Post actualizado el día October 12, 2026 by DeiviSanzPlay
The candies or gummies that children (and many adults) eat are not just sugar and colorings. Behind every gummy bear there is a mixture of animal or vegetable polymers, glucose syrups, acids, flavorings, and additives that pursue a clear goal: to make it impossible for you to eat just one. In this article I tell you, without beating around the bush, what they really contain and what implications this has for children’s health.
The base: gelatin, pectin, or agar-agar
Most traditional gummies are made with gelatin, a protein obtained from the skin and bones of pigs or cows. It is what gives them that elastic, chewy texture. If you read the label and it says “gelatin,” it is almost certainly of animal origin.
But not all of them use gelatin. Vegetarian options turn to pectin (fruit fiber), agar-agar (algae), or modified starch. The texture changes: they are softer and fall apart sooner. A Haribo bear is not the same as an organic agar-agar gummy.
The trick is in the proportion. The more gelatin, the harder they are. Cheap gummies usually contain less gelatin and more syrup, which is why they taste more of sugar than of fruit.
Sugars: the fuel of addiction
The ingredient that weighs the most in a candy is sugar, usually sucrose, although glucose syrup (or high-fructose corn syrup) is also used. The latter is cheaper and sweeter, but it is absorbed extremely quickly and spikes blood glucose.
A fact few people know: many gummies contain more sugar than a dessert spoonful per unit. For example, a 100-gram pack of bears can contain between 50 and 70 grams of sugar. That is more than double the recommended daily amount for a 6-year-old child.
The problem is not only the amount, but the speed at which the body processes it. Since it contains no fiber or protein to slow absorption, the glucose spike is brutal. That generates hunger within minutes and reinforces the snacking habit.
Colorings and flavorings: edible makeup
The garish colors do not come from fruit. They are achieved with artificial colorings such as tartrazine (E102), allura red (E129), sunset yellow (E110), or brilliant blue (E133). These are the famous Southampton colorings, linked in some studies to hyperactivity in sensitive children.
European legislation requires the warning “may have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children” to be placed on the packaging when these colorings are used. Many brands have replaced them with plant extracts (beetroot, spirulina, turmeric), but this is not always the case.
Flavorings are another world. Most are artificial synthetic flavorings, such as isoamyl acetate (banana smell) or ethyl butyrate (pineapple smell). They are combined to imitate fruity flavors that do not exist in nature.
Acids and preservatives: the chemical balance
So that the gummy does not spoil and has that sour touch, citric acid, malic acid, or lactic acid are added. Also preservatives such as potassium sorbate (E202) or sodium benzoate (E211).
The acid not only provides flavor, it also acts as a texture regulator and prevents mold from growing. In sour candies, the outer layer contains a mixture of citric acid and sugar that slightly irritates the tongue. That sensation is part of the appeal for children.
Be careful with preservatives: sodium benzoate can form benzene (a carcinogen) if combined with vitamin C under certain conditions. It is not common in gummies, but it is worth knowing.
Waxes and glazes: the perfect finish
Many gummies are coated with beeswax, carnauba wax, or mineral oil so that they shine and do not stick to each other. They are safe ingredients, but they add calories and a fatty texture.
Titanium dioxide (E171) is also used to give opacity to some white candies. In 2021 EFSA declared it unsafe as a food additive and the EU banned it in 2022. If you see a very opaque white candy, be suspicious: it may contain E171 if it comes from outside the EU.
The real impact on children’s health
Frequent consumption of candy is associated with cavities, childhood obesity, and insulin resistance. This is not alarmism: the WHO has been asking for years to reduce free sugars to less than 10% of daily calories, and a single bag of gummies already exceeds that limit.
Furthermore, the habit of eating hyper-palatable sweets at an early age conditions the palate. Children accustomed to these intense flavors later reject fruits or vegetables because they seem bland to them. It is a difficult circle to break.
It is not about banning, but about understanding. An occasional candy does not kill anyone, but turning it into a daily routine does have consequences.
Healthier (and realistic) alternatives
If you want to reduce your intake of additives, look for gummies without artificial colorings, sweetened with stevia or erythritol. There are also those made with concentrated fruit juice instead of glucose syrup. Of course, they are still sweet and are not “healthy” on their own.
Another option is to make them at home. With neutral gelatin, fruit puree, and a little honey, you can make homemade gummies in 20 minutes. You control the ingredients and avoid preservatives. Children love to take part.
Agar-agar gummies are another plant-based alternative, although their texture does not convince everyone. And be careful with “vitamin gummies”: many of them also contain sugar and colorings.
What the law says (and what they don’t tell you)
In the European Union, the additives permitted in candy are regulated by Regulation (EC) 1333/2008. Artificial colorings must be indicated on the label, but it is not always easy to read. Sometimes they are camouflaged as “colorings” without specifying which ones.
The amount of sugar is not limited by law in candies. It is only required to appear in the nutrition information. That means a brand can put 70 grams of sugar per 100 grams and still sell it as a “food” without any problem.
Some countries, such as the United Kingdom, have applied taxes to sugary drinks, but not to candy. It is a pending issue.
Conclusion: information to decide
Candies are not poison, but they are not innocent either. Knowing what they contain gives you the power to choose. If you are going to buy them, look at the label: the shorter and more recognizable the ingredient list, the better. And if you can, save them for special occasions.
In the end, the problem is not a single gummy, but the habit of eating them daily. Children learn from what they see. If fruits and nuts are eaten at home as the usual snack, candies become what they should be: an occasional treat.
