Jolly Rancher Gummies are NOT considered halal because they contain gelatin derived from pork, which is haram under Islamic dietary law. Even the original fruit-flavored gummies carry this concern, and no Jolly Rancher Gummies product currently carries an official halal certification.
Jolly Rancher Gummies Ingredients Breakdown
The full ingredient list for Jolly Rancher Gummies Original flavors includes: corn syrup, sugar, gelatin, citric acid, lactic acid, natural and artificial flavors, pectin, titanium dioxide (color), red 40, yellow 5, yellow 6, blue 1.
Most of these ingredients are unproblematic from a halal standpoint — corn syrup, sugar, citric acid, and artificial flavors are generally permitted. The issue lies with gelatin.
The Gelatin Problem
Gelatin is a protein derived from the collagen of animals — most commonly pigs. Pork-derived gelatin is explicitly haram (forbidden) in Islam. Unless a product specifies that its gelatin comes from a halal-certified source (such as halal-slaughtered beef), it must be treated as haram by default.
Jolly Rancher Gummies use standard gelatin, and Hershey (the manufacturer) does not specify a halal-certified gelatin source. There is no halal certification on any Jolly Rancher Gummies product as of 2026.
This is the same issue flagged in our post on Are Jolly Ranchers Halal? — the hard candy line. Gummies carry the same concern, compounded by the gelatin ingredient.
What About Other Jolly Rancher Products?
| Product | Contains Gelatin? | Halal? |
|---|---|---|
| Jolly Rancher Hard Candy | No | Possibly (no certification) |
| Jolly Rancher Gummies | Yes (pork-derived) | No |
| Jolly Rancher Soft Chews | No | Possibly (no certification) |
| Jolly Rancher Lollipops | No | Possibly (no certification) |
Hard candies and soft chews do not list gelatin in their ingredients, making them closer to halal — but without official certification, they still fall into a gray area for strict observers. If you need a definitive answer on hard candy, see our dedicated post on Are Twizzlers Halal? for comparison on how candy companies handle halal compliance.
Halal Gummy Candy Alternatives
- Surf Sweets Organic Fruity Bears — certified halal and vegan, use pectin instead of gelatin
- YumEarth Organic Gummy Bears — plant-based, no gelatin
- Sour Patch Kids — gelatin-free (though not officially halal-certified, they use no animal gelatin)
- Haribo Halal line — available in select markets with halal-certified beef gelatin
- Skittles Gummies — check packaging; some markets offer gelatin-free formulations
Which Candy Is and Isn’t Halal: Quick Reference
The gelatin question in Jolly Rancher Gummies applies across most mainstream American gummy candy brands. Here’s a quick reference for the most commonly searched products.
- Jolly Rancher Gummies: Not halal — pork gelatin, no certification.
- Haribo (US): Not halal — pork gelatin. Haribo’s European halal line uses beef gelatin and is certified, but US Haribo is not.
- Trolli (US): Not halal — pork gelatin. European/Australian Trolli with halal mark is different.
- Sour Patch Kids: Halal-permissible — uses modified corn starch instead of gelatin. No pork-derived ingredients.
- Swedish Fish: Halal-permissible — uses a modified starch thickener, not gelatin.
- Skittles: Halal-permissible — the reformulated version (after 2010) removed beef gelatin. Current US Skittles are gelatin-free.
- Starburst: Check by country — US Starburst uses beef gelatin (not pork), but is not halal-certified. UK Starburst is halal-certified.
- Gummy Bears (Haribo Halal line): Halal — when purchased from the specific halal-certified European/international line with the certification mark.
Jolly Rancher Products That May Be Halal-Permissible
While the gummy line is not halal, not all Jolly Rancher products contain gelatin. The following are worth checking for halal-conscious consumers:
Original Hard Candy
Jolly Rancher original hard candies (the individual wrapped pieces) do not contain gelatin. Ingredients: corn syrup, sugar, malic acid, natural and artificial flavor, mineral oil, and artificial colors. These are gelatin-free and halal-permissible for most consumers — no animal-derived gelling agents.
Lollipops
Jolly Rancher lollipops are also gelatin-free and contain the same base hard candy ingredients. Halal-permissible.
Chews
Jolly Rancher Chews do contain gelatin — the same concern as gummies applies. Avoid these if gelatin is the deciding factor.
Jelly Beans
Jolly Rancher Jelly Beans contain gelatin. Not halal for the same reason as the gummies.
The safest approach is always to check the label on the specific product before purchasing, as formulations can change. When in doubt, look for products with an official halal certification mark rather than relying on ingredient analysis alone.
Why Halal Candy Is Hard to Find at Mainstream Retailers
In North America, gelatin derived from pork is the dominant gelling agent in confectionery for two main reasons: cost and texture. Pork gelatin is significantly cheaper than beef gelatin at industrial scale, and it produces a slightly firmer, more elastic texture that consumers in western markets associate with quality gummy candy. As a result, the default for most US candy manufacturers is pork gelatin unless there’s a specific market reason to change — typically export to Muslim-majority markets.
This is changing. The global halal food market is estimated at over $2 trillion annually, and US confectionery brands are increasingly producing certified halal lines for export and for domestic Muslim consumers. The easiest way to find halal gummy candy in the US is to check online retailers that specialize in halal snacks, or to look in stores serving South Asian, Middle Eastern, or African-American Muslim communities, where halal-certified candy brands are stocked consistently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Jolly Rancher Gummies contain pork gelatin?
Yes. Jolly Rancher Gummies contain gelatin, and Hershey does not specify a halal or kosher source, meaning the gelatin is most likely pork-derived by default.
Are Jolly Rancher Gummies kosher?
No. Jolly Rancher Gummies are not kosher-certified. The gelatin used is not derived from kosher-slaughtered animals, so they are not permissible under Jewish dietary law either.
Are Jolly Rancher hard candies halal?
Jolly Rancher hard candies do not contain gelatin, which removes the main haram ingredient. However, they are not officially halal-certified, so strict observers may still wish to avoid them.
What gummies are halal in the US?
Halal-certified gummies in the US include Surf Sweets, YumEarth, and some Haribo Halal products. Always check for a recognizable halal certification mark on the package.
