Brach's vs Spangler Candy Canes: Both Use Red 40

Both peppermint candy canes are colored with Red 40: Brach's lists Red 40 and Red 40 Lake, and Spangler lists color added (Red 40). The labels differ on flavor wording, ingredient order and allergen statements, and this comparison reads them line by line.

TL;DR: Both products list 9g of sugar, though on different serving bases, and their red colors, flavor wording, and allergen statements differ, so the right choice depends on which label facts matter most to you.

Key takeaways

• Brach's ingredient list reads CORN SYRUP, SUGAR, PEPPERMINT OIL, RED 40, RED 40 LAKE. Spangler's reads Sugar, corn syrup, natural flavor, color added (Red 40).
• Brach's lists 9g of sugar per 1-piece serving (13g), and Spangler lists 9g per regular-size candy cane (0.44 oz). The serving bases differ, so the two figures are not identical portions.
• The FDA says FD&C Red No. 40 is one of nine certified color additives approved for use in food, and that some evidence suggests certain children may be sensitive to them.
• The two flavor declarations use different wording, and the labels do not explain how the flavors differ in composition.
• Spangler's brand page lists vegan, kosher, and allergen claims; these are manufacturer claims rather than independently tested results. Brach's page does not disclose vegan, kosher, gluten, dairy, or allergen status.

Brach's vs Spangler Peppermint Candy Canes at a Glance: Side-by-Side Label Table

The table lines up each label fact that the two brands publish, with 'Not disclosed' where a brand's page gives no detail. Nutrition figures use each brand's own serving basis, so the columns are not identical in size.

Label item	BRACH'S Peppermint Candy Canes	SPANGLER Peppermint Candy Canes (regular size)
Ingredient list	CORN SYRUP, SUGAR, PEPPERMINT OIL, RED 40, RED 40 LAKE	Sugar, corn syrup, natural flavor, color added (Red 40)
Red color listed	Red 40 and Red 40 Lake	Red 40 (color added)
Flavor wording	Brand page: Made with real peppermint oil	Box front (image): MADE WITH NATURAL PEPPERMINT WITH OTHER NATURAL FLAVORS
Nutrition serving	1 piece (13g)	1 regular-size candy cane (0.44 oz)
Calories	50 per piece	About 45 per candy cane
Sugars	9g per piece	9g per candy cane
Fat	0g	Not disclosed
Sodium	10mg	Not disclosed
Protein	0g	Not disclosed
Package sizes	5.3oz and 8.8oz	12-cane retail box: NET WT 5.3 OZ (150g)
Vegan	Not disclosed	Vegan (brand page)
Kosher	Not disclosed	OU Kosher certified (brand page)
Gluten, dairy, allergens	Not disclosed	Free from gluten, dairy, and other common allergens (brand page)
Equipment	Not disclosed	Made on dedicated equipment (brand page)
Manufacturing location	Not disclosed	Spangler Candy Company, Bryan, OH USA, or a co-manufacturing facility in Juarez, Mexico (brand page)

Do Brach's Peppermint Candy Canes Have Red 40 and Red 40 Lake?

Yes, the Brach's Peppermint Candy Canes ingredient list reads CORN SYRUP, SUGAR, PEPPERMINT OIL, RED 40, RED 40 LAKE. The label names red color twice, once as RED 40 and once as RED 40 LAKE, and the brand's page does not explain why both appear.

The product is available in 5.3oz and 8.8oz sizes. Readers who want to confirm a specific package should check the ingredient panel on that package, since the page does not describe packaging changes.

Do Spangler Peppermint Candy Canes Have Red 40?

Yes, the regular-size Spangler Peppermint candy cane ingredient list reads 'Sugar, corn syrup, natural flavor, color added (Red 40).' The listing names Red 40 and does not list Red 40 Lake.

The phrase 'color added' appears before the parenthetical 'Red 40', so the label identifies the color by name in the parenthesis. This wording covers the regular-size cane only. The brand page does not provide ingredient or nutrition details for the mini, cherry, wintergreen, or large variants, so those products are outside this comparison.

Is Red 40 Safe in Candy Canes? What the FDA Says About Sensitive Children

The FDA's color additives Q&A states that FD&C Red No. 40 is approved for use in food, and that some evidence suggests certain children may be sensitive to certified colors of this kind. The agency does not identify which children are affected or how often a reaction occurs.

The FDA also states that synthetic, or certified, colors are required to undergo batch certification. The agency further says parents who wish to limit the amount of color additives in their children's diet may check the food ingredient list on labels.

The evidence cited here cannot show how any individual child will respond to Red 40, and it does not cover every age group or every product that contains the dye. The FDA's statement is a general observation, not a finding about these two candy canes.

Peppermint Oil vs Natural Flavor: What Each Label Says

Brach's ingredient list names peppermint oil, while Spangler's ingredient list names natural flavor. On the Brach's brand page, the flavor claim reads 'Made with real peppermint oil,' and the Spangler box front reads 'MADE WITH NATURAL PEPPERMINT WITH OTHER NATURAL FLAVORS.'

The two labels use different terms. The available label text does not state how the peppermint or flavor components differ in composition, and neither brand discloses the amount of peppermint used in its candy canes. The checklist for comparing these label lines appears in the closing section below.

How Much Sugar Is in Each Peppermint Candy Cane?

Brach's lists 9g of sugar per 1-piece serving (13g), and Spangler lists 9g per regular-size candy cane (0.44 oz). The calorie counts differ slightly, with Brach's listing 50 calories per piece and Spangler listing about 45 calories per candy cane.

Because the serving bases differ, the two 9g figures are not identical portions: Brach's counts one 13g piece, while Spangler counts one cane weighing 0.44 oz.

The nutrition panel on any package is the place to confirm figures, especially for serving size and total package weight.

Ingredient Order: Why Brach's Lists Corn Syrup First and Spangler Lists Sugar First

Brach's lists corn syrup first, and Spangler lists sugar first, so the two ingredient lists begin with different ingredients. Under US labeling practice, ingredients are generally listed in descending order of predominance, but the labels do not show the amount of each ingredient.

Both lists include sugar and corn syrup, and both include a peppermint flavoring source and a red color. Brach's places peppermint oil, Red 40, and Red 40 Lake after the two sweeteners. Spangler places natural flavor before the color declaration. The order alone does not indicate how much of any ingredient the candy contains, which is why readers should use the sugar line on the nutrition panel for sugar amounts.

Are Spangler Peppermint Candy Canes Vegan, Kosher, and Free From Common Allergens?

Yes, Spangler's product page describes its regular-size peppermint candy canes as vegan, OU Kosher certified, and free from gluten, dairy, and other common allergens. The page also states that the product is free of top common allergens and made on dedicated equipment.

The page says the candy canes are hand-striped and individually wrapped, and that they are made by Spangler Candy Company in Bryan, OH USA, or in a co-manufacturing facility in Juarez, Mexico. These are manufacturer claims rather than independently tested results. Readers with a specific allergy should check the current package for the most recent allergen and facility statement, because a brand page can differ from a printed label.

Brach's page does not provide vegan, kosher, allergen, or dedicated-equipment statements, so those details are not disclosed in this comparison.

Do Brach's Peppermint Candy Canes Have Gluten or Dairy? What the Label Shows

The Brach's page does not state whether its peppermint candy canes are gluten-free or dairy-free, so that status is not disclosed here. The listed ingredients are corn syrup, sugar, peppermint oil, Red 40, and Red 40 Lake, and none of those names is a dairy or wheat ingredient.

An ingredient list does not replace an allergen statement. The page does not describe the manufacturing facility or shared-equipment practices, so gluten and dairy questions for Brach's candy canes cannot be settled from the information available. People who need a firm answer should look for a current allergen statement on the package or contact the manufacturer.

How to Read These Two Candy Cane Labels Before You Buy

The fastest comparison uses five lines: the ingredient list, the color declaration, the flavor wording, the sugar and calorie line, and the allergen or certification statement. Each line answers a different question, and not every label provides every line.

• Ingredient list: check whether corn syrup or sugar comes first, and whether the color is named as Red 40, Red 40 Lake, or color added.
• Flavor claim: compare 'peppermint oil' with 'natural flavor' and note any front-of-box wording.
• Sugar line: confirm the serving size before comparing 9g figures.
• Allergen and certification line: look for vegan, kosher, gluten, dairy, or dedicated-equipment statements.
• Manufacturing line: note where the product is made if the package states it.

For a related comparison of how dyes appear across other snack labels, see Do Mott's Fruit Snacks Have Red 40? No; Mott's vs Welch's.

Related Reading on Food Dyes and Candy Labels

These guides apply the same label-reading approach to other products that list Red 40 or related dyes.

• Does Haribo Have Red 40? Yes: Goldbears vs Black Forest
• Does Fruity Pebbles Have Red 40? Fruity Pebbles vs Lucky Charms
• Do Mott's Fruit Snacks Have Red 40? No; Mott's vs Welch's

The label facts in this article describe two products as shown on the brand pages and labels cited here, and they cannot describe every peppermint candy cane sold. Brand pages and packages can change, so the printed label remains the reference point.