Made in 1896, Tootsie Rolls were what paved the way for other childhood favorite candies such as the Charleston Chew, Dubble Bubble, and Junior Mints. Named after the inventor’s daughter, Tootsie Rolls were being provided as rations to the US military during World War II. Tootsie Rolls have a rich history and a unique sticky consistency, but is this candy vegan?
Tootsie Rolls are not vegan. This candy contains multiple dairy and refined sugar products such as condensed milk, beeswax, mono and diglycerides, palm oil, food coloring, and whey. Some alternatives utilize dates to replicate the sticky texture. The best vegan alternatives to Tootsie Rolls are Manhattan Dark Chocolate Leather Bar, Larabar Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, and Cocomels Coconut Sugar Caramels.
In this article, we will discuss the nutritional value of Tootsie Rolls, as well as offer some vegan friendly alternatives. Let’s dig in!
Contents
Why Aren’t Tootsie Rolls Vegan?
Tootsie Rolls are vegetarian, meaning that they don’t contain animal meat. However, animal products such as milk and bone char make them unsuitable for vegan consumption.
Specifically, Tootsie Rolls contain condensed skim milk and whey, which are both milk products. Also, the food colorings and flavorings contain carmine, and Tootsie Rolls also contain palm oil and bee’s wax.
1. Condensed Skim Milk
Skim milk is separate from regular milk not in its dairy content, but the presence of milk fat. Skim milk is low-fat or fat-free, taking away one of the more filling aspects of regular milk. Condensed skim milk is made by evaporating the water around milk solids, making the liquid much thicker than it was before.
2. Whey
Whey is one of the proteins found in milk, the other one being casein. Because it is a milk protein, it is usually used to make cheeses and other dairy products. It is more watery and is also used in a lot of protein supplements.
3. Food Colorings
Food coloring is a hit-or-miss ingredient due to the split presence of carmine in red food coloring. In makeup and culinary products, carmine is derived from crushed carmine beetles, creating a rich red color that is extremely popular.
Food coloring also goes by extremely different names, ranging from natural red 4 to E120. It is very present in strawberry-flavored candy, so make sure to check the ingredients list of the candies that you buy.
4. Palm Oil
Palm oil isn’t directly an animal product, but there is an issue with the way that it is harvested. Palm oil can’t be harvested sustainably without contributing to the mass deforestation of key ecosystems such as the Amazon and other important rainforests.
If you consider yourself a sustainable vegan shopper, you’ll be disappointed to see how palm oil harvest is killing already endangered specifies.
5. Bee’s Wax
Bee’s wax is often used to make the gelatin-like consistency of candy stick together, giving Tootsie Rolls the consistency that we know it for. Bee’s wax is considered an animal product, and a lot of beeswaxes are harvested inhumanely from bee farms. Honey seems to be a point of personal contestation, however, as it can be harvested humanely.
6. Mono and Diglycerides
Mono and diglycerides are possibly vegan. These are fats which are used as emulsifiers and may be sourced either from soybean oil or animal fat.
Are Tootsie Rolls Healthy?
Tootsie Rolls aren’t healthy, but that is to be expected from the candy giant. Tootsie Rolls have a high amount of sugar and fat, on top of being extremely calorie-dense.
Original Tootsie Roll
Nutritional Facts (per 6 pieces, 40g):
- 154.8 Calories
- 35.1g Total Carbs
- 0g Fiber
- 22.5g Sugars
- 0.6g Protein
- 1.3g Fat
- 0.8g Monounsaturated Fat
- 0.1g Polyunsaturated Fat
- 0.4g Saturated Fat
- 0.8mg Cholesterol
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Corn Syrup
- Palm Oil
- Condensed Skim Milk
- Cocoa
- Bee’s Wax
- Whey
- Soy Lecithin
- Artificial and Natural Flavors
Tootsie Roll Pop
Tootsie roll pops are lollipops with a tootsie roll deep on the inside. These are unfortunately also not vegan due to the same ingredients being used for the tootsie role as the center of the lollipop. These are also very unhealthy, but considering that they’re candy, it isn’t the most surprising.
Nutrition Facts (per 1 pop):
- 60 Calories
- 0 Calories from Fat
- 0g Total Fat
- 0g Saturated Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 5mg Sodium
- 15g Total Carbohydrates
- 0g Dietary Fiber
- 10g Sugars
- 0g Protein
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Corn Syrup
- Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil
- Citric Acid
- Condensed Skim Milk
- Cocoa
- Whey
- Artificial and Natural Flavors
- Soy Lecithin
- Artificial Colors
- Strawberry Powder
Tootsie Roll Fruit Chews
Tootsie roll fruit chews are a departure from the chocolatey flavor of the original tootsie roll. However, this doesn’t mean that these fruit chews are vegan-friendly.
Nutrition Facts (per 6 chews):
- 140 Calories
- 25 Calories from Fat
- 3g Total Fat
- 1.5g Saturated Fat
- 0g Trans Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 15mg Sodium
- 29g Total Carbohydrates
- 0g Dietary Fiber
- 20g Sugars
- 0g Protein
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Corn Syrup
- Palm Oil
- Condensed Skim Milk
- Whey
- Malic Acid
- Artificial and Natural Flavors
- Soy Lecithin
- Artificial Colors
Vegan Alternatives to Tootsie Rolls
Tootsie Rolls haven’t transitioned to become vegan yet, but it doesn’t mean you have to lose the experience that it provides. For the same gelatin texture that tootsie roll has, chocolate with fruits and nuts may have the same chocolatey texture as the nostalgic candy.
Manhattan Dark Chocolate Leather Bar
Manhattan dark chocolate leather bars are made sustainably and are extremely close in texture to the original Tootsie Rolls. They’re made with whole ingredients, and have significantly fewer calories for an entire bar,
Nutrition Facts:
- 60 Calories
- 2g Total Fat
- 25mg Sodium
- 10g Total Carbohydrates
- 0g Protein
Ingredients:
- Brown Rice Syrup
- Semisweet Chocolate
- Crisp Brown Rice
- Cocoa Nibs
- Cocoa
- Sea Salt
Larabar Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
Larabar Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip bar is a perfect example of a healthier vegan alternative to the Tootsie Rolls. The fruit and nuts in the bar provide an almost gelatin texture with a deep chocolate flavor that will make you forget that you’re eating whole foods.
Nutrition Facts (per 1 bar, 45g):
- 210 Calories
- 12g Total Fat
- 3g Saturated Fat
- 0g Trans Fat
- 2g Polyunsaturated Fat
- 6g Monounsaturated Fat
- 0mg Cholesterol
- 65mg Sodium
- 23g Total Carbohydrates
- 3g Dietary Fiber
- 17g Total Sugars
- 4g Added Sugars
- 5g Protein
Ingredients:
- Dates
- Peanuts
- Cane Sugar
- Cocoa Butter
- Vanilla Extract
- Sea Salt
- Unsweetened Chocolate
Cocomels Coconut Sugar Caramels
All of the candy products made by Cocomels are gluten, egg, dairy and nut free. The caramel candies are made with coconut milk, and they offer cane and grain-free options.
Ingredients:
- Organic Coconut Milk (Organic Coconut, Water)
- Organic Tapioca Syrup
- Organic Coconut Sugar
- Sea Salt
- Organic Vanilla Extract (Water, Organic Ethyl Alcohol Organic Vanilla Bean Extractives)
- Xanthan Gum
Nutrition Facts (per 3 piece serving):
- 60 – Calories
- 23 g – Total Fat
- 1.5 g – Saturated Fat
- 0 g – Trans Fat
- 0 mg – Cholesterol
- 28 mg – Sodium
- 9 g – Total Carbohydrate
- 0 g – Dietary Fiber
- 6 g – Sugars
- 0 g – Protein
- 1 mg – Calcium
- 46 mg – Potassium
Related Questions
Are Tootsie Rolls Gluten-Free?
Per the makers of Tootsie Rolls, Tootsie Rolls industries, all of their confections are gluten-free as they do not use wheat, barley, rye, or oats.
Do Tootsie Rolls Contain Nuts?
No, Tootsie Rolls do not contain nuts. Per the makers of Tootsie Rolls, Tootsie Rolls industries, all of their confections are free of peanuts and tree-nuts.
Do Tootsie Rolls Contain Gelatin?
No, Tootsie Rolls do not contain gelatin. The only animal products in Tootsie Rolls are milk-based, such as condensed skim milk and whey.