Is Joyride Candy Halal? Gelatin and Certification

Joyride is the candy brand started by YouTuber Ryan Trahan. It sells sour strips, ropes, worms, watermelon wedges and frosted gummy bears ^[2].

The brand answers the halal question directly. Its FAQ says Joyride products are not kosher or halal, and that there are no current plans to get certified, although that could change ^[1]. So no halal certifier has checked the ingredients or the factory.

Gelatin is the biggest halal concern in gummy candy. It is usually made from pig skin or cattle hides and bones. Read our gelatin guide for details.

Joyride says many of its items do not include gelatin, but recipes differ, so you should check the ingredients for each product ^[1]. The brand lists ingredients on the back of each package and on each product page ^[1].

When you read the label, look for the word "gelatin." Plant-based gummies usually get their chew from starch or pectin instead. Don't assume one Joyride product matches another, because one item can be gelatin-free while another is not.

Joyride says it uses no artificial colors, sweeteners or preservatives ^[1]. That rules out synthetic dyes like Red 40. Still check for carmine, a red color made from insects that some natural-color candies use.

The brand uses allulose to cut sugar. Joyride describes allulose as a plant-based sweetener found in foods like raisins and figs ^[1]. Allulose is not an alcohol and not an animal product.

Joyride also notes its candy contains wheat and is made in a facility that handles milk, peanuts and soy ^[1]. That is an allergen issue, not a halal one.

Some candy also uses "natural flavors." US labels don't say whether alcohol was used as a carrier. See our alcohol (ethanol) page for the different views.

If a Joyride product lists gelatin, its halal status depends on the gelatin source and the view you follow.

• Majority view. IslamQA says pork gelatin is not permitted, nor gelatin from halal animals not slaughtered Islamically ^[3]. SeekersGuidance reports that most Hanafi scholars today hold the same view ^[4].
• Istihalah view. Some scholars say gelatin is fully transformed during processing and becomes permissible. IslamQA notes this view but considers it weaker ^[3].

If the label doesn't name the gelatin source, many Muslims avoid that product.

Joyride is often compared with Sour Patch Kids, Trolli and Haribo. Haribo sells certified halal gummies in some countries, so it is one option if you want a halal logo. For a full rundown on gummy candy, see our gummy bears page.

The same three checks apply to every brand: is there gelatin, is there carmine, and is there a halal logo with a certifier's name?