Are M&M's Halal?

M&M's are made in several countries, and each factory follows its own recipe and supplier list. That is why one bag can be fine for a halal diet while another is not.

In 2019, the M&M's UK social media account told a customer that M&M's were not suitable for a halal diet. It said the company used additives from animal products, and that traces could end up in the sweets ^[1]. The same account said halal-certified products in the UAE are marked on the packaging ^[1].

So the most useful habit is simple: look at the pack in your hand, see where it was made, and look for a halal logo.

The US milk chocolate M&M's ingredient list includes sugar, milk chocolate (with skim milk, cocoa butter, lactose, milkfat, soy lecithin and salt), cornstarch, corn syrup, dextrin and food colors ^[2]. It does not list gelatin, pork or alcohol.

A few points still come up for Muslim shoppers:

• Flavors. Labels list natural or artificial flavors without saying whether alcohol was used to carry them. Scholars differ on tiny amounts of alcohol used in processing. See our page on alcohol and ethanol.
• Colors. US M&M's use synthetic colors such as Red 40. If you see carmine or E120 on any pack, that red comes from insects; see carmine.
• No certification. We found no halal certificate for US M&M's, so no one has audited the supply chain for halal.

Many Muslims in the US eat plain milk chocolate M&M's based on the ingredients. Others only eat certified products. Both choices are common.

M&M's come in many versions: peanut, peanut butter, crispy, caramel, pretzel and seasonal flavors. Each has its own ingredient list. Some add new fillings, and limited editions can change fast.

Before you try a new variety:

1. Read the full ingredient list for gelatin, carmine, or animal-based flavors.
2. Check the country of manufacture on the back of the pack.
3. Look for a halal logo if you only eat certified food.

Recipes change over time, so check the current package label even for a flavor you have bought before.

If you travel, remember that M&M's bought abroad may come from a different factory. A pack made for the UK may follow the UK recipe that M&M's UK described as unsuitable for a halal diet ^[1], while a pack made for the Gulf may carry a halal mark ^[1]. Gift bags and duty-free packs often come from overseas plants, so the country of manufacture on the label matters more than where you bought it.

Mars makes several other popular candies. See our pages on Twix, Snickers and Skittles. For other chocolate brands, see Hershey's and our general guide to chocolate.