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Are Skittles Halal?

Short answer Depends

It depends on the type. Original Skittles have not contained gelatin since about 2009 and list no animal-derived ingredients [1][2]. They are not halal certified. Skittles Gummies are a different product and contain gelatin from an unstated source [3]. Read the label on each bag. If you're unsure, ask a scholar you trust.

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Halal status by country

CountryStatusDetailsSource
United States Not certified Original Skittles were reformulated to remove gelatin around 2009 and list no animal-derived ingredients. We found no halal certification. [1][2]
United Kingdom Not certified UK Skittles used carmine (E120), an insect-based red color, until 2015. We found no halal certification for UK packs. [1]
Canada Depends Skittles Gummies sold in Canada list gelatin. Original Skittles in Canada were not covered by an official halal statement we could find. [3]
ItemStatusNoteSource
Original Skittles (US) Not certified No gelatin since about 2009; no animal-derived ingredients listed. [1][2]
Skittles Gummies Depends Contains gelatin; the label does not say whether it comes from pork, beef or fish. [3]

Original Skittles: what changed

Older Skittles contained gelatin, which is often made from pork or beef. In 2010, Wrigley customer service told the Vegetarian Resource Group that Skittles had been reformulated in early 2009 to remove gelatin [2]. Health writers have since confirmed that standard US Skittles list no animal-derived ingredients [1].

The US recipe is mostly sugar, corn syrup, hydrogenated palm kernel oil, citric acid, starches, flavors, synthetic colors and carnauba wax [1]. None of these come from animals.

In the UK, Skittles used carmine (E120) as a red color until 2015 [1]. Carmine is made from insects, and scholars differ on whether it is allowed. See our carmine and E120 pages for the views.

Skittles Gummies are a different product

Skittles Gummies look like a softer version of Skittles, but the recipe is different. Their ingredient list includes gelatin [3]. The label does not say whether the gelatin comes from pork, beef or fish.

Most Muslim scholars agree that pork gelatin is not halal. Views differ on beef gelatin from animals not slaughtered in a halal way, and on istihalah, the idea that full chemical change can make a substance permissible. Our gelatin page explains the main positions neutrally.

If you avoid gelatin of unknown source, skip Skittles Gummies and other gummy spin-offs unless the pack shows a halal logo.

Why no-gelatin is not the same as certified

Original Skittles have no animal ingredients on the label, but no halal agency has certified them as far as we could find. That leaves a few open points that some Muslims care about:

  • Flavors. Labels show natural and artificial flavors without saying whether alcohol was used as a carrier. See alcohol and ethanol.
  • Shared lines. Factories that make gummies may also make chewy candy. Labels rarely say how lines are cleaned.
  • Recipe changes. Limited editions and new flavors can bring new ingredients.

Many Muslims eat original Skittles based on the ingredients. Others prefer certified candy only. Both are common choices. If you're unsure, ask a scholar you trust.

About the colors in Skittles

Skittles get their bright colors from dyes. US Skittles use synthetic colors such as Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6 and Blue 1, plus titanium dioxide in some versions [1]. These are made in labs, not from animals, and most scholars see no halal issue with them. You can read more on our Red 40 page.

The color question mostly matters for older or non-US packs. UK Skittles once used carmine for red [1], so if you buy imported Skittles, scan the ingredients for E120, carmine or cochineal.

How to check a bag of Skittles

  1. Check the product name. Original, Sour, Wild Berry and Tropical chews are different from Gummies.
  2. Read the ingredients for gelatin, carmine or E120.
  3. Check where it was made. UK and US recipes have differed before [1].
  4. Look for a halal logo if you only eat certified candy.

Recipes change, so check the current package label each time. For other chewy candy, see Starburst, Sour Patch Kids and M&M's.

Frequently asked questions

Do Skittles have gelatin?

Original Skittles have not had gelatin since a reformulation in early 2009, according to Wrigley customer service [2]. Skittles Gummies are different and do contain gelatin [3]. Always read the label of the exact product you buy.

Are Skittles halal in the UK?

We found no halal certification for UK Skittles. UK Skittles used carmine, an insect-based color, until 2015 [1]. Check the current UK pack for E120 or carmine and follow your scholar's view on it.

Are Skittles Gummies halal?

Skittles Gummies contain gelatin, and the label does not name the animal source [3]. They are not halal certified. Muslims who avoid gelatin of unknown origin usually skip them.

Are sour Skittles halal?

Sour Skittles are a chewy candy like the original, not a gummy. We found no halal certification for them. Read the current label for gelatin, carmine or new ingredients before you buy.

Sources

  1. Are Skittles Vegan? · Healthline · accessed
  2. Skittles and Starburst gelatin update · The Vegetarian Resource Group · accessed
  3. Skittles Gummies product listing · Open Food Facts · accessed