Is Irn Bru Vegan?

Irn-Bru is a sparkling flavoured soft drink with sugar and sweeteners, it’s orange in colour, but not in taste, which is something you can’t describe, because there’s nothing like it.

Irn-Bru has been manufactured in Scotland since 1901 with a secret recipe of 32 flavours, it’s often described as “Scotland’s other national drink” (after whisky).

The name of the drink was supposed to be called ‘Iron Brew’, but in 1946 the manufacturer hit a problem with branding laws because the drink wasn’t actually brewed, so the name was instead changed to Irn-Bru.

Is Irn-Bru Vegan?

Yes, Irn-Bru and all of their varieties are vegan and suitable for vegetarians according to the ingredients list and the company.     

If you need additional reassurance, here’s what Irn-Bru had to say on Twitter

“Yes we’re vegan and vegetarian friendly. In fact all AG Barr products are good to go on those fronts except Rubicon Pineapple & Coconut, which contains sweetened condensed milk that vegans will want to avoid.”

Yes we're vegan and vegetarian friendly. In fact all AG Barr products are good to go on those fronts except Rubicon Pineapple & Coconut, which contains sweetened condensed milk that vegans will want to avoid.

— IRN-BRU (@irnbru) August 1, 2018

Is Irn Bru Gluten Free?

Yes, Irn-Bru and all other varieties are gluten-free. 

Confirmed by Irn-Bru themselves on Twitter.

All IRN-BRU is gluten-free.

— IRN-BRU (@irnbru) February 13, 2019

Is Irn Bru Halal?

Yes, Irn-Bur is Halal according to the company and The European Council for Fatwah and Research.

Irn Bru Ingredients

Irn Bru’s ingredients consist of carbonated water, sugar, flavourings, sweeteners and colouring. Here’s the full breakdown of the ingredients.

Carbonated Water, Sugar, Acid (Citric Acid), Flavourings (including Caffeine, Ammonium Ferric Citrate & Quinine), Sweeteners (Aspartame, Acesulfame K), Preservative (E211), Colours (Sunset Yellow FCF, Ponceau 4R)

What’s the difference between Irn-Bru Xtra and Sugar-free?

According to the manufacturer Irn-Bru sugar free contains no sugar, while Irn-Bru Xtra contains no but sugar but has ‘extra’ taste. Looking at the ingredients, there doesn’t seem to be any difference between the two, however they may vary in terms of the quantity of ingredients.

IRN-BRU Sugar Free has no sugar. IRN-BRU Xtra has no sugar and extra taste. Both go down a treat on a hot day 😉

— IRN-BRU (@irnbru) August 1, 2022

According to a poll on Reddit, out of those that hard tried both Irn-Bru Xtra and Irn-Bru Sugar Free, 80% preferred the taste of Irn-Bru Xtra.