Halal, vegan, gelatin-free: how to read a gummy label

To tell whether a gummy is halal, vegan or gelatin-free, check three things: the gelling agent in the ingredients list (gelatin, or a plant one such as pectin), any certification mark on the pack, and who issued it. In the UAE, halal certificates come from certification bodies registered with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT). Here's how to read each part of a label, step by step.

Step 1: find the gelling agent

Every gummy needs something to make it set. Two common ones are gelatin and pectin.

• Gelatin comes from animals. A 2018 review on halal authentication notes that it is commonly extracted from pig sources, with cattle and fish gelatin also major commercial sources.
• Pectin comes from plants. It's found in the cell walls of fruit and vegetables, and it's what sets jams, jellies and many sweets.

If an ingredients list just says "gelatin", it doesn't tell you the source. The same review describes unclear labelling of where gelatin comes from as the main concern for halal authenticity. In that case, ask the maker before you buy.

Step 2: look for a halal certificate, and who issued it

In the UAE, the halal system sits with MoIAT. Under Cabinet Decree No. 10 of 2014 on the UAE System for Control of Halal Products, establishments obtain halal certificates for their final products and raw materials from halal certification bodies registered by the ministry.

MoIAT also issues the UAE Halal National Mark, which the ministry describes as optional. So the mark's absence alone doesn't settle the question. If halal status matters to you, look for a certificate from a recognised certification body, and ask the seller which body issued it.

Halal status is about more than gelatin. Flavourings, colours and other ingredients count too, which is why certificates cover finished products and their raw materials, not one ingredient.

Step 3: check what "vegan" really means

The Vegan Society's trademark standards say that the development and manufacture of a product and its ingredients must not involve any animal product, by-product or derivative, and they rule out testing on animals too. That's a stricter test than "no gelatin".

A gummy can be gelatin-free and still not vegan, if another ingredient comes from an animal. Without a vegan certification or a clear statement from the maker, you're relying on the ingredients list alone.

Step 4: read the free-from line carefully

A free-from line covers only what it names. On our Creatine, Apple Cider Vinegar and Ashwagandha jars it reads "Free from: Gluten, Dairy, Soy, Artificial Flavors, Sweeteners & Colors"; on Pre-Workout, "Free from: Gluten, Dairy, Soy, Artificial Flavors & Colors". Neither line says anything about halal or vegan status, and neither is meant to.

Step 5: the sugar lines

Gummies began as sweets, and many are still made with sugar or syrups. On the Supplement Facts panel, read Total Sugars and Added Sugars per serving, then Sugar Alcohol, which some sugar-free gummies use instead. Sweeteners, such as stevia leaf extract, appear in the ingredients list.

What our labels show

Here's what the ingredients panels on our four jars show:

• Gelling agent: all four list pectin. Gelatin is not on any of the four ingredient lists.
• Sweetener: Pre-Workout lists stevia leaf extract.
• Creatine, Apple Cider Vinegar and Ashwagandha also list coconut oil and carnauba wax.
• Sugar: all four show 0 g total sugars per serving.
• Caffeine: Pre-Workout has 150 mg per serving of two gummies. It is not for under-18s, or for anyone pregnant or nursing, and the label says do not exceed two gummies per day.

All four Jolie gummies are certified halal and certified vegan, and set with pectin rather than gelatin. If you'd like to know more about the certificates, contact us before you buy. We'd rather you ask than guess.

A quick checklist

1. Find the gelling agent. Gelatin: ask about the source. Pectin: plant-based.
2. Look for a halal certificate or mark, and note who issued it.
3. For vegan, look for a certification or a clear statement from the maker.
4. Read the free-from line for what it covers, and nothing more.
5. Check Total Sugars, Added Sugars and Sugar Alcohol per serving.
6. Still unsure? Ask the seller before you buy.

For what else to look for on a label, see our guides to how much creatine a day and apple cider vinegar gummies.