’s Pops Lollipops Toffee
Caring Candies Sugar Free Doc’s Pops Lollipops Passion Fruit
Caring Candies Sugar Free Heart Shape Lollipops
Caring Candies Sugar Free Rainbow Spiralz
Caring Candies Sugar Free Assorted Sour Spiralz
Caring Candies Sugar Free Little Lollies
Caring Candies Sugar Free Mini Round Lollipops – Pine-Orange
Caring Candies CBD Infused Lollipops

Bubblegum / Chewing gum

Marvellous Watermelon Flavoured Bubblegum

Marvellous Tennis Balls Fruit Flavoured Bubblegum

Marvellous Gum Balls