You'd think "vegan" would be the easy bit. It's on the front of half the jars in Holland & Barrett, it's in every TikTok caption, and it feels like the sort of thing a brand couldn't get wrong. And yet a surprising number of supplements that look plant-based turn out not to be — usually because of one ingredient hiding near the bottom of the list.

If you've gone plant-based, or you're simply trying to buy better, here's what to actually look for.

The gelatine problem

Most gummies on the shelf are set with gelatine, which comes from animal collagen — typically bovine or porcine. It's cheap, it gives that classic chewy bounce, and it's the single most common reason a gummy isn't vegan.

The plant-based alternative is pectin, usually from citrus peel or apples. It sets differently, so the texture is a little softer and more jelly-like than a gelatine sweet. Every gummy in our range is pectin-set, which is part of what the Vegan+ mark on our jars is doing.

If a label doesn't say pectin and doesn't say vegan, assume gelatine until proven otherwise.

Vitamin D3 is the one most people miss

This is the sneaky one. Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is traditionally made from lanolin — the grease in sheep's wool. It's technically not a slaughter product, but it's animal-derived, and most people avoiding animal ingredients would rather not.

There are two plant-based routes. D3 from lichen is the premium option: same form your body uses, no animal input. D2 (ergocalciferol) comes from yeast or mushrooms and is genuinely vegan, though it's generally considered less efficient at raising blood levels than D3.

A well-made vegan multivitamin will tell you which one it's using. If the label just says "Vitamin D" with no source, it's worth an email to the brand.

The other ingredients worth a second look

Beyond gelatine and D3, a few things crop up regularly:

• Beeswax and shellac — used as glazing agents on tablets and some gummies. Shellac comes from an insect resin.
• Carmine (E120) — a red colouring made from crushed cochineal insects. Less common now, but it hasn't vanished.
• Magnesium stearate — can be plant or animal derived. Usually plant, but not always stated.
• Omega-3 — fish oil unless it explicitly says algal.

None of these are dangerous. They're just easy to swallow without realising, and if you've made a deliberate choice about what you eat, you probably want the same standard applied to what you supplement with.

Vegan doesn't automatically mean well-formulated

Worth saying plainly: "vegan" describes the sourcing, not the quality. A vegan gummy loaded with glucose syrup is still a sweet with vitamins in it.

This is why we pair Vegan+ with zero sugar across the range. If you're taking two gummies a day, every day, for months, the sugar adds up quietly in a way most people never account for. Removing it means the thing you're taking for your health isn't working against you in a small daily way.

The other marker of a considered formulation is honesty about amounts. Look for NRV percentages next to each nutrient. A brand confident in its dosing will show you the numbers rather than hiding behind a proprietary blend.

What to check before you buy

A quick mental checklist that takes about thirty seconds in the aisle:

• Is it pectin-set, or does it list gelatine?
• If it contains vitamin D, does it name lichen or D2?
• Any glazing agents, carmine, or unnamed stearates?
• Sugar content per serving — and is that per gummy or per dose?
• Are NRVs listed for each nutrient?

FAQ

Is a vegan supplement the same as a vegetarian one?

No. Vegetarian formulations can still include gelatine-free but animal-derived ingredients like lanolin D3, beeswax, or dairy-derived lactose. Vegan excludes all animal input, which is a stricter standard.

Do vegan gummies taste different?

Slightly. Pectin gives a softer, more fruit-jelly texture than the springy chew of gelatine. Most people stop noticing within a few days, and plenty prefer it.

Do I need a special multivitamin if I'm plant-based?

Not necessarily a separate one, but it's sensible to check that whatever you take covers the nutrients harder to get from plants — B12 in particular, plus vitamin D and iodine. Any supplement is there to complement your diet, not replace the work your meals are doing.

If you're building a plant-based routine

Our whole range is pectin-set, zero sugar and Vegan+, so you don't have to do the label detective work. The Multivitamin Gummies are the sensible foundation if you want one thing covering the basics, and the Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies are a popular add-on for anyone building a morning ritual. You can see everything together in the full vitamins collection.

No detective work required. Just read the front, and trust the back.

Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.