What’s Vegan at Mars? Dairy-Free Chocolate, Skittles, and More

Canned spread cheese, biscuits, compressed cereal bars, and instant coffee were just a few of the things American soldiers would find in their ration boxes amid the Second World War. All that, and M&Ms. Yep, we’re talking about those small addictive chocolate candies in multicolors, made by Mars, Inc. Heat-resistant and easy to transport, they were sent to the military by the US government to keep energy levels up.

M&Ms have hit the headlines a few times since then. From heading into space in the 1980s (yes, that happened) to their signature characters changing outfits in 2022, the small candy-coated chocolates are undeniably one of Mars, Inc.’s most talked about treats. But they’re far from the only popular product made by the American multinational. The corporation—which also manufactures pet food—has created many of the big names in the food industry. Think Maltesers, Milky Way, Snickers, Mars Chocolate Bars, and other non-candy brands such as Dolmio and Ben’s Original.

Most of Mars, Inc.’s chocolate brands (which are sold under Mars Wrigley—the candy and chewing gum division of the company) heavily rely on dairy recipes. But, as the vegan confectionery market grows (it was recently valued at around $1.1 billion), could this soon change? After all, the company has already dabbled with several plant-based chocolate launches. Here’s more about Mars’ venture into dairy-free products, plus some of the most vegan-friendly brands owned by the corporation.

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Are there vegan Mars Bars?

One of Mars, Inc.’s most famous creations is the Mars Chocolate Bar, which, developed by Forrest Mars in 1932, consists of a blend of milk chocolate, caramel, and nougat. In fact, since they were first created by the Mars pioneer, more than 30 billion Mars Chocolate Bars have been sold around the world.

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Right now, there are no vegan versions of the iconic candy bar. But Mars, Inc. has experimented with plant-based versions of other popular candy products in the past. While they have now been de-listed due to contention over where to place the products in supermarkets (retailers wanted to put them in the confectionary aisle while Mars wanted them in the free-from section), the company launched Vegan Topic and Vegan Bounty bars in 2021.

Galaxy, another one of Mars’ popular brands, has had more success with vegan products in the UK. And in the US, the food giant launched a whole new vegan milk chocolate brand called CO2COA, although it was ultimately discontinued.

9 vegan-friendly brands from Mars

Below, find out more on all the other vegan-friendly brands from the corporation. Spoiler alert: they’re not all candy!

1 Skittles

In 2008, Mars, Inc. acquired the Wrigley Company (hence why its candy and gum division is called Mars Wrigley), which brought popular brands like Skittles to the food giant’s portfolio. Most varieties of the original sugary colorful candies don’t include any animal ingredients, so they are suitable for vegans. That said, special edition varieties, like Skittles Jellybeans, may contain animal products like beeswax, so make sure you double-check the packet before you buy.
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Starburst

2 Starburst

Another product of the Wrigley Company, Starburst makes popular soft, fruity, square-shaped taffy-style candy. But whether or not they’re vegan depends on where you are in the world. In the UK, the recipe is gelatin-free, so they are safe for vegans to consume. But in the US, unfortunately, gelatin is included in the original recipe. Luckily, the brand’s gummies—known as Starburst Goodies—are suitable for vegans and widely available in the US.
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3Pop-Tarts

First launched in 1964, Pop-Tarts have become pantry staples beloved by both children and adults alike. Luckily, the brand makes a few accidentally vegan offerings. A majority of the brand’s offerings contain gelatin and dairy, but its classic Unfrosted Pop-Tarts (in Blueberry, Brown Sugar Cinnamon, and Strawberry flavors) are free of animal ingredients.  
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Nature’s Bakery

4Nature’s Bakery

When a sweet tooth craving calls, but you don’t necessarily feel like indulging in a chocolate bar, reach for Nature’s Bakery. This better-for-you dessert brand boasts a product line that ranges from classic fig bars to oatmeal crumble bars and even fudgy brownies. Acquired in 2020, Nature’s Bakery is certified vegan so you don’t have to think twice when reaching for a treat. 
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Kind

5 Kind

In 2017, Mars took a minority stake in snack brand Kind Snacks, and in 2020, it followed this up by acquiring the whole brand in a $5 billion deal. The New York City brand creates many different “wholesome” snacks, including its signature Kind Bars. Although the brand uses honey and milk in its ingredient formulations, Kind offers a number of vegan-friendly bars and granolas including Peanut Butter Banana Dark Chocolate Breakfast Protein Bar and most offerings in its Healthy Grains Granola line. Always check the ingredients list before purchasing.
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6 Hubba Bubba

When you think of childhood candy, there’s a good chance Hubba Bubba comes to mind. And good news, if you want a taste of nostalgia, then many flavors of this popular bubblegum are vegan. Because of its acquisition of Wrigley, Mars also owns many other chewing gum brands, including Wrigley’s Doublemint, which is also vegan.
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7 Ben’s Original 

In the 1940s, Mars launched Uncle Ben’s for the first time. Since then, the name has been changed to Ben’s Original due to criticism regarding the perpetuation of racial stereotypes. The instant rice brand is still popular today, and it has a few vegan-friendly options, including its classic Jasmine Ready Rice. In the UK, the brand even offers a Plant Powered range featuring vegan meals like Tikka Masala, Chilli Non Carne, and Spicy Lentil Stew.
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Galaxy

8 Galaxy

Back in 2019, Mars announced one of its most popular chocolate brands in the UK, Galaxy, would be launching three new vegan flavors. Since then, the brand has expanded the range to include more options, like Crumbled Cookie, Honeycomb, and Hazelnut Praline. All six bars in the brand’s Dairy-Free range are certified vegan by The Vegan Society.

9 Dolmio

Mars isn’t just about candy. Pasta sauce brand Dolmio, which is popular around the world, is also owned by the corporation. In 2020, it launched a Plant-Based Mince Bolognese Sauce in the UK, but this doesn’t seem to be available any longer. That said, it does still offer other plant-based options, like its bolognese-inspired pasta sauce made with mushrooms. Other vegan options include the brand’s garlic and sundried tomato Intensify pasta sauce, and its sriracha-style Intensify pasta sauce featuring vegetable chunks.