Are Kraft Marshmallows Vegan? (No, Here’s Why)


Are Kraft Marshmallows Vegan

Ever since Kraft Foods first introduced marshmallows in 1958, they have become synonymous with childhood. As a kid, whether sitting around a campfire or sipping a cup of hot chocolate, marshmallows would always be such a treat. Marshmallows have a soft and fluffy texture and come in different shapes and sizes. There are many ways to use marshmallows, but the most common use is in s’mores in which marshmallows are roasted over a fire and then layered with graham crackers and chocolate. Marshmallows may be a popular treat, but are they suitable for those who are vegan?

Kraft Marshmallows are not vegan as they are produced with gelatin, which comes from animals. They also contain a lot of unhealthy ingredients such as added sweeteners, artificial flavors, and color additives. The best vegan alternatives to marshmallows include Dandies Original All Natural Vegan Marshmallows, The Naked Marshmallow Co. Vegan Marshmallows, and Not Guilty Sweet Revolution Marilyn Mallow Vegan Marshmallows.

In this article, we will discuss why Kraft marshmallows are unhealthy. We will then introduce some Kraft marshmallow varieties and go over their ingredients and nutrition facts. Lastly, we will review the best vegan alternatives that are healthier options to Kraft marshmallows. Let’s dig in!

Are Kraft Marshmallows Healthy?

Kraft marshmallows are not healthy. The main ingredients they contain are corn syrup, sugar, dextrose, water, modified corn starch, gelatin, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, natural and artificial flavors, and food coloring. Lets take a closer look at these ingredients.

1. Corn Syrup, Sugar, and Dextrose

Corn syrup is simply a sugar extracted from corn starch and made into a liquid. It is also known as glucose syrup and is much sweeter than regular sugar. Dextrose is a simple sugar that usually comes from corn or wheat. It is chemically identical to glucose. So not only is there regular sugar in Kraft marshmallows, there are two types of added sweeteners, namely corn syrup and dextrose. Added sweeteners in any food product is never a good thing as they are linked to obesity, increased heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer risk.

2. Modified Corn Starch

Modified corn starch is added to improve texture and consistency. It is digested quickly in the body, thereby spiking blood sugar. Blood sugar levels that rise quickly also fall sharply, which can cause lethargy and increased hunger, making you want to eat more than you normally would.

3. Gelatin

Gelatin in Kraft marshmallows comes from animal collagen, which makes them not vegan-friendly.

4. Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate

Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate is a synthetic food additive added to Kraft marshmallows to help ingredients stick together. It is considered safe by the FDA as a food additive, but it is still synthetic.  Direct contact with it has been known to cause irritation in humans in the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and respiratory passages.

5. Natural and Artificial Flavors

Natural and artificial flavors in Kraft marshmallows both come from a laboratory. The main difference between the two is that the natural flavors are obtained from spices, fruits, vegetables, edible yeast, herbs, bark, buds, roots, leaves, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy, or anything fermented from these foods according to the FDA. Artificial flavors are obtained from petroleum or other inedible substances.

6. Food Coloring

As we will see in the following Kraft marshmallow varieties, they all contain food coloring such as Blue 1, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, or Red 40. Food coloring is a synthetic colorant added to processed foods to maintain or improve the appearance of the food. They have been known to cause allergic reactions in some people and cause hyperactivity in children.

Kraft Marshmallows Varieties

Kraft Foods produces an array of different varieties of marshmallows. They have mini, regular, and jumbo-sized marshmallows, as well as flavored and seasonal varieties. In this article, we will discuss 4 varieties.

Jet–Puffed Marshmallows is a brand of marshmallows produced by Kraft Foods, so Kraft marshmallows and Jet-Puffed marshmallows are the same. Jet-puffed is a patented process used by Kraft Foods since 1953 that pumped air into marshmallows, giving them the soft-but firm quality.

As you will see below, these marshmallows contain a lot of sugar and added sweeteners, artificial flavors, color additives, and synthetic ingredients like tetrasodium pyrophosphate.

Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallows – Regular

Ingredients:

  • Corn Syrup
  • Sugar
  • Dextrose
  • Modified Corn Starch
  • Water
  • Contains 2% or less of gelatin
  • Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate (whipping aid)
  • Natural and Artificial Flavor
  • Blue 1

Nutrition Facts (per 4 pieces/29g):

  • Calories: 100
  • Total Fat: 0g
  • Sodium: 30g (1% DV)
  • Total Carbohydrate: 24g (8% DV)
  • Sugars: 17g
  • Protein: less than 1g

Kraft Jet-Puffed Jumbo Pumpkin Mallows – Vanilla Flavor

Ingredients:

  • Corn Syrup
  • Sugar
  • Dextrose
  • Water
  • Modified Corn Starch
  • Gelatin
  • Contains less than 2% of Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate (whipping aid)
  • Yellow 6
  • Natural and Artificial Flavor
  • Blue 1

Nutrition Facts (per 2 pieces/34g):

  • Calories: 110
  • Total Fat: 0g
  • Sodium: 40mg (2% DV)
  • Total Carbohydrate: 27g (9% DV)
  • Sugars: 20g
  • Protein: less than 1g

Kraft Jet-Puffed Fruity-Fun Mini Marshmallows – Orange, Strawberry, Lemon & Lime Flavors

Ingredients:

  • Corn Syrup
  • Sugar
  • Modified Corn Starch
  • Dextrose
  • Water
  • Gelatin
  • Contains less than 2% Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate (whipping aid)
  • Natural and Artificial Flavor
  • Yellow 5
  • Yellow 6
  • Red 40
  • Blue 1

Nutrition Facts (per 2/3 cup/30g):

  • Calories: 100
  • Total Fat: 0g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg
  • Sodium: 25mg (1% DV)
  • Total Carbohydrate: 24g (9% DV)
  • Sugars: 16g
  • Includes 16g added sugars (33% DV)
  • Protein: less than 1g

Kraft Jet-Puffed Holiday Shaped Christmas Mallows – Vanilla Flavor

Ingredients:

  • Corn Syrup
  • Sugar
  • Modified Corn Starch
  • Dextrose
  • Water
  • Gelatin
  • Contains less than 2% of Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate (whipping aid)
  • Natural and Artificial Flavor
  • Artificial Color (includes Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1, Yellow 6)

Nutrition Facts (per 29g):

  • Calories: 100
  • Total Fat: 0g
  • Saturated Fat: 0g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg
  • Sodium: 25mg (1% DV)
  • Total Carbohydrate: 23g (8% DV)
  • Dietary Fiber: 0g
  • Sugars: 16g
  • Protein: 1g

Vegan Alternatives to Kraft Marshmallows

Dandies Original All Natural Vegan Marshmallows – Vanilla Flavor

Dandies Original All Natural Vegan Marshmallows are produced on dedicated vegan equipment. They are also vegetarian, certified Kosher, non-GMO, nut free, and plant-based.

Ingredients:

  • Tapioca Syrup
  • Cane Sugar
  • Filtered Water
  • Tapioca Starch
  • Carrageenan
  • Soy Protein
  • Natural Vanilla Flavor
  • Made on dedicated vegan equipment in a peanut/tree nut free facility

Nutrition Facts (per 28g):

  • Calories: 90
  • Total Carbohydrate: 22g
  • Dietary Fiber: 0g
  • Total Sugars: 20g
  • Protein: 0g

The Naked Marshmallow Co. Vegan Marshmallows – Vanilla Flavor

The Naked Marshmallow Co. Vegan Marshmallows are handmade and 100% natural. They are gelatin-free, gluten-free, egg and dairy-free, soy-free, nut and tree nut-free, with no artificial flavors or colors. They have vanilla and strawberry vegan marshmallows.

Ingredients:

  • Glucose-Fructose Syrup
  • Sugar
  • Water
  • Dextrose
  • Gelling Agent: Carrageenan
  • Maize Starch
  • Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
  • Stabilizer: Polyphosphate
  • Flavoring: Natural Vanilla Flavor with Other Natural Flavors
  • Color: Titanium Dioxide

Nutrition Facts (per 25g):

  • Calories: 51
  • Total Fat: less than 0.5g
  • Saturated Fat: less than 0.1g
  • Carbohydrate: 11g
  • Sugars: 0g
  • Protein: less than 0.1g
  • Salt: 0.03g

Not Guilty Sweet Revolution Marilyn Mallow Vegan Marshmallows – Vanilla Flavor

Not Guilty Sweet Revolution Company produces premium sweets that don’t harm any animals. They use a plant-based gelling agent with all organic ingredients. The nutrition facts were listed per 100g, which is significantly higher than the above-mentioned marshmallows, therefore harder to compare. The play on words with Marilyn Mallow is quite clever though.

Ingredients:

  • Sugar
  • Glucose-Fructose Syrup
  • Water
  • Dextrose
  • Tapioca Starch
  • Corn Starch
  • Gelling Agent: Carrageenan
  • Foaming Agent: Hydrolyzed Pea Protein
  • Natural Flavoring

Nutrition Facts (per 100g):

  • Calories: 326
  • Total Fat: 0g
  • Saturated Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrate: 81g
  • Sugars: 69g
  • Protein: 0.5g
  • Salt: 0.2g

Max Vegan Mallows – Classic Vanilla Flavor

Max Vegan Mallows claim to be vegan; however, the ingredients state they are made in a facility that also processes milk. If you are vegan, that is something to consider. Besides that, these marshmallows are incredibly healthy with low calories, no sodium, no sugar, and zero net carbs. They contain collagen, prebiotic fiber, MCT oil, and are keto, paleo, and diabetic-friendly.

Ingredients:

  • Non-GMO Soluble Vegetable Fiber
  • Prebiotic Inulin Fiber
  • Allulose
  • Carrageenan (from wild harvested seaweed)
  • Hydolyzed Pea Protein
  • Natural Vanilla Flavor
  • Stevia
  • Contains Coconut
  • Made in a facility that also processes milk

Nutrition Facts (per 5 mallows/8g):

  • Calories: 10
  • Total Fat: 0g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg
  • Sodium: 0mg
  • Total Carbohydrate: 7g (3% DV)
  • Dietary Fiber: 6g (21% DV)
  • Total Sugars: 0g
  • Sugar Alcohol: 0g
  • Protein: 0g

Yummallo Vegan Marshmallows

Yummallo Vegan Marshmallows are made in Belgium and contain no gelatin, no corn syrup, and no artificial flavors or colors. They are all natural, gluten-free, fat-free, and non-GMO. They are however produced in a facility that processes milk, so that is something vegans should take into consideration. Another thing to make note of is the sugar content, which is quite high in these marshmallows.

Ingredients:

  • Sugar
  • Glucose-Fructose Syrup
  • Water
  • Corn Starch
  • Dextrose
  • Carrageenan
  • Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
  • Natural Vanilla Flavor
  • Produced in a facility that also processes milk and soy

Nutrition Facts (3 pieces 30g):

  • Calories: 100
  • Total Fat: 0g
  • Saturated Fat: 3.5g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Cholesterol: 0mg
  • Sodium: 36mg (2% DV)
  • Total Carbohydrate: 24g (8% DV)
  • Dietary Fiber: 0g
  • Total Sugars: 21g
  • Includes 21g added sugars (42% DV)
  • Protein: 0g

Final Thoughts

Kraft marshmallows are not vegan because they are produced with gelatin, which comes from animal skin, connective tissue, and bones. Now we know they are also not very healthy as they contain a lot of added sweeteners, artificial flavors, and color additives. The good news is that there are lots of amazing vegan alternatives to choose from that are much healthier than Kraft marshmallows. There are some that were produced in the same facility that processes milk, so you may choose to avoid those if you like. Now you can enjoy a sweet marshmallow and feel good knowing they are vegan and made from healthier plant-based ingredients.

Related Questions

Are Kraft Marshmallows keto?

No, Kraft marshmallows are not keto as they contain high amounts of carbohydrates and sugar.

Are Kraft Marshmallows gluten-free?

Kraft marshmallows do not contain gluten in their ingredients, but they may have been processed in a facility that processes gluten. Make sure to look for gluten-free labeling.

Are Kraft Marshmallows dairy-free?

Yes, Kraft marshmallows are dairy-free, but make sure to check the label if purchasing any flavored or seasonal marshmallows as their ingredients may change.

Are Kraft Marshmallows egg-free?

Yes, Kraft Marshmallows are egg-free. The only animal-based ingredient in Kraft marshmallows is the gelatin, which comes from animal skin, connective tissue, and bones.

Yana Nikitin

Yana is passionate about health and fitness. She strives for whole body health in soul, mind, and body. She is a wife and mom to two little kiddos and one fur baby named Colty. She lives on a farm and loves writing, gardening, and recreating classic recipes to make them healthier.

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