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Are Pop-Tarts Halal? Frosted vs Unfrosted

Short answer Depends

It depends on the type. Kellogg says US Pop-Tarts use beef gelatin in the icing, so frosted flavors contain it, while unfrosted Pop-Tarts have no gelatin [1]. The beef gelatin is not described as halal, and Pop-Tarts are not halal certified. Unfrosted flavors avoid the gelatin question. If you're unsure, ask a scholar you trust.

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Halal status by country

CountryStatusDetailsSource
United States Depends Frosted Pop-Tarts contain beef gelatin in the icing. Unfrosted varieties contain no gelatin. Kellogg also notes the unfrosted ones are not kosher certified. No halal certification. [1][2]
United Kingdom Depends Kellogg's UK site has listed frosted Pop-Tarts, such as Frosted Strawberry Sensation and Frosted Chocotastic, as containing gelatin. Read the UK pack for the gelatin source. [3]
ItemStatusNoteSource
Frosted Pop-Tarts (all frosted flavors, US) Depends Beef gelatin in the icing; not described as halal-slaughtered. [1][2]
Unfrosted Pop-Tarts (US) Not certified No gelatin. Not halal or kosher certified. [1]

Where the gelatin in Pop-Tarts comes from

Most Pop-Tarts flavors have a layer of frosting on top [2]. That frosting is where the halal question comes in.

In a 2023 letter to US customers, Kellogg said beef gelatin is used in Pop-Tarts toaster pastries, and that it is used in the icing [1]. Because of that, Kellogg says unfrosted Pop-Tarts do not contain any gelatin [1]. An encyclopedia entry on Pop-Tarts also says the frosting contains beef gelatin [2].

So there are two answers:

  • Frosted Pop-Tarts: contain beef gelatin [1].
  • Unfrosted Pop-Tarts: no gelatin [1].

Kellogg's letter covers US products only, and it says product details can change without notice [1]. Always read the box you are buying.

Why beef gelatin doesn't make it halal

Beef is a halal animal, but beef gelatin is only halal-certified when it comes from cattle slaughtered the Islamic way. Kellogg does not say its beef gelatin is halal, and Pop-Tarts carry no halal certification [1].

Scholars differ on gelatin from cattle that were not slaughtered Islamically:

  • Many scholars and most halal certifiers treat it as not permissible, because the source animal was not slaughtered properly.
  • Some scholars accept it based on istihalah, the view that processing fully changes the substance.

We don't rule on this. Our gelatin page sets out both positions. If you're unsure, ask a scholar you trust.

Unfrosted Pop-Tarts and other ingredients

If you want to skip the gelatin question, unfrosted Pop-Tarts are the simpler choice, since Kellogg says they contain no gelatin [1]. They are still not halal certified, and Kellogg points out they are not kosher certified either [1].

A few other things to keep in mind when you read a Pop-Tarts box:

  • Colors. Some flavors use red colors. If you ever see carmine listed, read our carmine page.
  • Flavors. Natural and artificial flavors don't say whether alcohol was used as a carrier. See alcohol (ethanol).
  • Fats and emulsifiers. Ingredients like mono- and diglycerides can come from plant or animal sources.

Recipes change. Check the label every time.

Pop-Tarts outside the US

Pop-Tarts are sold mainly in the US, but they are also available in Canada and the UK, where fewer flavors are sold [2]. In 2019, Kellogg's UK site listed Frosted Strawberry Sensation and Frosted Chocotastic Pop-Tarts among products containing gelatin [3]. That report doesn't name the gelatin source for UK boxes, so read the label on the pack you buy.

We found no official source showing halal-certified Pop-Tarts in any country.

Related breakfast and snack pages

Kellogg's same letter says Rice Krispies Treats bars may use beef or pork gelatin [1]. See our Rice Krispies Treats page. For other snacks, compare Uncrustables, Twinkies and Oreo.

Frequently asked questions

Do Pop-Tarts have pork gelatin?

Not in the US, according to Kellogg. Its 2023 letter says US Pop-Tarts use beef gelatin, and only in the icing [1]. The beef gelatin is not described as halal, so frosted Pop-Tarts still raise a halal question.

Are unfrosted Pop-Tarts halal?

Unfrosted Pop-Tarts contain no gelatin, according to Kellogg [1]. That removes the main concern. They are still not halal certified, so check the full ingredient list on the box for anything else you avoid.

Are frosted Pop-Tarts halal?

Frosted Pop-Tarts contain beef gelatin in the icing [1], and that gelatin is not certified halal. Whether you can eat them depends on your view of non-zabiha beef gelatin. Many scholars say no; some accept it through istihalah.

Are Pop-Tarts halal in the UK?

Not confirmed. Kellogg's UK site has listed some frosted Pop-Tarts as containing gelatin [3], and we found no halal certification for UK Pop-Tarts. Read the UK pack for the gelatin source before buying.

Sources

  1. Gelatin in Kellogg's Away From Home Products (letter to US customers, January 4, 2023) · Kellogg Company · accessed
  2. Pop-Tarts · Wikipedia · accessed
  3. Several Kellogg's Products Contain Beef Gelatin · vegconomist · accessed