Is Mini Marshmallows Vegan?

The Ingredient Breakdown

As a food scientist, I often look past the marketing on the package to the chemical composition inside. When we analyze the ingredient list for standard Mini Marshmallows, the vegan verdict becomes clear immediately. The culprit is the structural ingredient.

The main offender is gelatin. In this specific product, the gelatin is derived from pork. Gelatin is a translucent, colorless brittle substance created by boiling the connective tissues, skin, and bones of animals. It provides the "bounce" and structure to the marshmallow. Without it, the mixture would simply be a sticky foam that collapses.

Additionally, we see corn syrup and modified corn starch. While these are plant-derived, they serve as the sweetener and thickener. The natural flavors are often a gray area in food science; however, in this context, they are likely benign regarding veganism, but the gelatin makes the entire product non-vegan regardless of the other ingredients.

Nutritional Value

From a nutritional standpoint, Mini Marshmallows are essentially a source of rapid energy with very little micronutrient density. The primary ingredients are sugar and corn syrup, meaning the glycemic index is high, leading to a quick spike in blood sugar followed by a crash.

Regarding macronutrients, they contain virtually no fat or fiber. They are mostly air and sugar. While they are low in calories per piece (roughly 4 calories per marshmallow), they do not fit the criteria for a nutrient-dense food. For those monitoring sugar intake, these should be treated strictly as a confectionary treat rather than a snack.