Are Love Hearts Vegan? Do These Hearts Have Compassion?

Last updated on December 17th, 2023

Hey there compassionate hearts! If you’ve landed here you must be wondering about a delightful little treat that has probably melted your heart, or at least made you giggle, at some point – Love Hearts. But have you ever checked if us vegan folks can actually eat them? Are Love Hearts vegan?

For those who haven’t come across these sugary gems yet, or are just not exactly sure what I’m talking about…Love Hearts are iconic sweets that come in a rainbow of colours and have cute messages like “Be Mine,” “True Love,” and “Hot Lips” on them. They’re often found in mixed candy packs, gift bags, and even as part of wedding favours. These seemingly simple sweets have been around for generations, bringing silliness and a bit of fun.

Now, let’s get into it and take a look at the ingredient list of Love Hearts. After all, it’s the ingredients that determine whether these sweets are suitable for vegans or not. 

Love Hearts are primarily made from sugar, maize starch, and acidity regulators. Sounds pretty promising, right? 

The good news for all the vegan sweet tooths out there is that Love Hearts are, in fact, vegan-friendly. The primary ingredients – sugar and maize starch – are plant-based. These essentials provide the delightful crunch and dissolve-in-your-mouth goodness that Love Hearts are known for.

But what about the colours and flavours? The colourful hues that make Love Hearts so cute and pretty are derived from vegan sources. They use ingredients such as beetroots, dark green vegetables and paprika. As for flavours, they’re possibly created using fruit concentrates, meaning no need to worry about animal-derived additives lurking in these little lovelies.

So, how can we confidently declare Love Hearts as vegan? Well, on their website they say suitable for ‘Vegetarians, Vegans, Coeliacs, and Halal.’ Check out Swizzel’s website. 

Before we finish I’m going to answer some of the other common questions people ask about Love Hearts:

Yes, indeed! Love Hearts are gluten-free, making them a suitable option for those with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease. Just be sure to check the packaging for any updates, as recipes and ingredients can change.

No, Love Hearts are blissfully gelatin-free. Gelatin, often derived from animal collagen, is not part of these sweets’ makeup.

Absolutely! Since Love Hearts don’t contain any animal-derived ingredients, they’re perfectly fine for vegetarians as well.

On the ingredient list, it’s hard to be sure where all the flavourings come from. So, while we can be confident they’re vegan, we can’t be sure they only use natural colours and flavourings. 

In a world where more and more people are trying to eat in a kinder way, it’s heartening to discover that treats like Love Hearts can fit seamlessly into vegan and vegetarian lifestyles.

Please note that while every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, ingredient lists and formulations can vary and change at any time. Always double-check the packaging and ingredient labels before consuming any product, especially if you have allergies or dietary restrictions.

If you’re looking for some more tips and tricks on what foods are vegan and what foods aren’t? Check out my Vegan Food & Drink Page.

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Meet the Author

Meet Sinead O’Carroll: Vegan explorer, sustainability advocate and the founder of The Wondering Wandering Vegan. Embracing veganism since 2018 and vegetarianism since 2005, Sinead is armed with a Vegan Health, Nutrition and Lifestyle qualification, and is on a mission to share her passion for cruelty-free living. 

With a taste for adventure and a heart for eco-conscious choices, she’s here to prove that vegans never miss out on flavour, fun or style. Join her in enjoying the delights of a vegan-friendly world! 🌱✈️🌍
Want to know more? Check out Sinead’s About page here.

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Follow me on Instagram to see all the delicious vegan food I find, the vegan and cruelty-free products I use and what I get up to as a travelling vegan.

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