What sweets are halal in the UK?

Halal means permissible. For sweets, the question usually comes down to one ingredient, gelatine, but colours and flavourings can matter too. The only sure guide is halal certification from a recognised body.

Gelatine

Gelatine is made from animal collagen, and most of it comes from pork skins, pork and cattle bones, or cattle hides. Gelatine from pigs is not halal, and neither is gelatine from animals that were not slaughtered according to Islamic law. Because sweet labels often list it simply as gelatine, you usually cannot tell its source from the ingredients: see what sweets have pork gelatine?

Gelatine made from fish avoids some of the religious objections, and halal certified sweets use gelatine from permitted sources, or no gelatine at all.

What is known about some brands

• Haribo. Standard Goldbears are made with pork gelatine. Haribo makes a halal certified Goldbear with beef gelatine, from cattle slaughtered according to Islamic law, only at its factory in Turkey. It is sold officially in the Middle East and South East Asia, and is also widely imported elsewhere: see is Haribo made from pig?
• Maynards Bassetts and other Mondelez sweets. In July 2016 Mondelez said its sweets would contain either beef or pork gelatine, listed simply as gelatine, and asked people to share the news with Muslim communities: see are wine gums halal?
• Gelatine free sweets. Several well known sweets have dropped gelatine, including Rowntree's Fruit Pastilles and Fruit Gums and Percy Pigs, and Nestlé lists Jelly Tots as vegan: see what sweets are gelatine free?
• Tangerine Confectionery, now Valeo Foods UK. Certification can change. In August 2009 the Halal Food Authority gave the company its seal of approval for 150 products in its Barratt, Mojo, Princess and Taveners ranges. On 5 February 2013 the company was delisted by the same body, which is why the current pack, not an old list, is the thing to check.

Other ingredients to check

• Carmine, also called cochineal or E120. Many Muslims consider food containing it forbidden, because it is made from insects, and all insects except the locust are considered haram: see what is carmine?
• Alcohol. Vegetarian food is generally considered halal if it contains no alcohol, so it is worth checking for alcohol among the ingredients.

Certification

In most Muslim majority countries, halal certification is given by legal authorities. In countries like the UK, it is voluntary: companies apply to independent organisations, which certify products for a fee. A halal logo from a recognised certifier is the clearest sign a sweet meets halal standards. Many people also follow the guidance of their own tradition.

Vegan sweets

Vegan sweets contain no gelatine, carmine or other animal ingredients, which removes the main concerns, although only certification guarantees halal status: see what sweets are vegan in the UK?

We sell halal golden bears, vegan gummy bears and vegan fizzy cola bottles in our pick and mix.

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