Yes, You *Can* Find Vegan Candy In Your Local Grocery And Drug Store

Shopping for a vegan lifestyle is usually a breeze these days, thanks to vegan delivery services and a seemingly endless number of plant-based products out there. But picking out vegan candy options remains a bit of challenge. Some common ingredients used in making candy are not animal-free and you may not even realize it.

While you may know gelatin is made from boiling the skin, tendons, ligaments, and bones of cows and pigs, it may surprise you to learn that something as seemingly harmless as "confectioner's glaze" is actually made with beetle secretions (nope, not joking—thank you, PETA). Some sugar may even be refined with bone char. Yep, you have to really study those labels.

Obviously, milk, butter, milk fat, condensed milk, and milk powder are off the table. Same goes for casein and whey, two types of protein in milk often used in candies.

Though you'll have to kiss most chocolate candies (including classic Tootsie Rolls) goodbye, you've still got plenty of vegan options left in the candy aisle. After scouring dozens of ingredients lists (and consulting PETA's website), here are 18 popular picks that are completely animal-free.