Candy corn, a popular Halloween candy, is not created equally. Take an extra few seconds to look at the ingredients. Buy candy corn without palm oil. I looked at the types of candy corn at my local grocery store. Of the 11 different bags, 3 listed palm oil in the ingredients, and 5 did not. There were another 3 I wasn’t sure about because they didn’t disclose the source of the Natural Flavors.
Below I start with palm oil free candy corn and then list the ones with palm oil. Please bookmark these posts about palm oil free candy and mixed candy bags, and then continue reading below.
I have been researching how companies use palm oil since 2017 because my son gets sick from palm oil. There are also people who avoid palm oil for environmental reasons. My family avoids it for both reasons.
I want companies to know people are paying attention and for them to find alternative palm oil-free ingredients for their products. In addition, I hope to teach people to read labels before buying.
I also want the companies who make palm oil free candy corn to apply for Palm Oil Free certification for their products through Orangutan Alliance or the Palm Oil Free Certification Trademark.
Palm Oil Free Candy Corn
Please note, none of these products are certified Palm Oil Free. None of these companies are saying their candies are palm oil free. This is my own research which includes reading labels and looking for common palm oil derivatives and ingredients. Please do your own due diligence, and do not use this for medical advice.
Natural Flavors
Watch for Natural Flavors in candy which can contain palm oil — often in the form of Glycerin. If a company does not spell out the source of the Natural Flavors, you have no way of knowing. I have noted which contain Natural Flavors in the Unsure section.
Candy Corn Without Palm Oil
Brach’s Classic Candy Corn
Brach’s Classic Candy Corn does not list palm oil ingredients
- 2.5 pound bag
- 1.3 pounds
- 11 oz bag
Ingredients: Sugar, Corn Syrup, Confectioner’s Glaze (Shellac), Salt, Dextrose, Gelatin, Artificial Flavor, Honey, Yellow 6, Sesame Oil, Yellow 5, Red 3.
Brach’s Pumpkins Mellowcreme Pumpkins
Pumpkins candy corn
- 20 oz bag
Ingredients: Sugar, Corn Syrup, Confectioner’s Glaze (Shellac), Salt, Gelatin, Dextrose, Honey, Artificial Flavor, Yellow 6, Sesame Oil, Red 3, Yellow 5, Blue 1.
Jelly Belly The Original Gourmet Candy Corn
Jelly Belly Candy Corn
- 3 oz bag
Ingredients: Sugar, Corn Syrup, Contains 2% or less of the following: Modified Soy Protein, Artificial Flavor, Sorbitol, Color Added, Yellow 6 Lake, Yellow 5, Red 3, Beeswax, Carnauba Wax, Confectioner’s Glaze, Salt.
Candy Corn With Palm Oil
Brach’s Mellowcreme Autumn Mix Candy
Brach’s Mellowcreme Autumn Mix contains hydrogenated palm kernel oil
Autumn Mix candy corn
- 2.5 pound bag / 40 oz
- 11 oz bag
Ingredients: Sugar, Corn Syrup, Confectioner’s Glaze (Shellac), Salt, Cocoa Powder, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Gelatin, Dextrose, Artificial Flavor, Honey, Yellow 6, Sesame Oil, Red 3, Yellow 5, Red 40, Soy Lecithin (an Emulsifier), Blue 1.
Ingredients: Sugar, Corn Syrup, Confectioner’s Glaze (Shellac), Salt, Cocoa Powder, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Gelatin, Dextrose, Artificial Flavor, Honey, Yellow 6, Sesame Oil, Red 3, Yellow 5, Red 40, Soy Lecithin (an Emulsifier), Blue 1.
Brach’s Harvest Corn
Brach’s Harvest Corn orange brown white candy corn
- 11 oz bag
Ingredients: Sugar, Corn Syrup, Confectioner’s Glaze (Shellac), Cocoa Powder, Salt, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Dextrose, Artificial Flavor Gelatin, Honey, Yellow 6, Sesame Oil, Red 40, Soy Lecithin, Red 3, Blue 1, Yellow 5.
Unsure About the Natural Flavors
I do not know the source of the Natural Flavors. Candy companies do not generally disclose the source of their Natural Flavors. They often contain Glycerin, which is often sourced from palm oil when used in candy.
Nerds Candy Corn – Candy Shell Outside, Soft & Chewy Inside
Nerds Candy Corn
- 8 oz bag / 227 g bag
Ingredients: Sugar, Corn Syrup, Dextrose, Malic Acid, Salt, Titanium Dioxide (Color), Confectioner’s Glaze (Shellac), Tapioca Dextrin, Carnauba Wax, Gelatin, Natural Flavors, Honey, Red 40 Lake, Red 40, Sesame Oil, Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Blue 1, Blue 2 Lake, Red 3.
Brach’s Funfetti Candy Corn Naturally & Artificially Flavored
BRACH’S Funfetti Candy Corn
- 8 oz / 226g bag
Ingredients: Sugar, Corn Syrup, 2% or less of Salt, Confectioner’s Glaze (Shellac), Dextrose, Gelatin, Honey, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Gum Arabic, Sesame Oil, Yellow 5, Red 3, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Titanium Dioxide (Color).
Brach’s Mellowcreme Caramel Apple Naturally & Artificially Flavored
Brach’s Caramel Apple candy corn
- 9 oz bag
Ingredients: Sugar, Corn Syrup, Salt, Confectioner’s Glaze (Shellac), Natural & Artificial Flavors, Gelatin, Honey, Caramel Color, Sesame Oil, Titanium Dioxide (color), Yellow 5, Blue 1, Red 3, Yellow 6, Red 40.
What is Candy Corn Made Of
Candy corn ingredients will vary based on how creative the flavor, but in general, candy corn is made of sugar, corn syrup, confectioner’s glaze (shellac), honey, sesame oil, gelatin, dyes, and more.
Common Palm Oil Ingredients in Candy
Palm oil ingredients and derivatives are common in all types of candy. When reading labels, you can easily spot the ingredients that contain palm oil because it will say Palm Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, Organic Palm Oil, etc.
It gets trickier when “palm” isn’t in the name. These are palm oil derivatives. Palm oil makes up the ingredient but isn’t clear from the name. In candy, these can include:
- Calcium Stearate, Magnesium Stearate
- Glycerin, Glycerine
- Medium Chain Triglycerides
- Mono- & Diglycerides, Monoglycerides
- Tocopherols, Mixed Tocopherols, etc.
- Natural Flavors
FAQs
Is candy corn just white chocolate?
No, candy corn isn’t white chocolate. Candy corn doesn’t contain cocoa butter, milk, or vanilla. It’s made with sugar and corn syrup, and oftentimes confectioner’s glaze, and dextrose. It is made with an oil and usually contains honey and gelatin. It’s very sweet like white chocolate typically is.
What are candy corns made out of?
Candy corns are made from sugar. Lots of sugar! The first several ingredients on the major candy corn brands are usually a combination of sugar, corn syrup, dextrose, and confectioner’s glaze. They also contain a type of oil and usually gelatin and honey. Depending on the flavor, other ingredients and dyes are added.
What does candy corn actually taste like?
Classic candy corn is very sweet and may have a vanilla-ish or slight honey taste. It’s easy to bite into and has a bit of a shellac coating on it. There are flavored candy corns which are also sweet and will take on the flavor that the bag advertises. These may be caramel apple flavored, chocolate flavored, fruit flavors, etc.
What is a popular candy corn brand?
BRACH’S by Ferrara Candy Company is a major manufacturer of candy corn. It’s typically made in Mexico and distributed throughout the United States in the fall in time for Halloween.
Who invented candy corn?
It came about in the 1880’s in the United States. The inventor credited is George Renninger, an employee at Wunderle Candy Company in Philadelphia. The Goelitz Candy Company, which is now the Jelly Belly Candy Company, are the ones who made candy corn popular.
Buying Candy Corn
Don’t just pick up any candy corn bag and be on your way. Take an extra few sections to read labels. If you see Palm Oil or Natural Flavors (without the source) on the label, choose a different bag. Small changes make a difference.
Thanks for your interest in learning about candy corn without palm oil. Please choose palm oil free candy all year.