Skip to Content
This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you buy after clicking on our links. Read our Affiliate Disclosure, link below.

Halloween Candy Without Palm Oil | Palm Oil Free Candy

Halloween Candy Without Palm Oil | Palm Oil Free Candy

Before buying Halloween treats, use this list to find candy without palm oil. By taking a few seconds to look at ingredient labels, you can choose orangutan-friendly Halloween candy.

Read labels, and buy palm oil free candy all year. Even on the same shelf, for the same type of product, the ingredients may vary. For example:

  • BRACH’S Candy Corn – There are many varieties. Some contain palm oil and some do not. Even candy corn that looks the same can have different ingredients.
  • Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups – Their original version does not contain palm oil but all of their others do.
  • M&M’s – Milk Chocolate M&M’s, Dark Chocolate M&M’s, and Almond M&M’s don’t contain palm oil but Peanut M&M’s do.
  • Hershey’s Kisses vs Hershey’s Hugs – Milk Chocolate Kisses and Almond Kisses don’t contain palm oil but ALL of the Hershey’s Hugs do.

You CAN find palm oil free candy! Take a few extra seconds to read ingredients before automatically buying candy. We want to support these candies so the companies know that customers are paying attention. 

For a list of palm oil free candy, click to print Orangutan-Friendly Candy Without Palm Oil for 2023 then continue reading below for tips. This list is a guide only; it is not guaranteed. None of these companies are claiming their candy is made without palm oil unless they are certified palm oil free.

Candy without palm oil

Less ingredients = Less chance of palm oil

At Halloween, candy companies sell big bags with a mix of different candies. When you buy a bag with just one type of candy, it’s easier to avoid palm oil.

Buy just one type of candy per bag, and make your own mix! Don’t buy mixed candy bags.

Read labels

Manufacturers change their labeling regularly. This list of candy without palm oil is intended to be a starting point.

I researched online, in stores, and emailed companies and used this list of hundreds of names for palm oil palm oil. Most don’t include “palm” in the ingredients. Common palm oil ingredients in candy are: Mono- & Diglycerides, Glycerin, Calcium Stearate, Magnesium Stearate, Tocopherols, Vegetable Glycerine, and Medium Chain Triglycerides. Natural Flavors can also contain palm oil.)

I have been researching palm oil in everyday products since 2017 and regularly update this candy list. You make a big difference when you support orangutan-friendly palm oil free candy and treats at Halloween and all year. Thank you!

Chocolate without palm oil

These convenient options make it easy for the Everyday Consumer to make an impact.

chocolate without palm oil

Hershey’s Bars: 
  • Milk Chocolate 
  • Milk Chocolate with Almonds 
  • Skor
  • Special Dark 
  • Special Dark with Almonds 
  • Organic Milk Chocolate bars and organic miniatures
  • Organic Special Dark bars and organic miniatures
  • Halloween labeling: Glow in the Dark Snack Size Wrappers Milk Chocolate (shown)

Note: Bags of Hershey’s Miniatures may contain palm oil derivatives. See below. Mr. Goodbar Chocolate Candy with Peanuts includes palm oil.

palm oil free chocolate

Hershey’s Kisses:
  • Milk Chocolate – silver foil
  • Milk Chocolate with Almonds – gold foil or holiday colors
  • Special Dark Mildly Sweet Chocolate – purple foil
  • Halloween labeling:
    • Fall Harvest Milk Chocolate – autumn-colored foil
    • Monster Kisses Milk Chocolate – green, blue, purple (shown)
    • Spooky Kisses Milk Chocolate – purple, green, orange foil with Halloween patterns

Give a handful to trick or treaters! Learn more about Hershey Kisses flavors.

Hershey’s Nuggets:
  • Milk Chocolate
  • Milk Chocolate with Almonds
  • Special Dark
  • Special Dark with Almonds

Note: Hershey’s Nuggets Assortment bags may contain a flavor with palm oil.palm oil free Halloween candy

M&M’s:
  • Milk Chocolate – plain, regular brown bag; all sizes plus holiday labeling
  • Almond – beige/tan bag
  • Dark Chocolate – purple bag and winter holiday bag
  • Mint with Dark Chocolate – green bag (not Crunchy Mint; not Crispy Mint)
  • White Chocolate Peppermint holiday bag
  • Pretzel – blue bag
  • Mini’s Milk Chocolate Minitube – 1.08 oz
  • MEGA 3x the Chocolate
  • Halloween labeling:
    • M&M’s Fun Size Milk Chocolate Glow in the Dark Trick-or-Treat Packs (shown)
    • White Candy Corn 
    • White Pumpkin Pie 
    • Milk Chocolate Ghoul’s Mix (not Peanut Ghoul’s Mix, Caramel Ghoul’s Mix, nor Peanut Butter Ghoul’s Mix; only Milk Chocolate Ghoul’s Mix)
    • Cookies & Screem M&M’s – There are Natural Flavors; I don’t know their source; may or may not be from palm oil

Note: M&M’s Dark Chocolate Peanut – purple and yellow bag – contains palm oil. In 2018, Peanut M&M’s (yellow bag) changed their recipe and now includes palm oil. Labels now list palm oil as an ingredient.

Be sure to read all labels. Some newer flavors may contain palm oil derivatives, including Mixed Tocopherols.

Please note, Mars Wrigley Confectionery does not make claims these M&M’s are palm oil free. In addition to researching labels, I am using personal experience to say these M&M’s flavors are palm oil free. My son gets very sick from palm oil and derivatives and has enjoyed these M&M’s safely. 

Ferrero:
  • Raisinets Milk Chocolate Covered Raisins
Nestle:
  • Goobers Milk Chocolate Covered Peanuts
  • Sno Caps Semi-Sweet Chocolate Nonpareils
Reese’s:  READ LABELS
  • Peanut Butter Cups: some individually wrapped snack size and standard size
  • Reese’s Organic Peanut Butter Cups Milk Chocolate and Dark Chocolate

Note: They’ve confirmed they have different recipes for their Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

You must read labels. Look for the BAGGED, INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED snack size or standard-sized cups in the candy section without a holiday theme. Many are palm oil free.

See below for an explanation about Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

Tony’s Chocolonely
  • Milk Chocolate
  • Milk Caramel Sea Salt
  • Dark Almond Sea Salt
  • Dark Chocolate
  • White Raspberry Popping Candy
  • Milk Honey Almond Nougat
  • Milk Hazelnut
  • Dark Pecan Coconut
  • Dark Milk Pretzel Toffee
  • Halloween labeling: Milk Caramel Sea Salt Halloween Tiny Tony’s

They wrote to say they don’t use palm oil in any of their chocolate.

chocolate candy without palm oil

York Dark Chocolate Covered Peppermint Patties:
  • All varieties and sizes, including Halloween labeling:
    • Halloween Snack Size – purple spiderwebs on bag (shown)
    • Halloween Pumpkins – autumn-colored bag
DOVE Chocolate Simply Smooth:
  • Milk Chocolate Promises
  • Dark Chocolate Promises 
Enjoy Life Foods Halloween Chocolate Candy Bar Minis:
  • Chocolate Minis Dark
  • Rice Milk Crunch

Non-chocolate candy without palm oil

  • Atomic Fireballs
  • Boston Baked Beans
  • Candy Corn – read labels to find candy corn; see below
  • Darrell Lea  – Their Vegetable Glycerine is from soy or rapeseed, not palm oil. 
    • Soft Australian Licorice Allsorts Original Flavor
    • Soft Australian Licorice
      • Mango Flavored Licorice
      • Mixed Fruit Flavored Licorice
      • Original Flavor
      • Strawberry Flavored
    • Real Twists
      • Grape Candy
      • Strawberry Candy
    • Real Twists Bites
      • Grape Candy 
      • Strawberry Candy
  • Dots – including bag with 17 mini boxes for Halloween 
  • Dum Dums Original Pops – all flavors
  • Good ‘N Plenty 
  • lollipops without palm oilJolly Rancher:
    • Hard Candy – All flavors of their Hard Candy is free from palm oil derivatives. This includes their bags of Original, Fruit ‘N’ Sour, Fruit Bash, plus individual flavors. Give a handful!
    • Lollipops Spooky Sweets (shown)
  • Nerds:
    • Rainbow
    • Grape and Strawberry “For the Love of Nerds”
  • Red Hots Original Cinnamon Candy
  • Ring Pop:palm oil free candy
    • 22 Halloween Ring Pop bag
    • 36 Halloween Ring Pop box (shown)
  • Saf-T-Pops Lollipops
  • Wholesome Organic Lollipops – 30 count
  • Yum Earth:
    • Organic Pops:
      • Assorted Flavor Lollipops: 80 count; at Target
      • Hot Chili Lollipops
    • Organic Candy Corn: 24 count; at Target
    • Organic Hard Candies:
      • Wild Peppermint
      • Favorite Fruits
      • Cheeky Lemon
      • Pomegranate Pucker
      • Roadside Rootbeer
    • Gummy Bears:
      • Assorted Flavor
      • Organic Pomegranate Pucker
    • Assorted Flavor Gummy Worms
    • Organic Sour Beans
    • Gummy Fruits
      • Organic Fruit Snacks: 12 pack at Target
      • Organic Tropical Fruit Snacks

YumEarth very transparently lists all of their ingredients on their website. (Watch their chewy candies which contain palm oil.)

Candy corn without palm oil

Learn about finding candy corn without palm oil.

candy without palm oilBRACH’S: 
  • Candy Corn Treat Packs – 55 and 70 treat packs bags (shown)
  • Classic Candy Corn
  • Mellowcreme Pumpkins – on their own; not part of Autumn Mix
  • Mini Candy Corn
  • Naturally Flavored Candy Corn
YumEarth Organic Candy Corn

candy corn without palm oil

  • 24 pack Halloween packaging; at Target (shown)

You must read ingredient labels before buying candy corn.

You can find some flavors, shapes and varieties of brand name and store brand candy corn without palm oil and palm kernel oil but it often contains it.

Gummy snacks without palm oil

  • Black Forest Organic Fruit Flavored Snacks – 24 pack
  • Kirkland Signature Organic Fruity Snacks – 72 pack; at Costco
  • Surf Sweets by Wholesome Organic Halloween Spooky Shapes – 20 pack; at Target
  • Yum Earth Organic Gummy Fruits – 24 pack; at Target

Palm oil free Halloween trick or treating

Many candy companies report they are working toward sustainable palm oil. We support the candies and treats that don’t use any at all.

Click to download and print the 2023 list of Orangutan-Friendly Candy Without Palm Oil. Use it all year to choose palm oil free candy.

The non-profit organization, Orangutan Outreach, explains how the palm oil industry affects the orangutan population.

Chocolate without palm oil

  • Nuubia Chocolate:  Makes all of their chocolate without palm oil.
  • Nelly’s Organics: They make all of their chocolate bars without palm oil.
    • Caramel Nougat
    • Coconut
    • Double Chocolate
    • German Chocolate
    • Nutty Nougat
    • Peanut Butter Coconut
  • Tony’s Chocolonely: They make all of their chocolate without any palm oil. See above.

Also, it’s great The Hershey Company and Mars, Inc. still make some palm oil free chocolate. This makes it easy and accessible for  everyday consumers to choose palm oil free chocolate.

When possible, choose fair trade chocolate to make an even greater difference.

Fair Trade Chocolate without palm oil

There are other chocolate manufacturers — usually Fair Trade Certified Chocolate — who make their candy without palm oil as well; however, they may not be as practical to hand out for trick or treating.

We will be adding more to this post to include Fair Trade Certified Chocolate and ethical chocolate. Read Comments below for information about slave free chocolate as well. 

Beware of Tocopherols which are typically derived from palm oil. Natural Flavors in chocolate and in candy are often made from palm oil as well

Some brands to consider — that as of now we believe to make some flavors palm oil free — but haven’t thoroughly researched yet — are:

  • Alter Ego — Fair Trade Certified but I don’t know the source of their Natural Flavor. In their Chocolate Truffles section, they state: Always palm oil free!
  • barkTHINS Read labels; most of their flavors appear to be palm oil free. They are Fair Trade Certified. BarkThins are owned and made by The Hershey Company.
  • DAGOBA Organic — Website says temporarily closed (October 2021 is when I saw it)
  • Divine Chocolate — Not all flavors are palm oil free. Read more in the Comments below. Their flavors of Crispy Thins contain NON-HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL. In chocolate products, when companies don’t list the source, it’s typically from palm oil.
  • Equal Exchange Chocolates — Clearly spell out their ingredients on their website and none include palm oil.
  • Hu Kitchen — They advertise “No Palm” on their candy bars. Find them at Target.
  • Theo — Also a Slave-Free Chocolate brand. They list all their ingredients clearly on their website and none include palm oil. 
  • Tony’s Chocolonely — All of their chocolate bars are palm oil free / do not contain palm oil on labels. Find them at Target.

There are different different terms for chocolate depending on ingredients, distributors and more. Some of them include Fair Trade Certified, ethical chocolate, eco chocolate and slave free chocolate.

Slave-Free Chocolate

Please see the Comments below for a detailed discussion on this. Some slave-free chocolate brands we found that also seem to not use palm oil are below. They all clearly list their ingredients on their websites. 

  • Choquiero Chocolate 
  • Maverick Chocolate Co. – This is the first company I remember seeing that makes white chocolate without palm oil. (ALL of the big candy companies use palm oil ingredients in their white chocolate so this is significant.)
  • Theo Chocolate 
  • Wei of Chocolate 
  • Xocolatl Chocolate 

You can find some of these chocolate bars in everyday stores such as Target, Natural Grocers, Whole Foods, and larger grocery stores in the candy section. They are also available for purchase online on their websites. 

How to find candy without palm oil

Read labels.

This is the very best thing you can do. You make the biggest difference — at the store — when you choose the candy that is palm oil free.

Do not buy products with the obvious “palm oil” words: Palm oil, palm kernel oil, hydrogenated palm kernel oil, etc.

Avoid big variety packs.

Around Halloween, you will see the “candy mix” bags. These are the big bags with a variety of candy types and flavors. Do not buy them. As an example, you might see a bag with Hershey’s Milk Chocolate combined with Twizzlers and Whoppers. Only one of these candies is palm oil free.

Instead, if you like a mix to offer to trick or treaters, you can buy the individual bags.

Make your own mix!

For example, you can buy a bag of Milk Chocolate M&M’s, a bag of Hershey Milk Chocolate Bars with Glow in the Dark Wrappers, a bag of Jolly Rancher Hard Candies, and a bag of Dum-Dum Lollipops.

Look for less ingredients.

When you have a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup that’s then stuffed with Reese’s Pieces, you have even more ingredients to be concerned with. With simple candies, you have a better chance of them being palm oil free.

Don’t buy chocolate-flavored.

The FDA has different requirements for “milk chocolate” versus “chocolate flavored,” “chocolate candy,” and “chocolately.”

Read the package description. Less expensive holiday candy, especially at dollar stores, are often chocolate-flavored. Chocolate-flavored candy has imitation cocoa butter (mostly from palm oil) which we explain next.

Don’t buy candy with cocoa butter equivalents or substitutes.

Avoid candy with Cocoa Butter Equivalent (CBE) or Cocoa Butter Substitute (CBS) listed in the ingredients.

The FDA allows for these enzymatically-produced fats made from palm oil to be used in:

  • Coatings on soft candies
  • Confections and frostings
  • Sweet sauces and toppings

Real cocoa butter is expensive. It’s one of the most widely used raw materials in the chocolate and confectionery industries.

Palm oil mimics what cocoa butter can do. Cocoa butter is responsible for the flavor release, mouthfeel, snap, gloss and the shelf life (of the final product). Learn more here. (Go to pages 17-19.)

Learn why candy companies use palm oil.

Most chewy, creamy, caramel, toffee, peanut butter, coated, and nougat type candies contain palm oil.

magnesium stearate in candy

Palm oil derivatives — such as Magnesium Stearate — keep candy pieces from sticking to the machines.

If a company uses coconut oil or other higher quality oils in some of their products, there is a greater likelihood they aren’t using palm oil.

Palm oil is a cheap oil, and it’s very versatile; that’s why companies use it. The FDA’s ban on trans fats went into effect in July 2018; candy companies have been using palm oil as a replacement.

Learn common names for palm oil derivatives in candy.

In addition to avoiding candy with the word “palm” in it, take it a step further.

  • Don’t buy candy with Mono- and Diglycerides.
  • Next, don’t buy candy with Magnesium Stearate and Calcium Stearate.
  • Then, avoid candy with Tocopherols and Mixed Tocopherols.
  • If you can take one more step, work to avoid Glycerin on candy labels.

Print out this 2023 list of palm oil free candy. 

Click to download and print this list of Orangutan-Friendly Candy Without Palm Oil. Use it when you shop.

Palm oil ingredients in candy

Remember, just because it doesn’t say palm oil, palm kernel oil, or hydrogenated palm oil, it may still contain palm oil derivatives. There are many ways candy manufacturers use palm oil in candy. These ingredients are usually derived from palm oil.

In chocolate-type candy, these may appear as:

  • Cocoa Butter Substitute (CBS)
  • Cocoa Butter Equivalent (CBE)
  • Glycerin
  • Glycerine
  • Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil
  • Monoglycerides
  • Mono- and Diglycerides
  • Mixed Tocopherols
  • Natural Flavors
  • Tocopherols

In non-chocolate candy, these ingredients may be derived from palm oil:

  • Calcium Stearate
  • Citric Acid – often but not always
  • Glycerin
  • Glycerine
  • Glycerol
  • Glycerol Monostearate
  • Magnesium Stearate
  • Medium Chain Triglycerides
  • Mixed Tocopherols
  • Mono- and Diglycerides
  • Monostearate Glycerol
  • Natural Flavors
  • Propylene Glycol
  • Stearic Acid
  • Tocopherols
  • Vitamin A Palmitate

Finding candy ingredients online

The Hershey Company is a company who very clearly and transparently lists all of their ingredients online. It’s very easy to find the ingredients for all of their candy products.

Some of the other candy manufacturers list their ingredients but you really have to search for the information. Most of it is just colorful, animated advertising.

Some candy companies’ websites don’t have ANY information about their ingredients.

The Hershey’s site is by far the most transparent system of any of the mainstream candy companies, including Mars, Inc., Nestle, Wrigley, Wonka, Ferrara Pan, Goetze, Spangler, Mondelez International, Tootsie Roll Industries, and the others.

Additionally, we researched in stores.

We also emailed the companies to confirm their candy is palm oil free. We are waiting for confirmation on some, especially as to where the “source” of their ingredients come from.

Many candy companies will not answer the question of the SOURCE of some of their ingredients.

Meaning, it may say “Citric Acid” on the package but was that citric acid sourced from palm oil? (We have confirmed it is the red whips, licorice type candies.)

Many companies didn’t write back to disclose the source of their Mixed Tocopherols, Mono- & Diglycerides, and Natural Flavors, etc. which are common in candy.

See our post about holiday candy without palm oil.

Palm Oil Free certification labeling

palm oil free candy labeling

U.S. candy companies can apply to have their products assessed for Palm Oil Free certification.

The Palm Oil Free Certification Trademark (POFCAP) certifies products that are 100% palm oil free. To date, they are recognized in 20+ countries, including the United States.

We used their list — which includes hundreds of palm oil derivatives — to research ingredients in candy.

Orangutan Alliance is another organization which certifies products, including candy, as Palm Oil Free. Look for their label and support certified products!

palm oil free certified candy

Look for the Palm Oil Free label

Using Palm Oil Free labeling is the only way to know for sure a product is palm oil free. Please use this list as a reference only.

Palm oil free Halloween candy

Please note, we continue to update this list to include what we believe to be palm oil free candy, chocolate and treats.

Our intention was to compile an updated list of Halloween candy without palm oil. We wanted it to be easy for consumers to find in stores so we focused on popular candies.

While there are many specialty candy companies who make palm oil free candy — and we want to support them — it’s not always practical to buy them, especially when you want to buy in bulk for lots of trick or treaters.

Also, while it’s tempting to buy a big bag with a variety of candies, it’s better to buy individual bags of each candy.

It’s rare you will find a mix of candy without palm oil all in one bag.

Note, many manufacturers change ingredients for their Halloween and holiday candy. They may offer different sizes, packaging and flavors.

Disclaimer: We obtained this ingredient and product information from researching online, contacting companies, and in stores. Please note, manufacturers change their labeling regularly. We have compiled this information for reference purposes only. Use this list as a starting point as you read labels and do your own due diligence. This list is not guaranteed.

This is not meant to be medical advice. As the consumer, please read ingredient labels for each product you plan to purchase. Contact companies if you have questions about their ingredients.

Sometimes even on the same shelf, for the same exact-looking product, the ingredients vary. (This is especially the case for Brach’s Candy Corn and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Some state “Palm Oil” ingredients and some do not.)

Candies WITH palm oil ingredients

While this site strives to focus on and highlight products and candy without palm oil, I want you to know the candies I researched to show you how prevalent palm oil is popular candy brands.

I researched each of these candies and treats. If they appear below it is because their labels list “Palm Oil,” “Palm Kernel Oil,” “Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil,” or due to their ingredients, they contain what appear to be palm oil derivatives.

Please note, there are other candies which may contain palm oil which are not on this list. As an example, Sour Punch Rainbow Straws contain Glyceryl Monostearate and Glycerin, likely derived from palm oil.

I emailed companies to confirm and will continue to update as they get back with me. If they didn’t get back with me, I included them on this list because they didn’t confirm they don’t use palm oil.

Many companies wrote to say they use sustainable palm oil and that they are members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). However, we choose candy without any palm oil.

Remember, with so many orangutan-friendly candies to choose from (above) you can easily choose those that don’t contain palm oil.

List of Halloween treats and candies which have flavors that contain or may contain palm oil ingredients

palm oil free candy

By reading labels, you can choose palm oil free.

  • Airheads – You have to read the label on each package and variety; most contain Palm Oil, Glycerol, etc.
  • Almond Joy
  • Baby Ruth
  • Bit-O-Honey
  • BRACH’S:
    • Mellowcreme Autumn Mix
    • Harvest Corn
    • Football Candy Corn
  • Bull’s Eyes – Goetze’s Original Caramel Creams & other flavors
  • Butterfinger
  • Candy bracelets
  • Caramel Apple Pops (Tootsie)
  • Charleston Chew
  • Dove:
    • Pumpkins- Mixed Harvest
    • Pumpkins- Caramel & Milk Chocolate
    • Milk Chocolate & Cookie Crisp
  • 5th Avenue
  • Fruit By the Foot
  • Fruit Roll-Ups and Fruit Gushers
  • Haribo Gold-Bears

List of more candies which may contain and do contain palm oil

  • Heath
  • Hershey:
    • Cookie Layer Crunch Bar
    • Cookies ‘n’ Cream Bar
    • Hershey Gold
    • Kisses: Read labels; these list palm oil as do many others
      • Birthday Cake Kisses
      • Cookies ‘N’ Creme
      • Hugs
      • Candy Cane
      • Milklicious (new Hershey’s Kisses flavor in March 2023)
    • Mr. Goodbar: Hershey’s Mr. Goodbar now includes palm oil (prior to summer 2019, it did not contain palm oil). As they were transitioning, I found both of these on the same shelf:
      • Mr. Goodbar Milk Chocolate with peanuts – doesn’t list palm oil in ingredients
      • Mr. Goodbar Chocolate Candy with peanuts – includes palm oil in ingredients  (This is what is available now.)
    • Hershey’s Miniatures Assortment

A note about Hershey Miniatures: This is a mixed bag of their mini candy bars. It will include some combination of Special Dark, Milk Chocolate, Mr. Goodbar, Krackel. Varieties with Mr. Goodbar now contain palm oil.

  • Jolly Rancher:
    • Awesome Twosome Bites 
    • Crunch ‘N’ Chew
    • Filled Pops
  • Junior Mints Peppermint Crunch 
  • Justin’s Peanut Butter Cups: all products. It may say “Sustainably Sourced,” however, it still drives overall demand for palm oil.
  • Kit Kat including new flavors such as Blueberry Muffin Kit Kat
  • Krackel
  • Laffy Taffy
  • Lily’s:
    • Peanut Butter Cups
    • Dark Chocolate Covered Caramels
  • Milk Duds
  • Milky Way
  • M&M’s:
    • Caramel
    • Fudge Brownie
    • M&M’s Milk Chocolate Honey Graham
    • Peanut
    • Peanut Butter
    • Thai Coconut Peanut
    • White Chocolate Marshmallow Crispy Treat (Pastel Easter Candy)
    • White Chocolate Peanut
  • Mr. Goodbar: See above under “Hershey”; their “Chocolate Candy with Peanuts” now contains palm oil
  • Oreo Chocolate Candy Bar
  • Payday
  • Quaker Chewy Halloween Mini Chocolate Chip Granola Bars – 28 count for Halloween
  • Red Vines – There is a minute amount in their Citric Acid which is derived from palm oil.
  • Reese’s:
    • Fast Break
    • Peanut Butter Cups: Miniatures, Halloween versions (Pumpkins, Bats, Ghosts, Frankencup, etc.), Stuffed with Reese’s Pieces, etc.
    • Nutrageous
    • Reese’s Pieces

A note about Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

Reese’s makes so many different versions and flavors, with different ingredients and suppliers.

They usually list palm oil, palm kernel oil, etc. so read the label in advance. If it says Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil and doesn’t cite the source, there may be palm oil in it, according to what it says on their website.

We wrote to them about their Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups: Snack Size; 10.5 oz;  UPC: 3400040211

When we sent them the UPC code, their nutrition expert confirmed they do not contain any palm oil or palm oil derived ingredients.

Also, they went on to explain:

Not all of our REESE’S products, however, are made with the same recipe.

For example, we do include palm oil as an ingredient in our unwrapped REESE’S Peanut Butter Cups, Minis, and some of the other variations of REESE’S products such as our White REESE’S Peanut Butter Cups and our Halloween White REESE’S Peanut Butter Ghosts.

In addition, the REESE’S Peanut Butter Cups that we manufacture specifically for International markets may also contain palm oil.

The great news: You may be able to find Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups without palm oil! (THANK YOU, REESE’S!)

However, you must be diligent about reading the labels. If it says palm oil, palm kernel oil, hydrogenated palm kernel oil, etc., put it back, and look for another one.

Look for the BAGGED, INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED snack size or standard size cups in the candy section without a holiday theme.

More candies that may contain or do contain palm oil

  • Rice Krispies Treats Original – 12 count
  • Rice Krispies Treats Original Mini Squares
  • Rolo
  • Sixlets
  • Skittles
  • Snickers
  • Starburst
  • Swedish Fish: some do and some don’t
  • Take 5
  • 3Musketeers
  • Tootsie Roll Midgees
  • Tootsie Roll Pops
  • Twix (all, including Twix Ghost)
  • Twizzler
    • Pull-N-Peel
    • Twists
    • Nibs
  • Welch’s Fruit Snacks Mixed Fruit (with Vitamin A Palmitate)
  • Whatchamacallit
  • Whoppers
  • Zagnut

Zoos support orangutan-friendly candy

Many zoos have a Halloween event — Zoo Boo, Boo at the Zoo, Boo Zoo, etc. — in which guests are encouraged to wear costumes and trick or treat throughout Halloween-themed areas. These are fun, family-friendly events.

Oftentimes, zoos publish lists of orangutan-friendly candy in order to create awareness. However, sometimes these lists are outdated.

Additionally, many of them focus on candies that use sustainable palm oil. These lists are important because they increase awareness around candy and palm oil.

I want to highlight and showcase the candy companies and brands who have found ways to make candy WITHOUT ANY palm oil. These are the companies I want to promote and tell consumers about.

Why choose candy without palm oil

In many areas in our world, and especially in Sumatra and Borneo, palm oil plantations are devastating tropical rain forests. Native people, as well as populations of wildlife, including orangutans, Sumatran tigers, and more, are affected.

orangutan-friendly candy

Photo by @darmfield

Learn more about the endangered species threatened by unsustainable palm oil production.

Companies sometimes use sustainable palm oil. Yet, when companies use any type of palm oil, it creates more demand. Therefore, we support candy and treats without any palm oil.

Many people and innovative companies seek palm oil free alternatives for environmental reasons.

Learn more about the effects of palm oil related to Halloween candy.

Support palm oil free candy

  1. Reach out to companies to encourage them to make more palm oil free candy.
  2. Contact candy manufacturers via email and on social media to tell them you want them to stop using palm oil in candy.
  3. Thank companies for making their candy without palm oil.
  4. Remember, you vote with your dollars when you buy candy without palm oil.
  5. Learn how to find palm oil free products. It’s essential to read labels before you buy anything.

Remember, when you don’t buy products that list Palm Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil, and Red Palm Oil, you will make a big difference!

I have compiled this information for reference purposes only; it is not guaranteed. This list is meant to be a starting point in order to help you find palm oil free Halloween candy and candy throughout the year.

I also want to inform you about how prevalent palm oil is in the candy industry.

Click to download and print Orangutan-Friendly Candy Without Palm Oil for 2023.

Palm oil free treats besides candy

Chips:

  • Lay’s Regular Potato Chips
  • Pepperidge Farms Goldfish – 24 count
  • Sensible Portions Garden Veggie Chips Ghosts + Bats – 12 count (shown)

Halloween treats without palm oil

Fruit-type snacks:

  • GoGo Squeez Fruit On the Go – Organic and non-organic
  • Stretch Island Organic Fruit Strips – 36 pack at Costco
  • Raisins, cranberries, dried fruit – must read labels

Note: Fruit Roll-Ups contain palm oil.

Granola barsGranola bars usually contain palm oil and aren’t a good choice to pass out for Halloween. Glycerin is a common palm oil derivative in them as well.

palm oil free Halloween

Popcorn:

  • Boom Chicka Pop Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn – 12 count; Halloween packaging
  • Kathy Kane Popcorn Balls – 12 count for Halloween; at Target
  • Skinny Pop Halloween Original Popcorn – 12 count (shown)

palm oil free Halloween

Pretzels:

  • Synder’s of Hanover Halloween Pretzels – 30 count (shown)

Read ingredient labels; we saw one major brand contains palm oil.

Gum:

  • Glee Gum:
    • Sugar-Free: Peppermint; Bubblegum; Wintergreen
    • Peppermint, Cinnamon, Bubblegum, Spearmint, Mixed (Triple) Berry

Note: Gum without palm oil is difficult to find as it usually contains Glycerin or Glycerine, typically palm oil derivatives.

Other things:

Think of other things to pass out besides palm free snacks and candy to trick or treaters. This can be nice for kids with food allergies.

  • Coins – Give a quarter, dimes or nickels. You can give a half dollar if you don’t have many trick or treaters.
  • Glow sticks, Halloween toys – Wal-Mart, Target, Oriental Trading all sell glow sticks, Halloween balls, necklaces and trinkets. Watch for the environmental impact of these items.

Here’s an alphabetical list of palm oil free candy.

List of Orangutan-Friendly Halloween Candy Without Palm Oil

  • Atomic Fireballs
  • Boston Baked Beans
  • BRACH’S:
    • Candy Corn Treat Packs
    • Classic Candy Corn
    • Mellowcreme Pumpkins
    • Mini Candy Corn
    • Naturally Flavored Candy Corn
  • Divine Chocolate
  • Dots 
  • DOVE Chocolate:
    • Milk Chocolate Bars
    • Milk Chocolate Promises
    • Dark Chocolate Bars
    • Dark Chocolate Promises
  • Dum Dums Original Pops
  • Endangered Species
  • Goobers
  • Good ‘N Plenty 
  • Hershey’s Bars:
    • Glow in the Dark Snack Size Wrappers Milk Chocolate
    • Milk Chocolate
    • Milk Chocolate with Almonds
    • Skor Toffee
    • Special Dark
    • Special Dark with Almonds
  • Hershey Kisses:
    • Fall Harvest Milk Chocolate
    • Milk Chocolate
    • Milk Chocolate with Almonds
    • Monster Kisses Milk Chocolate
    • Special Dark Mildly Sweet Chocolate
    • Spooky Kisses Milk Chocolate
  • Hershey’s Nuggets:
    • Milk Chocolate
    • Milk Chocolate with Almonds
    • Special Dark
    • Special Dark with Almonds
  • Jolly Rancher Hard Candy
  • Jolly Rancher Lollipops Spooky Sweets 
  • M&M’s:
    • Almond
    • Cookies & Screem – Doesn’t list palm oil but I don’t know the source of the Natural Flavors
    • Dark Chocolate
    • Fun Size Milk Chocolate Glow in the Dark Trick-or-Treat Packs
    • Milk Chocolate
    • Mini’s Milk Chocolate Minitube
    • Mint with Dark Chocolate
    • Pretzel
    • White Candy Corn
    • White Pumpkin Pie
  • Nerds Grape and Strawberry “For the Love of Nerds”
  • Nerds Rainbow
  • Red Hots Original Cinnamon Candy
  • Reese’s – must read labels; snack size, individually wrapped cups may be palm oil free
  • Ring Pop
  • Saf-T-Pops Lollipops
  • Skor
  • Sno Caps
  • Wholesome Organic Lollipops 
  • York Peppermint Patties
  • Yum Earth Organic Candy Corn
  • Yum Earth Organic Pops 

List of candy without palm oil

Is your favorite candy palm oil free? Do you know of others? What do you think about companies using palm oil in candy? Leave a message in the Comments.

candy without palm oil

Trick or treating haul: Can you guess which pile is palm oil free?

We continue to update this post. It’s important to buy palm oil free candy all year. When you shop for holiday candy — think Valentine’s Day candy and Easter candy — read ingredient labels. They often change for holidays.

You can have a Happy Halloween and still be orangutan-friendly.

Read all labels. Manufacturers change ingredients. This list is meant for reference only and to be a starting point. 

While we read labels, reference the list of names for palm oil derivatives, and email companies asking about their ingredients, the only way to be certain a product is Palm Oil Free is if it has been certified through the Palm Oil Free Certification Trademark (POFCAP) or the Orangutan Alliance.

Support Palm Oil Free labeling. Buy candy without palm oil ingredients.

Thank you for caring about finding candy without palm oil! This list is not guaranteed; it shouldn’t be used for medical advice. Please do your own due diligence.

John

Saturday 17th of September 2022

Reese's? Wow, i can't believe they didn't change their ways after that devastating "bloody candy" ad campaign.

Su

Wednesday 27th of October 2021

Thank you very much for your thoughtful and considered discussion of the topic. I appreciate it very much.

editor

Wednesday 27th of October 2021

Thank YOU

Su

Tuesday 26th of October 2021

I wish there were a list that includes candy that is both child slave labor free and palm oil free.

editor

Wednesday 27th of October 2021

Thank you for writing. There are many ethical chocolate companies listed with SlaveFreeChocolate.org. I looked at the chocolate companies listed first which they described as have "gone beyond" in their mission. Some companies use palm oil and some do not. Some of the chocolate companies don't spell out any ingredients. I've listed my notes below.

To my knowledge, to date, none of the chocolate companies on the list are certified palm oil free by third-party regulators Orangutan Alliance (orangutanalliance.org) or International Palm Oil Free Certification Trademark (POFCAP) (palmoilfreecertification.org).

They may be Rainforest Alliance Certified but that can be considered controversial by some and doesn't mean it's palm oil free.

However, these chocolate companies and their products are overall "better" in every category than the mainstream brands and candies.

Regarding slave free and "ethical chocolate," per the FoodNavigator.com, to be ethical chocolate, they can't work with the major cocoa and chocolate companies such as Nestle, Hershey, Cargill, Mars, Mondelez, and Olam. Per SlaveFreeChocolate.org, additional companies they can't do business with -- including the ones above -- include Cadbury and Barry Callebaut.

On Slave Free Chocolate's directory of approved chocolate companies who have "gone beyond" in their mission, some use palm oil and some do not. (They have a second list which I also looked up and discussed two companies -- Alter Ego and Divine Chocolates -- below.)

In the United States:

Aloha Feels Chocolate - Doesn't list ingredients Choquiero Chocolate - Lists ingredients; no palm oil ingredients listed Dark Forest Chocolate - Doesn't list ingredients Grocer's Daughter - Lists ingredients on a main page for truffles but not for each product

Island Sharks - Directs to Pono Cocoa but no information

Maverick Chocolate Co - Lists ingredients; no palm oil ingredients listed. Their Lemon Lavender White Chocolate and White Chocolate with Cocoa Nibs and White Chocolate Truffles do not list palm oil spelled out as an ingredient. (All mainstream candy companies use palm oil and/or palm kernel oil to make white chocolate so this is significant.)

River Sea Chocolate - I saw at least one product on their website CONTAINS PALM OIL (Luv Me S'more!) Luv Me S'more! ingredients: ... Pea Starch, Non-Hydrogenated Palm Oil Shortening (palm oil, modified palm oil)...

Sappho Chocolates - No longer able to ship products; no information

Sweet Impact Chocolates - Selling through Etsy shop; exact ingredients aren't listed; "all natural" is hard to define as palm oil is considered natural

Theo Chocolate - Clearly lists ingredients; no palm oil ingredients listed

Valrhona Chocolate - Clearly lists ingredients; saw their Valrhona Dark Chocolate CRUNCHY Pearls 55% CONTAINS PALM OIL but it seems their chocolate bars do not contain palm oil. Their Valrhona Dark Chocolate Crunchy Pearls 55% ingredients copied from their website: Cocoa Beans, Sugar, Biscuit, Cereals (Wheat Flour, Sugar, Wheat Malt, Wheat Starch, Raising Agent : E500ii, Palm Oil, Salt, Vanilla Flavouring), Cocoa Butter, Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Natural Vanilla Extract

Wei of Chocolate - Lists ingredients; no palm oil ingredients listed

Xocolatl Chocolate - Lists ingredients; no palm oil ingredients listed

SlaveFreeChocolate.org also has a list of chocolate brands outside of the United States.

On their website, they then spell out chocolate companies that use ethically-sourced cocoa. Many companies, such as Alter Eco Chocolate, use Natural Flavors. But unless the product is certified palm oil free, you don't know if they contain palm oil. Again, this company is overall very much ethically "better" than mainstream brands.

Divine Chocolate USA offers White Chocolate bars without palm oil listed in the ingredients which is positively significant and rare. However, their Dark Chocolate Crispy Thins, Dark Chocolate Crispy Thins with Mint, Milk Chocolate with Caramel & Sea Salt Crispy Thins, and their Milk Chocolate Crispy Thins all contain NON-HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL. They do not list the source of the oil. In candy and chocolate products, when it's not noted, it typically from PALM OIL.

Again, overall, the companies on the list are STILL VERY MUCH BETTER than the mainstream brands and cheaper candy found in big box stores, grocery stores, gas stations, etc.

Many chocolate companies also bring to light child labor concerns, such as Tony's Chocolonely. Tony's Chocolonely spells out their ingredients on their website and does not list any palm oil ingredients.

Stores such as Target and many grocery stores are selling these "better" chocolate bars from some of the companies on the list. As an example, Target sells many flavors of Tony Chocolonely, Alter Ego, and Hu Kitchen Get Back to Human chocolates. Large grocery stores will carry other eco chocolate brands as well.

You can read ingredients at the point of purchase / at the store to decide which brands and flavors to buy.

You can also order online from many of the companies on the directory so you can choose exactly what you want.

Jenny Lanning-Rush

Tuesday 19th of October 2021

Thank you for compiling and releasing this list. Fantastic resource.