Are Gummy Bears Halal? Learn About Halal Gummy Candies

To more than 1.8 billion Muslim consumers worldwide, halal gummy candy is not just a preference for taste, it’s an expression of faith.

As the global halal food market is projected to reach $3.2 trillion by 2024, so is the market for halal sweets. As one of the most consumed types of sweets, gummy bears’ halal certification is capturing increasing consumer attention.

So, what exactly determines whether gummy bears comply with Islamic law? What does this mean for manufacturers and consumers?

What is Halal Certification? Understanding the Core Principles of Halal

Halal, meaning “lawful” in Arabic, is applied to products like food, medicine, and cosmetics that are according to Muslim customs and standards. Haram (unlawful) is the opposite of halal and is explicitly forbidden in the Quran: rotten or naturally dead animals, flowing or congealed blood, pigs and pig products, and animals slaughtered without mentioning Allah.

For gummy bears, halal certification ensures the complete process of manufacturing the product from raw material sourcing and production up to packaging and warehousing as per Islamic law. This includes:

1. Ingredient Review: All ingredients employed must be from halal sources.
2. Production Process: Production must be carried out in completely clean surroundings to avoid cross-contamination with non-halal materials.
3. Surveillance Audits: Halal certification bodies’ regular audits and monitoring are required.

Halal certification rules globally vary by geography, but the underlying principle is one: Islamic dietary law respect.

Gummy Candy Ingredient Analysis: What Makes Gummy Bears Non-Halal?

The non-halal ingredients that may be present in traditional gummy bears are primarily animal-derived and alcohol-based:

Gelatin—The Most Controversial Ingredient

Gelatin is a very common candy ingredient found in jellies and gummy candies. Derived from collagen in animal skin and bones, it provides the chewiness to the candy. Most traditional candy products found on Canadian market shelves are produced using pig-derived gelatin and therefore are halal by both Jewish and Muslim teachings.

Shellac and Coloring Issues

Shellac is also a common ingredient in candies like hard candy. It is obtained from the lac insect. The color additive E120, or “natural red dye,” magenta, is a red, deep reddish color produced from insects. These additives are contentious among Islamic scholars on whether they are permissible, and most certification institutions require that they be shunned in their entirety or their sources rigorously tested.

Alcohol and Fermentation Products

Some gummy bears contain alcohol or residual alcohol from the fermentation process. Since the Quran prohibits the intake of alcohol and other intoxicants strictly, verse 90, Chapter 5, any candy with alcohol is not halal.

How to Identify Halal Gummy Bears? A Certification and Labeling Guide

Several important points have to be considered by consumers when they identify proper halal gummy candy:

Look for the Official Certification Mark

True halal gummy bears should have a certification mark from a recognized organization. Some countries and regions also have their own halal certification authorities, such as Indonesia’s BPJPH (Halal Product Assurance Agency) and Middle Eastern nations’ halal certification authorities.

The certification process includes online registration, document review, product audit (if necessary), and certificate issuance. The entire process may take 21-45 business days.

Ingredient List Review Tips

Even without the official certification, the customers can make a preliminary judgment by checking the list of ingredients:

• 젤라틴 소스: If gelatin is indicated, ensure it is sourced from halal-slaughtered cattle or fish, or that it uses vegetable-based gelatin.
• Alcohol Content: Check for alcohol or alcohol by-products.
• Additive Number: Watch out for additives such as E120 that may be derived from insects.

Purchasing Channel Selection

It is more reliable to shop at a store or website that sells only halal food. Some of the newer supermarkets do not have halal sections to provide pre-screened products to consumers.

Alternative Ingredients for Halal Gummies: Plant-Based Solutions

To meet market demand, many manufacturers are using alternative ingredients to produce Halal gummy candy:

Plant-Based Gum Substitutes

• Pectin: Extracted from fruit, it forms a gel through pH-triggered gelation.
• Starch: Starch from plants such as corn and cassava can be used as a gelatin alternative.
• Agar-agar: A plant-based gelling agent extracted from seaweed.

Pectin-based gummy bears not only target Muslim consumers but vegetarians and those who need some special dietary requirements. The gummies are also more resistant to heat and do not melt when exposed to body heat (approximately 37°C).

Natural Colors and Flavors

Use plant-based materials such as spirulina, butterfly pea flowers, turmeric, and elderberry juice to replace artificial dyes and pigments which may be insect-derived.

Market Trends and Consumer Demand: The Global Rise of Halal Gummy Candy

The halal gummy market is growing rapidly, driven by the following factors:

Muslim Population Growth and Rising Awareness

With a Muslim population of more than 1.8 billion and growing, demand for halal products is growing correspondingly. Young Muslim consumers, in particular, are now more concerned with the halal certification of a product.

Driven by Health Awareness

Not only Muslim consumers but even non-Muslim consumers are choosing halal sweets based on health grounds. They view halal certification as a sign of quality, cleaner ingredients, and stricter manufacturing processes.

Delicious Candy, a UK-based halal candy factory, has been seeing increasingly more and more people taste and enjoy its halal candy. Its candy is now being carried by fifty shops in the UK and has even become the first choice among people with special dietary needs.

Global Market Opportunities

Halal certification has been made mandatory in some countries like Indonesia, opening up large opportunities for manufacturers of halal gummy candy. Halal products find it relatively easy to penetrate markets in Islamic nations and communities.

Conclusion: The Importance of Choosing Halal Gummy Bears

To Muslim consumers, the choice of Halal-certified gummy bears is a religious activity that concerns their spirituality and religious faith. With progress and technological advancements, there are more and more options of Halal gummy candy, so it’s no longer a question of having to choose between taste and faith.

To the manufacturers, Halal certification is not only an entry into the Muslim market but also a means of enhancing product quality and production levels. The products can be produced employing plant extracts and purified formulas, which are attractive to a wider consumer audience.

In the future, as technology continues to evolve and expand the global Halal market, Halal gummy candy will continue to evolve, providing the consumer with Shariah-compliant candy that is also flavorful.

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