Many popular sweets sold in the UK are not halal. The main reason is pork gelatin, which manufacturers use as a gelling agent in gummy sweets, marshmallows, and jelly products. Other haram ingredients include carmine (E120), a red dye made from crushed insects, and shellac (E904), a glaze derived from lac beetles. Halal sweets do exist from certified brands like Bebeto and from gelatin-free ranges produced by Swizzels. Muslims buying sweets in the UK need to read every ingredients list, because halal and haram products often sit side by side on the same shelf.
Are Sweets Halal?
Most conventional sweets in the UK are not halal by default. The confectionery industry relies on pork gelatin as its primary gelling agent because it is cheap, widely available, and produces the chewy texture consumers expect. According to the Food Standards Agency (FSA), gelatin must be listed on UK food labels, but the label does not always specify whether it comes from pork or beef.
Pork-derived gelatin is haram under Islamic dietary law. All four Sunni schools of thought agree on this point. Beef gelatin is halal only when the animal was slaughtered by zabiha method. Fish gelatin is halal without conditions. Plant-based gelling agents like pectin, agar-agar, and carrageenan are halal.
The UK confectionery market was worth approximately 4.6 billion GBP in 2024, according to Statista. A growing share of that market now caters to halal consumers, with dedicated halal sweet brands expanding their UK distribution. However, mainstream brands still dominate shelf space, and most of their products contain pork gelatin.
Why Most Sweets Contain Haram Ingredients
Pork gelatin became the industry standard for gummy and jelly sweets because of cost and performance. Pork gelatin costs less than beef gelatin. It also produces a specific elastic texture that consumers associate with classic gummy bears and wine gums.
Manufacturers source pork gelatin from pig skin, which is a byproduct of the pork processing industry. The Gelatin Manufacturers of Europe (GME) reports that approximately 80% of all gelatin produced in Europe comes from pig skin. Beef gelatin accounts for around 15%, and fish gelatin makes up less than 5%.
Beyond gelatin, confectionery manufacturers use other animal-derived ingredients. Carmine (E120) provides red colouring in many sweets. It comes from cochineal insects. Shellac (E904) creates the shiny coating on hard-shell sweets and chocolate-covered products. Beeswax (E901) is used as a glazing agent. While beeswax is considered halal by most scholars, carmine and shellac are classified as haram or doubtful by major certification bodies.
Some sweets contain animal-derived stearic acid (E570) in their coatings. This fatty acid can come from either plant or animal sources, and UK labels rarely specify the origin.
Haram Ingredients in Sweets: What to Look For
Reading the ingredients list is the only reliable way to determine whether a sweet is halal. Here are the specific E-numbers and ingredients to watch for on UK sweet packaging.
Gelatin (E441): The most common haram ingredient in sweets. Found in gummy bears, wine gums, marshmallows, jelly babies, and many chewy sweets. If the label says “gelatin” without specifying the source, assume it is pork-derived in the UK market. Halal gelatin alternatives include pectin, agar-agar, and carrageenan.
Carmine / Cochineal (E120): A red pigment extracted from dried cochineal insects. Used in red and pink sweets, including some Skittles varieties (country-dependent). The Hanafi school considers insects haram. Most halal certification bodies reject E120.
Shellac (E904): A resin secreted by the lac beetle. Used as a glazing agent to give sweets a shiny finish. Found on coated chocolate products and hard-shell sweets. Classified as haram or mashbooh (doubtful) by IFANCA and HMC.
Bone Phosphate (E542): Derived from animal bones. Used as an anti-caking agent in powdered sweet coatings. Haram unless confirmed from halal-slaughtered animals.
Stearic Acid (E570): Can be animal or plant-derived. Often used in chocolate coatings. Check with the manufacturer if the source is not stated.
Alcohol-based flavourings: Some sweets contain flavour extracts dissolved in ethanol. The amount is typically trace-level and evaporates during production. Scholars differ on this point, but most halal certification bodies permit flavourings where the final product contains less than 0.5% alcohol.
Halal Sweets Brands in the UK
Several brands sell halal-certified or gelatin-free sweets that are widely available in the UK.
Bebeto: A Turkish confectionery brand that produces halal-certified gummy sweets. Bebeto holds halal certification from GiMDES (Turkey) and distributes through UK corner shops, independent retailers, and some supermarkets. Their gummy bears, worms, and cola bottles use beef gelatin from halal-slaughtered cattle. Bebeto products carry the halal certification logo on the packaging.
Swizzels: A British manufacturer based in Derbyshire. Many Swizzels products are gelatin-free, including Love Hearts, Drumstick lollies, Refreshers chew bars, Parma Violets, and Rainbow Drops. Swizzels confirms on their website which products are gelatin-free. These products are suitable for Muslims, though they do not carry formal halal certification.
Candy Kittens: A UK-based vegan sweet brand. All Candy Kittens products are free from gelatin, using pectin as the gelling agent. They contain no animal-derived ingredients. Available in major UK supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Waitrose.
Zayn Halalco: A UK-based halal confectionery brand. Their products are certified halal and include gummy sweets, marshmallows, and lollipops. Available online and through specialist halal retailers.
The Halal Candy Company: Produces halal-certified versions of classic sweet styles, including gummy bears, cola bottles, and fizzy sweets. Available through their website and select UK retailers.
Popular UK Sweets: Halal or Haram?
This section covers the halal status of the most commonly purchased sweet brands in the UK.
Haribo: Most standard Haribo products sold in the UK contain pork gelatin. This includes Goldbears, Starmix, Tangfastics, and Supermix. Haribo does produce a halal-certified range using beef gelatin for markets in Turkey, the Middle East, and some European countries. However, the standard UK range on supermarket shelves is not halal. The halal Haribo packs have distinct packaging with the halal logo. Some UK Muslim retailers import the halal range, but these are not available in mainstream supermarkets.
Maynards Bassetts: Wine Gums, Jelly Babies, and Liquorice Allsorts all contain pork gelatin. The name “wine gums” does not indicate the presence of actual wine. These sweets are alcohol-free. However, they remain haram due to their pork gelatin content.
Starburst: Starburst chews sold in the UK contain gelatin. The US formulation previously removed gelatin, but the UK version still lists it as an ingredient. Not halal.
Skittles: Skittles removed gelatin from their recipe in 2009. The current UK formulation does not contain gelatin. However, some Skittles varieties may contain E120 (carmine) as a colouring agent, depending on the specific product and batch. Check the ingredients list on each packet. If a specific packet lists no E120 or gelatin, those Skittles are halal.
Rowntree’s Fruit Pastilles: Reformulated in 2020 to remove gelatin. The current recipe uses starch as the gelling agent. The new formulation is suitable for vegans and is halal, provided no other haram ingredients are present. Always verify the packet, as old stock may still circulate.
Percy Pigs (Marks and Spencer): The original Percy Pigs contain pork gelatin. M&S launched “Veggie Percy” (later renamed “Colin the Caterpillar” range uses plant-based alternatives too), which replaces gelatin with pectin. The veggie version is halal. Check the packaging carefully, as both versions are sold side by side.
Cadbury Roses / Heroes: Most Cadbury chocolate products do not contain gelatin. However, some items within assorted boxes (such as Turkish Delight or Creme Egg variants) may contain gelatin or other animal-derived ingredients. Check each individual item wrapper.
Fruit-tella: Fruit-tella chewy sweets contain gelatin and are not halal. Fruit-tella does sell some plant-based variants in selected stores that use pectin instead.
Halal Sweets at UK Supermarkets
UK supermarkets stock an increasing number of gelatin-free and halal-suitable sweets. Here is a store-by-store breakdown.
Tesco: Stocks Bebeto halal-certified sweets in some stores. Tesco Free From range includes some gelatin-free sweets. Candy Kittens available in most larger stores. Tesco own-brand sweets vary by product, so check ingredients individually.
ASDA: Carries some gelatin-free own-brand sweets. Stocks Bebeto in selected stores. ASDA does not have a dedicated halal confectionery section, so products are mixed with conventional sweets on the shelf.
Sainsbury’s: Stocks Candy Kittens and some gelatin-free own-brand options. Sainsbury’s has expanded its Free From range, which includes some suitable sweets.
Morrisons: Carries Bebeto products in selected branches. Own-brand sweets require individual ingredient checks.
Home Bargains and B&M: These discount retailers often stock Bebeto and other budget halal-certified sweets. They are a reliable source for affordable halal gummy sweets.
Independent Muslim retailers: Corner shops and specialist halal stores in areas with large Muslim populations (Birmingham, Bradford, East London, Leicester, Manchester) typically carry a wider selection of halal sweets, including imported halal Haribo from Turkey and locally produced halal confectionery.
How to Check if Sweets Are Halal
Follow these steps every time you buy sweets in the UK.
Step 1: Look for halal certification. A halal logo from a recognised body (HMC, HFA, IFANCA, GiMDES) on the packaging is the strongest indicator. Bebeto and some imported brands carry this logo.
Step 2: Read the ingredients list. Scan for gelatin (E441), carmine (E120), shellac (E904), and bone phosphate (E542). If any of these appear, the product is not halal unless the gelatin is specified as halal beef or fish gelatin.
Step 3: Check for “suitable for vegetarians” or “vegan” labels. Products carrying these labels will not contain gelatin, carmine, or shellac. A vegan product is almost always halal, with the exception of products containing alcohol-based flavourings.
Step 4: Contact the manufacturer. When the source of an ingredient is unclear (such as stearic acid, mono and diglycerides, or unspecified “natural flavourings”), contact the manufacturer directly. Most UK brands respond to ingredient queries through their customer service channels.
Step 5: Use apps for quick scanning. Smartphone apps like Scan Halal and HalalCheck allow users to scan product barcodes and check ingredient databases. These tools are helpful but not always up to date. They should supplement, not replace, reading the actual label.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Haribo halal in the UK?
Standard Haribo products sold in UK supermarkets contain pork gelatin and are haram. Haribo produces a separate halal-certified range for some international markets using beef gelatin, but this range is not stocked in mainstream UK retailers. Some Muslim-owned shops import the halal Haribo range from Turkey.
Are Skittles halal?
Skittles do not contain gelatin (removed in 2009). Some varieties may contain E120 (carmine), which is derived from insects and considered haram by most scholars. Check each packet individually. If the ingredients list shows no gelatin and no E120, those Skittles are halal.
Which UK sweets are gelatin-free?
Several popular UK sweets contain no gelatin. Swizzels Love Hearts, Drumstick lollies, Refreshers, and Parma Violets are all gelatin-free. Skittles, Rowntree’s Fruit Pastilles (reformulated 2020), Candy Kittens, and Veggie Percy Pigs all use plant-based alternatives. Always verify the ingredients on the specific product you buy.
What is the difference between halal and vegan sweets?
Vegan sweets contain no animal products at all, while halal sweets may contain animal-derived ingredients from halal-slaughtered animals (such as halal beef gelatin). All vegan sweets are halal in terms of ingredients, with the possible exception of products containing alcohol-based flavourings. Halal sweets are not necessarily vegan, as they may contain halal gelatin, beeswax, or other animal products.
Where can I buy halal sweets in the UK?
Halal sweets are available from multiple sources in the UK. Bebeto products are stocked in Tesco, ASDA, Home Bargains, and B&M stores. Candy Kittens are available in Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and Waitrose. Independent Muslim retailers in cities like Birmingham, Leicester, Bradford, and East London carry the widest selection, including imported halal Haribo from Turkey. Online retailers like Amazon and specialist halal food websites also stock halal-certified confectionery.
Is shellac (E904) halal?
Shellac is a resin secreted by the female lac beetle (Kerria lacca). It is used as a glazing agent on sweets and chocolate. Most halal certification bodies, including IFANCA and HMC, classify shellac as haram or doubtful (mashbooh) because it is an insect-derived product. Some Hanafi scholars permit it on the grounds that it is a secretion rather than the insect itself, but the majority position among certification bodies is to avoid it.