Are After Eights Vegan?

After Eights, the iconic British after-dinner chocolate mints, have been a popular treat since their introduction in 1962. In case they’re cracked open at the next family gathering or dinner party you attend, you might want to know if they are vegan, as many people may assume, based on their dark chocolate appearance, that they are.

Unfortunately the simply answer is that no, After Eights are not vegan. Let’s take a closer look at the offending ingredients and other factors that make these chocolate unsuitable for vegans.

After Eights Ingredients

One clear issue as you can see from the ingredients list is the presence of Butterfat which comes from Milk. However there are also a couple of other ingredients that present potential issues.

Invertase: A Potential Non-Vegan Ingredient

Another ingredient that could potentially be non-vegan in After Eights is invertase. Invertase is an enzyme commonly used in the confectionery industry to break down sucrose into glucose and fructose, creating a smooth and creamy texture in products like fondant fillings. While invertase can be derived from plants, yeast, or bacteria, it can also be sourced from bees, which makes its vegan status questionable.

For products containing invertase, it is essential to verify the source of this ingredient to determine whether it is suitable for a vegan diet. If the information is not readily available, consider contacting the manufacturer or seeking out alternative treats with transparent ingredient sourcing.

Palm Oil: A Controversial Ingredient

Palm oil (sneakily listed in the ingredients within vegetable fat as palm kernel) is a common ingredient in many chocolate products. Extracted from the fruit of oil palms, it is used as a versatile and cost-effective substitute for hydrogenated fats. However, palm oil production has been linked to deforestation, habitat destruction, and climate change. As a result, some vegans avoid products containing palm oil due to its environmental impact.

Nestlé: A Company with Ethical Concerns

After Eights are produced by Nestlé, a multinational food and beverage company with a history of ethical controversies. Some of the most significant concerns include:

• Baby formula marketing scandal: In the 1970s, Nestlé aggressively marketed infant formula in developing countries, leading to health issues and increased infant mortality rates.
• Water privatization and exploitation: Nestlé has been criticized for extracting and bottling water from vulnerable communities and contributing to water scarcity.
• Child labor in the cocoa industry: The company has faced allegations of using child labor in its cocoa supply chain, despite committing to eradicating the practice.

For some, these issues may be a deciding factor in whether to support Nestlé products, regardless of the individual products vegan status.

Vegan Alternatives to After Eights

Finding good vegan alternatives to popular products always feels like winning. These four vegan-friendly mint chocolate treats are perfect alternatives to After Eights:

• Divine Dark Chocolate After Dinner Mint Thins: Made with Fairtrade cocoa and natural peppermint oil, these mint thins are a delicious and ethical choice for vegans.
• Summerdown Dark Chocolate Peppermint Thins: Using English peppermint oil and 55% cocoa, these thins offer a delightful combination of flavors and textures.
• Elizabeth Shaw Dark Chocolate Mint Crisp: Vegan-friendly and gluten-free, these mint crisps feature a rich dark chocolate with mint-flavored honeycomb pieces.
• Bendicks Chocolate Bittermints: With a high cocoa content and a strong peppermint fondant center, these chocolates provide an intense and satisfying mint chocolate taste.

For those who enjoy homemade treats, consider making your own vegan mint chocolate thins. There’s plenty of vegan recipes (like this one) available online.