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Are Starbursts Halal?

Short answer Depends

US Starburst fruit chews contain gelatin [2] and are not halal certified. Mars staff said in 2010 that the gelatin was beef-derived and not kosher [1], but labels don't name the source. So the answer depends on your view of non-zabiha gelatin. UK Starburst is sold as vegan [3]. If you're unsure, ask a scholar you trust.

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Halal status by country

CountryStatusDetailsSource
United States Depends Original Fruit Chews list gelatin. The label does not state the source; Wrigley staff said in 2010 it was non-kosher beef gelatin. [1][2]
United Kingdom Not certified Starburst chews sold in the UK are labelled suitable for vegetarians and vegans, so they contain no gelatin. They are not halal certified as far as we found. [3]
Canada Not certified We found no official halal statement for Starburst in Canada. Check the label for gelatin.
ItemStatusNoteSource
Starburst Original Fruit Chews (US) Depends Contains gelatin; source not stated on the label. [2]
Starburst GummiBursts (older US product) Not halal Wrigley staff said in 2010 that GummiBursts used pork gelatin. [1]
Starburst vegan gummies (US) Not certified Launched in 2021 as gelatin-free. Not halal certified as far as we found. [4]

Gelatin is the main issue

Starburst fruit chews in the US list gelatin in their ingredients [2]. Gelatin gives the chews their soft, stretchy bite. It is made from animal skin, bones or tissue, so its source matters for a halal diet.

In 2010, Wrigley customer service told the Vegetarian Resource Group that Starburst used beef-derived gelatin that was not kosher [1]. The same report said GummiBursts, a gummy product, used pork gelatin [1]. That information is old. Current US labels say only "gelatin" without naming the animal, and Mars does not publish a halal statement for Starburst that we could find.

Our separate page on Starburst gelatin goes deeper into the gelatin question.

What scholars say about beef gelatin

Scholars hold several well-known views on gelatin:

  • Pork gelatin: most scholars hold it is not halal.
  • Beef gelatin from halal-slaughtered animals: broadly accepted.
  • Beef gelatin from animals not slaughtered in a halal way: many scholars do not accept it. Others accept it based on istihalah, the view that full chemical change turns it into a new substance.

Because US Starburst gelatin is not certified, where you land depends on which view you follow. We don't issue rulings. See our gelatin page for more detail, and if you're unsure, ask a scholar you trust.

Starburst in the UK and gelatin-free options

Starburst sold in the UK uses a different recipe. UK grocery listings show Starburst chews marked suitable for vegetarians and vegans, which means no gelatin [3]. That makes UK Starburst a common pick for Muslims who avoid gelatin, though we found no halal certificate for it.

In the US, Starburst launched vegan, gelatin-free gummies in 2021 [4]. Check whether they are still sold near you, since product lines change.

If you bring Starburst back from a trip, or buy imported packs, read the country of manufacture. A UK-made pack and a US-made pack can carry the same name but different ingredients.

Why Starburst is different from Skittles

Starburst and Skittles are both Mars candies, and both once used gelatin. Skittles removed gelatin around 2009, but US Starburst chews kept it [1]. Today the US Original Fruit Chews still list gelatin next to corn syrup, sugar, palm kernel oil and fruit juice [2].

So a Muslim who is comfortable with original Skittles may still choose to skip US Starburst. The difference is not the brand owner but the gelling ingredient. Our Skittles page covers that product in detail.

How to check a pack

  1. Read the ingredient list for the word gelatin.
  2. Look for "suitable for vegetarians" or a vegan mark, which rules out gelatin.
  3. Look for a halal logo if you only eat certified candy.
  4. Check the country of manufacture.

Recipes change, so check the current package label even for flavors you have bought before. For similar candy, see Skittles, Laffy Taffy, Airheads and Hi-Chew.

Frequently asked questions

Is Starburst gelatin pork or beef?

Current US labels just say gelatin. In 2010, Wrigley staff told the Vegetarian Resource Group that Starburst used non-kosher beef gelatin [1]. That is not a halal guarantee, and recipes can change, so contact Mars if you need a current answer.

Are Starbursts halal in the UK?

UK Starburst chews are labelled suitable for vegetarians and vegans, so they contain no gelatin [3]. We found no halal certification, but many Muslims choose them for that reason. Check the current UK pack.

Are Starburst gummies halal?

It depends on the product. Starburst launched gelatin-free vegan gummies in the US in 2021 [4]. Older gummy products like GummiBursts used pork gelatin [1]. Read the label on the exact pack.

Are Starburst FaveREDs halal?

FaveREDs are the red and pink flavors of the same fruit chew, so check the label for gelatin as with original Starburst [2]. They are not halal certified as far as we found.

Sources

  1. Skittles and Starburst gelatin update · The Vegetarian Resource Group · accessed
  2. Starburst Original Fruit Chews Candy (ingredient listing) · H-E-B · accessed
  3. Starburst Vegan Chewy Sweets Fruit Flavoured Pouch Bag · Ocado · accessed
  4. Starburst launches vegan gummies in the US · VegNews · accessed