Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes
Key Takeaways
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Squashies aren't vegetarian: all varieties contain animal gelatine.
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Gelatin is made by boiling animal bones, skin, and connective tissues.
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Every Squashies variety contains the same non-vegetarian formula.
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Major UK brands now offer vegetarian alternatives with textures similar to those of meat.
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Tesco, Sainsbury's and other supermarkets stock extensive vegetarian ranges.
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The UK vegetarian confectionery market continues to grow rapidly.
The Truth About Squashies
Let's settle this once and for all. Squashies aren't vegetarian.
Not a single variety. They all contain gelatine from animals, making them unsuitable for vegetarians and vegans. You'll find confusing information online suggesting otherwise, but it's wrong.
Here's the good news, though. If you're looking for similar foam-textured sweets, the UK market has more alternatives than ever. Major brands have reformulated classics. Specialist manufacturers create innovative plant-based options. The choice keeps growing.
Why Gelatine Matters
Gelatine creates that bouncy texture we love in gummy and foam sweets. But here's where it comes from:
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Pig and cattle bones.
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Animal skin.
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Connective tissues.
Manufacturers boil these animal by-products with water. They extract collagen. It becomes the gelatin powder in your sweets.
The Vegetarian Society won't certify any products containing gelatine. Why? Because it comes directly from animal slaughter. So if you're one of the UK's 3 million vegetarians and vegans, you'll need to read those labels carefully.
Every Squashies Variety Contains Animal Gelatine
We checked Squashies' entire UK range. Gelatine appears in every single one.
The Original Raspberry & Milk flavour lists glucose syrup, sugar and gelatine as its top three ingredients. The same goes for Drumsticks, Bubblegum, Rhubarb & Custard, Sour Cherry & Apple, Strawberry & Cream and their new Cherry Cola from 2024.
Even the limited editions contain gelatine. Squashies Minions? Gelatine. Seasonal offerings? Gelatine again.
Here's what makes this confusing. Swizzels (the manufacturer) has made other products vegan-friendly. They reformulated Drumstick lollies and Refreshers Choos. But Squashies? They haven't changed since 2012.
Some online retailers incorrectly list certain varieties as vegetarian or halal-certified. Don't trust them. Check the packaging yourself. Gelatine appears on every single one.
The UK Vegetarian Sweet Revolution
Britain's confectionery aisles look different now. And the numbers explain why:
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4.7% of UK adults identify as vegan.
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7% call themselves vegetarian.
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13% follow flexitarian diets.
Major manufacturers have noticed. Rowntree's removed gelatine from Fruit Pastilles in 2020 after consumer campaigns. Haribo now offers Giant Strawbs, Rainbow Strips and Sour Sparks (launched 2024).
How do they achieve similar textures without gelatine? They use:
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Pectin from fruit.
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Agar from seaweed.
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Modified starches from corn or potatoes.
Specialist brands fill the gap, too. Candy Kittens went fully vegan in 2018. They became the first confectionery brand to achieve B Corp certification in 2022. Real fruit juices, no palm oil, flavours like Eton Mess and Wild Strawberry.
Free From Fellows takes another approach. Sugar-free versions of classic sweets that are vegetarian too. Their Wine Gums and Cola Bottles use carrageenan instead of gelatine.
And M&S? They launched Plant Kitchen marshmallows in 2024 at £1.95 for 140g. Finally, vegetarian marshmallows at reasonable prices! Even Percy Pig sweets got reformulated in 2021. They removed beeswax to become fully vegan. That's 16 million bags sold annually, now suitable for everyone.
Where to Find Vegetarian Alternatives
Tesco leads the way with 76+ vegan own-brand products. But you'll find options everywhere now.
Major chains stock Haribo's vegetarian selection alongside premium brands like Candy Kittens. They don't hide them in specialist sections either. You'll find them with all the other sweets.
Holland & Barrett remains your best bet for variety. They stock imported brands, such as Dandies marshmallows from America. Plus all the British manufacturers, too.
Here's a secret: look for "accidentally vegan" sweets. These weren't made explicitly as vegetarian but contain no animal ingredients:
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Skittles (except Squishy Cloudz).
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Starburst.
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Love Hearts.
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Millions.
Shopping online? Try Sweets and Candy for your vegetarian cravings. Perfect for bulk buying or discovering new brands.
Reading The Labels
You need to avoid more than just gelatin. Watch out for:
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Beeswax (E901): Makes products vegetarian but not vegan.
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Carmine (E120): Red colouring from crushed beetles.
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Shellac: Shiny coating derived from lac bugs.
The Vegetarian Society Approved trademark helps. It's a green 'V' symbol used since 1969. But many suitable products lack certification despite being vegetarian-friendly.
Supermarket own-brands increasingly display clear labelling. Look for "suitable for vegetarians" or "plant-based" on the packaging.
The Market Keeps Growing
The UK vegetarian confectionery sector shows remarkable growth. The vegan food market should reach $1,175 million by 2030. That's 10.6% annual growth.
Major brands invest heavily in reformulation. Galaxy launched a Hazelnut Praline vegan chocolate bar in January 2025. Swizzels continues converting products across its range.
Yes, vegetarian alternatives typically cost 15-30% more than conventional sweets. But the gap's narrowing. Production scales increase. Ingredient sourcing improves.
Generation Alpha (born 2010-2024) prioritises environmental values over dietary labels. Future growth will come from mainstream adoption, not niche marketing.
Retailers report success with dedicated vegetarian sections. Hancocks, Britain's largest confectionery wholesaler, saw sales rise 40% after installing vegan aisles.
Sainsbury's projects that vegans and vegetarians will comprise 25% of the UK population by 2025. This isn't a temporary trend. It's a structural change.
So What Now?
Squashies remain firmly non-vegetarian. That gelatine content isn't going anywhere yet.
But don't despair. The UK vegetarian sweet market offers sophisticated alternatives that rival traditional options. Missing Squashies? Try Haribo's vegetarian foam Starbeams. Or explore Candy Kittens' texture innovations.
From Rowntree's reformed Fruit Pastilles to M&S's vegan marshmallows, you can enjoy every sweet without compromise. The market keeps evolving. Plant-based sweets move from alternative to mainstream. Consumer demand drives it. Retailers support it. Manufacturers innovate.
Ready to explore vegetarian sweets? Browse our extensive collection of vegetarian sweets at Sweets and Candy. Build your own selection with our vegetarian pick-and-mix range, or grab a bargain in our clearance section because everyone deserves their sweet fix, vegetarian or not!
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