Pick-and-mix at the cinema, party bags, the sweets at the supermarket checkout — they're the treats children ask for most, and one of the most common halal traps. That's because most chewy sweets are set with gelatine. The good news is that the ingredient list tells you almost everything.
Gelling agents that are fine
- Pectin (E440), from fruit
- Agar (E406), from seaweed
- Starch and modified starch (E1404–E1450)
- Gellan gum and carrageenan
- Fish gelatine
Gelling agents to avoid or check
- "Gelatine" with no source: in the UK and Europe, assume pork.
- Beef gelatine: halal only if certified, because it depends on how the animal was slaughtered.
Other things to check on sweets
- Carmine (E120) in red and pink sweets
- Shellac (E904) glazes, which most certifiers accept
- Alcohol in liqueur chocolates and some fruit fillings
The fastest way
Scan the barcode with Halal Check Online. If the product isn't in the database, take a photo of the ingredients instead.
