Quick Answer
No, Twizzlers do not currently come in a sugar-free variety. All Twizzlers contain sugar as their primary ingredient. The original Twizzlers contain cornstarch, wheat flour, sugar, partially hydrogenated soybean and palm oil, citric acid, and artificial flavors. There are no sugar-free or low-calorie Twizzler options available at this time.
Do Twizzlers Contain Sugar?
Yes, regular Twizzlers contain a significant amount of sugar. The primary ingredient in original Twizzlers is wheat flour, followed by sugar being the second ingredient. Here is a look at the nutrition facts for the original Twizzlers, according to the Hershey website:
| Serving Size | 3 Twizzlers (28g) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 110 |
| Total Fat | 2g |
| Sodium | 25mg |
| Total Carbs | 24g |
| Sugars | 14g |
As you can see, a 28 gram serving (about 3 Twizzlers) contains 14 grams of sugar. This accounts for over half of the total carbohydrates.
So regular Twizzlers definitely do contain a significant amount of added sugar. Those looking to limit sugar intake would want to moderate their Twizzlers consumption or avoid them altogether.
Are There Sugar-Free Twizzlers?
Currently, there are no sugar-free Twizzler options available. The standard Twizzlers contain wheat flour, sugar, and small amounts of palm oil, soybean oil, citric acid, and artificial flavors.
Hershey’s, the manufacturer of Twizzlers, has not introduced any reduced sugar, low-calorie, or sugar-free varieties to their Twizzlers line. The ingredients have remained relatively unchanged since Twizzlers were first introduced in 1929.
While the original Twizzlers contain sugar, Hershey’s has expanded the Twizzlers product line over the years to include different flavors, shapes, and spin-off products. However, none of them are considered sugar-free.
Here is an overview of the various types of Twizzlers currently available:
Twizzlers Products
- Original strawberry Twizzlers – 14g sugar per 28g serving
- Cherry Kick Twizzlers
- Twizzlers Nibs – chocolate-covered Twizzler bits
- Twizzlers Pull n’ Peel – can pull apart into strips
- Twizzlers Filled Twists – filled with sweetener
- Black Cherry Twizzlers
- Raspberry Twizzlers
- Wild Cherry Twizzlers
- Watermelon Twizzlers
- Twizzlers ropes – thicker twisted rope shapes
- Rainbow Twizzlers – multicolored ropes
- Twizzlers bites – bite-sized pieces
- Lemonade Twizzlers
- Cherry Cola Twizzlers
As you can see, Hershey’s has expanded the Twizzlers product line significantly but has not yet released a sugar-free variety.
What About Other Sugar-Free Candy Options?
While there are currently no options for sugar-free Twizzlers, many other popular candy brands have released sugar-free varieties to appeal to health-conscious consumers and those who need to monitor sugar intake.
Here are some examples of sugar-free candy options:
- Sugar-free gummy bears
- Sugar-free versions of chocolates like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups or Hershey’s Kisses
- Sugar-free mints and breath mints
- Sugar-free jelly beans
- Sugar free licorice
- Sugar free taffy
- Sugar free versions of candy brands like SmartSweets and Lily’s Sweets
These sugar-free options replace sugar with artificial sweeteners like sucralose, aspartame, stevia, or sugar alcohols like xylitol and erythritol. This allows people to enjoy candy flavors without the added sugar.
The most commonly used sugar substitute in sugar-free candies is maltitol. Maltitol is a sugar alcohol that is about 90% as sweet as sugar but contains fewer calories. It does not spike blood sugar levels as much as regular sugar.
However, one downside of maltitol is that it can cause digestive issues like gas and bloating when consumed in excess. So those sensitive to sugar alcohols would want to moderate their consumption of sugar-free candies.
Why Don’t Twizzlers Come in Sugar Free?
There are a few possible reasons why Hershey’s hasn’t released a sugar-free Twizzlers option yet:
- The original Twizzlers recipe and flavor relies on sugar being one of the primary ingredients. Removing real sugar would make it difficult to replicate the same texture and taste.
- Artificial sweeteners can sometimes have an aftertaste. Getting the flavoring right with a sugar substitute may be a challenge.
- There may not be enough consumer demand for a sugar-free version currently.
- Removing sugar would significantly lower the calorie content. From a business standpoint, companies typically don’t want the serving size calories to be too low.
- Hershey’s may be hesitant to mess with their classic Twizzlers recipe that people know and love.
However, with the rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and other health conditions, many major candy brands have been releasing sugar-free versions to appeal to the growing market segment that wants reduced-sugar options. So it’s certainly possible Hershey’s may come out with a sugar-free Twizzlers variety at some point down the road.
Do Sugar-Free Twizzlers Exist? Unauthorized Versions
While there aren’t any official sugar-free Twizzlers produced by Hershey’s, some unauthorized or knock-off versions do exist.
Certain third-party candy companies and online stores sell products labeled as “sugar-free Twizzlers” or “low carb Twizzlers.” However, these are not officially licensed or approved by Hershey’s.
Some examples of possible unauthorized sugar-free Twizzlers products include:
- Sugar-free strawberry twists sold online or in some health food stores
- Products labeled as “keto Twizzlers” that contain alternative sweeteners
- Low-carb Twizzler recipes that substitute ingredients like xylitol or stevia
- Copy-cat Twizzler recipes made with sugar substitutes
However, consumers would want to verify the ingredients and nutrition facts rather than just relying on the product name. Unofficial products may still contain more sugar and carbs than expected.
There have also been some DIY tutorials online for making homemade sugar-free or low-carb Twizzler-style candy using sugar substitutes and natural colors. But again, the nutrition would depend entirely on the exact recipe.
The bottom line is that Hershey’s itself does not make any official sugar-free Twizzlers products currently. Any such products would be unauthorized third-party versions, so consumers should examine them closely before assuming they are sugar-free.
Are Sugar-Free Twizzlers Being Developed?
Currently, Hershey’s has not announced any plans to develop an official sugar-free Twizzlers product.
However, in 2016, the company did file for a patent that would potentially allow them to create a reduced-sugar Twizzlers using sugar substitutes.
Details from the patent application indicate they were exploring recipe innovations to potentially create a no-sugar-added Twizzlers using sweeteners like Stevia, sucralose, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, neotame, and more.
Here are some key points from Hershey’s 2016 patent application for a reduced-sugar Twizzlers:
- It would replace at least 33% of the sucrose (regular sugar) with sweetening agents
- It would reduce the calorie content by at least 30% compared to original Twizzlers
- The sweeteners used may include Stevia, aspartame, sucralose, monk fruit, acesulfame potassium, neotame, erythritol, and more
- bulking agents like maltodextrin and cornstarch may be used
- Fruit and vegetable extracts could provide colors and flavors
The patent application confirms Hershey’s has conducted research into potentially developing a reduced-sugar Twizzlers product. However, keep in mind that companies frequently apply for patents they don’t end up pursuing.
Just because Hershey’s applied for a patent does not necessarily mean sugar-free Twizzlers will become a reality. At this point, the company has not announced any specific plans to bring a no-sugar-added Twizzlers variety to market. But the patent filing means it’s a possibility down the road depending on consumer demand.
Conclusion
In summary, at this current time, Twizzlers do not come in any sugar-free varieties. All currently available Twizzlers contain sugar as a primary ingredient. Hershey’s has not yet released any reduced-sugar or sugar-free versions, though they did apply for a patent in 2016 that would allow them to potentially create a no-sugar-added Twizzlers with sweeteners.
While unofficial third-party “sugar-free Twizzlers” do exist online and in some stores, there are no legit sugar-free Twizzlers options officially produced by Hershey’s. Sugar is an integral component of the classic Twizzlers recipe and taste.
However, many other popular candy brands are now offering sugar-free options due to consumer demand. If interest continues to grow, it’s certainly possible Hershey’s may develop an official sugar-free Twizzlers variety at some point in the future. But for now, all Twizzlers contain sugar albiet to varying degrees based on the variety. Those looking for sugar-free candy will need to look for alternatives rather than Twizzlers.
