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Is Hershey's Halal?

Short answer Not certified

Hershey's chocolate is not halal certified in the US. The classic milk chocolate bar lists sugar, milk, chocolate, cocoa butter, milk fat, soy lecithin, PGPR and natural flavor, with an OU-D kosher mark [1]. Hershey's FAQ offers kosher and vegan lists but no halal list [2]. Check each product's label. If you're unsure, ask a scholar you trust.

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Halal status by country

CountryStatusDetailsSource
United States Not certified No halal certification or halal product list. Hershey publishes kosher and vegan lists only. The milk chocolate bar is OU-D kosher and has no gelatin or meat ingredients. [1][2]
Malaysia and Asia Not certified Hershey built a plant in Johor, Malaysia, to make Kisses, Reese's and milk chocolate bars for the region, and cited Malaysia's halal certification system as an advantage. We could not confirm which products carry a halal logo, so check the pack. [3]
ItemStatusNoteSource
Hershey's Milk Chocolate bar (US) Not certified No gelatin, meat or alcohol listed. Contains natural flavor and PGPR, an emulsifier made from castor oil and glycerol. OU-D kosher. [1]

What's in a Hershey's milk chocolate bar

The classic Hershey's Milk Chocolate bar has a short ingredient list: sugar, milk, chocolate, cocoa butter, milk fat, soy lecithin, PGPR and natural flavor. It contains milk and soy, and the product page shows an OU-D kosher mark [1].

For halal shoppers, a few points stand out:

  • No gelatin or meat. Nothing on the list comes from meat or gelatin [1].
  • No alcohol listed. No wine, liqueur or spirit is named [1].
  • PGPR is an emulsifier made from castor oil and glycerol. The glycerol can come from plant or animal fat, and Hershey does not say which. See is glycerin halal?.
  • Natural flavor is not broken down on the label. Some flavors use alcohol as a carrier.

So the bar has no clearly haram ingredient on its label, but it is not certified.

Why Hershey's is listed as not certified

Hershey answers dietary questions on its FAQ page. It links to a list of products certified kosher and a list of products that qualify as vegan, but it offers no halal list [2]. We found no US halal certification for Hershey's chocolate.

Kosher is not the same as halal. A kosher dairy mark (OU-D) tells you the product contains dairy and is not meant to contain meat. It does not confirm the source of every minor ingredient by halal rules, and kosher rules allow some alcohol. See kosher vs halal.

Many Muslims eat plain chocolate that has no gelatin, meat or alcohol on the label, even without certification. Others only eat certified products. Both approaches exist, and the label gives you what you need to decide.

Other Hershey products

Hershey makes many brands, and each one has its own recipe. A few things to watch for:

  • Products with fillings or coatings may use emulsifiers or flavors from other sources.
  • Candies with gelatin need the most care, because the label rarely names the animal source. See is gelatin halal?.
  • Seasonal items like Easter and holiday shapes can have different recipes from the regular bars.

We have separate pages for some Hershey brands, including Jolly Rancher, Twizzlers and Reese's. Recipes change, so check the current label on the product you buy.

Hershey's outside the US

Hershey opened a large plant in Johor, Malaysia, to make Hershey's Kisses, Reese's, Ice Breakers and milk chocolate bars for Asian markets [3]. When it announced the plant, Hershey named Malaysia's globally recognized halal certification system as one of the reasons for the choice [3].

That does not mean every Hershey's product sold in Asia is certified, and it says nothing about the US products. We could not confirm which items carry a halal logo. If you buy Hershey's in Malaysia or elsewhere in Asia, look for a JAKIM or other recognized halal logo printed on the pack.

For more on chocolate in general, see is chocolate halal?.

Frequently asked questions

Is Hershey's chocolate halal in the USA?

Hershey's chocolate is not halal certified in the US. The milk chocolate bar lists no gelatin, meat or alcohol and carries an OU-D kosher mark [1], but Hershey gives no halal product list [2].

Do Hershey's bars contain pork or gelatin?

The classic Hershey's Milk Chocolate bar lists no gelatin or pork ingredients [1]. Other Hershey products differ, so read the label on the specific item you buy.

Are Hershey's Kisses halal?

Hershey's Kisses are not halal certified in the US, and Hershey offers no halal list [2]. Kisses made at Hershey's Malaysia plant are sold in Asia [3], so check those packs for a halal logo.

Is Hershey's kosher?

Many Hershey products are kosher, and Hershey publishes a list of certified kosher items [2]. The milk chocolate bar shows an OU-D mark [1]. Kosher is not the same as halal certification.

Sources

  1. Hershey's Milk Chocolate Candy Bar, 1.55 oz · The Hershey Company (Hersheyland) · accessed
  2. FAQs · The Hershey Company (Hersheyland) · accessed
  3. Hershey marks biggest outlay in Asia with $250m Malaysia plant · ConfectioneryNews · accessed