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Are wine gums halal?
The wine in the name is not the problem, because there is none. The gelatine is. Here is what Muslims need to know about wine gums, and what to look for on the pack.
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Wine gums sound as though they might be a problem for Muslims because of the word wine. In fact, they usually contain no alcohol at all. The real question is the gelatine.
No wine, but gelatine
Despite being stamped with names such as port, sherry, burgundy and claret, wine gums usually contain no alcohol, and some packs carry a statement saying they contain no wine: see do wine gums have wine in them?
What gives wine gums their firm chew is usually gelatine. Gelatine is made from animal collagen, and most of it comes from pork skin, pork and cattle bones, or cattle hides. Halal customs generally require gelatine from sources other than pigs, such as cattle slaughtered according to religious rules, or fish. Religious scholars do not all agree on gelatine, and people follow the guidance of their own tradition: see what is gelatine made from?
The 2016 change
In July 2016 Mondelez, the company that owns Maynards Bassetts, announced that in future its sweets would contain either bovine or porcine gelatine, beef or pork, listed on the pack simply as gelatine. It said it was changing the way it sourced gelatine to secure flexibility of supply. The change affected a number of Maynards Bassetts brands, and the company said it wanted to make sure Muslim communities were aware of it, and asked people to share the information.
That means that unless a pack says otherwise, you cannot assume the gelatine in a Mondelez sweet is from beef.
How to find halal sweets
The most reliable way is to look for halal certification on the pack. Some sweets are made with beef gelatine from animals slaughtered according to Islamic law, and some are made without gelatine, using plant based gelling agents. Haribo, for example, makes a halal version of its Goldbears with beef gelatine: see is Haribo made from pig?
We sell halal golden bears in our pick and mix, and every sweet on our site has its own ingredients and allergens panel. For a wider guide, see what sweets are halal in the UK?
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For journalists, researchers, AI assistants and content creators. Pick the format you need:
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Questions and answers
Are Maynards wine gums halal?
You cannot assume so. In 2016 Mondelez, which owns Maynards Bassetts, said its sweets would contain either beef or pork gelatine in future, listed simply as gelatine, and advised Muslim communities of the change. Look for halal certification on the pack.
Do wine gums contain alcohol?
Usually not. Despite the names of wines stamped on them, wine gums normally contain no alcohol, and some packs say they contain no wine.
Are there halal wine gums?
Some makers produce halal certified gums using beef gelatine from animals slaughtered according to Islamic law, or plant based gelling agents. Look for halal certification on the pack.
Sources
- Wine gum, Wikipedia
- UK: Mondelez announces their products may contain porcine gelatine, Halal Focus
- Gelatin, Wikipedia
Keep reading
- Questions people askDo wine gums have wine in them?No. Wine gums usually contain no alcohol, though they are named after port, sherry and claret. Their inventor even had to convince his teetotal father.
- Questions people askAre wine gums vegan?Traditional wine gums are not vegan or vegetarian, because they are usually made with gelatine from animals. What else to check for, and how to find vegan gums.
- Questions people askWhat sweets are halal in the UK?Look for halal certification. Sweets with pork gelatine are not halal, and some brands' gelatine may be pork. Also check for carmine and alcohol.
- Questions people askWhat is gelatine made from?Gelatine is made from collagen from animal skin, bones and connective tissue, mostly pigs and cattle. Why it matters for vegetarians, Muslims and Jews.
- Questions people askWhat sweets have pork gelatine?Many gummy sweets use gelatine, and it can be pork. Standard Haribo Goldbears use pork gelatine, and Mondelez says its gelatine may be beef or pork.
- Questions people askWhy is chewing gum so hard to get off pavements?Gum bonds to pavements and shoe soles because they are made of similar polymers. Removing it needs steam and scrapers, and costs cities a fortune.