Jolly Rancher candies are made in many variations and flavors. Other than the classic hard candy, you can also find Jolly Rancher gummies, lollipops, gum, and more.
Jolly Ranchers are made by The Hershey Company. On their website, they specifically state that Jolly Rancher candies are not vegan.
Some vegans still eat some Jolly Rancher products because they don’t mind eating the ingredients below, which might not be vegan.
With their tantalizing fruity flavors and chewy texture, Jolly Rancher Chews have been a popular candy choice for decades. But for those avoiding animal products, an important question arises—do Jolly Rancher Chews contain pork gelatin? Let’s take a close look at the ingredients to find out.
The Jolly Rancher brand first emerged in 1949 and was later acquired by The Hershey Company in 1996. Today, the product line includes:
- Hard candies
- Chews
- Gummies
- Soda
- Lollipops
- Jelly beans
While the classic hard candies are vegan, some varieties do contain animal-derived gelatin
What is Gelatin Exactly?
Gelatin is a protein obtained by boiling the bones, skins, and tissues of animals like pigs and cows. It has unique gelling properties that provide a signature chewy texture to foods like marshmallows and gummy candies.
For vegetarians, vegans, and certain religious groups, animal-based gelatin is not considered suitable for consumption. That’s why it’s important to read ingredients carefully.
The Verdict: Yes, Pork Gelatin is Present
After inspecting the ingredients list on the Hershey’s website, the answer is clear – Jolly Rancher Chews do contain pork gelatin.
Here is the full ingredient list for Original Jolly Rancher Chews
- Sugar
- Corn syrup
- Palm oil
- Malic acid
- Gelatin
- Natural and artificial flavors
- Glycerol monostearate
- Artificial colors (Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1, Yellow 6)
- Cornstarch
- Lecithin
The gelatin, sourced from pigs, provides the signature soft, chewy texture that consumers know and love.
This makes Jolly Rancher Chews unsuitable for vegetarian, vegan, kosher, and halal diets. Those avoiding pork will need to avoid these candies.
Other Jolly Ranchers Containing Pork Gelatin
In addition to the regular chews, other Jolly Rancher products containing pork gelatin include:
- Jelly Hearts
- Fruit Chews
- Nibblers
- Candy Canes (seasonal)
Carefully reading labels is key for vegetarians hoping to enjoy Jolly Ranchers.
Are Any Jolly Ranchers Vegan?
While some Jolly Ranchers contain gelatin, many are gelatin-free and suitable for vegetarian/vegan diets. Pork-free Jolly Rancher options include:
- Hard candies
- Lollipops
- Soda
- Gummies
- Jelly beans
- Bites
So there are still plenty of delicious gelatin-free Jolly Ranchers to choose from. Just avoid any products using the term “chews” on the label.
Why Gelatin is Used in Some Candies
Candy makers use animal-derived gelatin because:
- It provides a unique chewy, gummy texture
- It acts as a stabilizer
- It helps candies retain moisture
- It creates a smooth mouthfeel
- It enables desirable shaping during manufacturing
While plant-based gelatin alternatives exist, pork/cattle gelatin remains commonly used, especially in gummies and chewy candies.
Alternatives for Vegetarians
Some pork-free gelatin alternatives include:
- Pectin – extracted from fruits
- Agar agar – derived from seaweed
- Carrageenan – sourced from seaweed
- Gum arabic – harvested from acacia trees
- Modified starches – various plant starches
However, these do not always exactly mimic the properties of animal gelatin.
The Takeaway
If avoiding pork for religious, ethical or health reasons, use caution when it comes to Jolly Rancher Chews and other gelatin-containing Jolly Ranchers. Enjoy the classic hard candies or gelatin-free gummies instead for a vegan Jolly Rancher experience. With careful label reading, vegetarians can still enjoy these nostalgic, flavor-packed candies.
A Quick Guide to Vegan Jolly Ranchers
Here is a quick guide to which Jolly Ranchers are vegan-friendly:
✅ Vegan Options:
- Hard Candies
- Lollipops
- Soda
- Gummies
- Jelly Beans
- Bites
❌ Not Vegan (Contain Pork Gelatin):
- Chews
- Jelly Hearts
- Fruit Chews
- Nibblers
- Candy Canes
Follow this visual guide for quick reference when browsing the candy aisle. With a few easy swaps, you can still indulge in delicious Jolly Rancher flavor with no gelatin or animal products.
While it’s disappointing that original Jolly Rancher Chews do contain pork gelatin, The Hershey Company offers a wide range of delicious flavors and textures free of animal products. With a savvy inspection of labels, vegetarians can continue to enjoy these nostalgic fruit-flavored candies. And thanks to the explosion of plant-based alternatives, more gelatin-free options emerge every day.
So Are Jolly Ranchers Vegan?
Jolly Rancher Bites (watermelon, green apple, and cherry-filled gummies), Jolly Rancher Chews Original Flavors, and Jolly Rancher Jelly Hearts are not vegan at all.
For strict vegans, none of the other Jolly Rancher products are vegan, but some vegans will feel fine eating them.
Remember that the company says their products are not vegan, so if you are worried about things like cross-contamination, sugar that has been filtered through bone char, or natural flavor sources that you can’t be sure of, stay away from Jolly Ranchers.
Ingredients of concern for vegans
Below are potentially non-vegan ingredients that you will find in many Jolly Rancher products. The ingredients on this list might or might not be vegan, but Jolly Rancher doesn’t say so. For some vegans, that tiny risk is fine.
Every Jolly Rancher product contains at least three of the ingredients listed below.
The sugar in Jolly Rancher products may or may not be filtered through bone char. This means that during the refining process, the sugar comes into contact with charred animal bones, but the sugar itself does not contain any bone char.
Some vegans are okay with consuming sugar refined with bone char, but others are not. It is up to you.
Natural flavor is another tricky ingredient for vegans because it can be sourced from animal or plant ingredients. This isn’t written on the packaging, and most businesses won’t know if the natural flavor in their goods comes from plants if you ask them.
There is a chance that some animal-based ingredients are in the natural flavor in Jolly Rancher products. This doesn’t bother all vegans.
There are no animal products in the artificial colors in Jolly Rancher products, so many vegans don’t mind eating them. However some vegans avoid products that contain artificial colors because they are sometimes tested on animals.
Glycerin can come from either plants or animals, and it’s not clear where the glycerin in Jolly Rancher products comes from.
Lecithin can be derived from plants or animals. It seems as though the lecithin in Jolly Rancher products is from soy, but this is not confirmed.
One type of Jolly Rancher has gum base: Bubble Yum Jolly Rancher – Blue Raspberry Bubble Gum
Gum base is made with a variety of ingredients that are not disclosed on packaging. It is possible that some of the ingredients are not vegan.
Glyceryl monostearate can be sourced from plants or animals. Jolly Rancher does not disclose this.
Trying some Jolly water
FAQ
Does Jolly Ranchers chews have gelatin?
Is Jolly Rancher chews halal?
Do high chews have pork gelatin?
What candies contain pork gelatin?
Does Jolly Rancher have gelatin?
Jolly Rancher Gummies (Contains Gelatin). Jolly Rancher has 2 Gummies edition. The Gummies with red text on the packaging has gelatin while the normal Jolly Rancher Gummies has no gelatin. 5. Jolly Rancher Assorted Fruit Flavored Filled Pops. (Contains Gelatin) Do note that, Jolly Rancher also has another product called Jolly Rancher Lollipops.
What Gummies are in Jolly Rancher?
1. Jolly Rancher Crunch ‘n Chew (Contains Gelatin) A chewy fruit-flavored center and a crunchy hard candy shell. 2. Jolly Rancher Chews 3. Jolly Rancher Filled Gummies Bites (Contains Gelatin) 4. Jolly Rancher Gummies (Contains Gelatin). Jolly Rancher has 2 Gummies edition.
Are Jolly Rancher gummies vegan?
Since joining the Hershey family in 1996, the company expanded its line of traditional hard candies to include jelly beans, lollipops, and gummies – most of which are vegan-friendly. While a few Jolly Rancher chewy candies do have gelatin (a by-product of the beef and pork industries), most contain no animal products.
Is Jolly Rancher gelatin halal?
Jolly Rancher gelatin is not halal. Although the gelatin used by the company is plant-derived, they cannot guarantee that the product is free from cross contamination with animal based ingredients.