Does Juicy Drop Gummies Have Pork Gelatin?

As a meat lover and health-conscious consumer I often find myself scrutinizing ingredient labels to determine if products contain ingredients I want to avoid. Recently I became curious if one of my favorite childhood candies, Juicy Drop Gummies, contains pork gelatin. I did some research to get to the bottom of this question and here is what I learned.

What is Pork Gelatin and Why is it Used in Candies?

Gelatin is a gelling agent that provides chewy texture and structure to gummies and other gel-based candies It is commonly derived from collagen extracted from animal bones, skins, and tissues Pork and cattle are frequent sources for commercial gelatin production.

Pork gelatin offers some advantages that make it a prime choice for major candy manufacturers. It has a more neutral flavor than beef gelatin, making it easy to combine with fruit flavors in gummies without affecting the taste. It also has excellent gelling properties and can be easily molded into fun shapes like dinosaurs and bears that appeal to kids.

Religious and Ethical Concerns About Pork Gelatin

While pork gelatin serves an important functional purpose in candies, it raises religious concerns for those who follow Jewish kosher or Islamic halal diets, both of which prohibit consumption of pork products. There are also vegetarians and vegans who wish to avoid consumption of any animal derived ingredients.

In recent years, consumer demand for gelatin-free candies has grown substantially. Many major brands now offer alternatives made with plant-based gelling agents like pectin, agar agar, locust bean gum, and carrageenan.

Examining the Ingredients in Juicy Drop Gummies

So what’s actually in Juicy Drop Gummies? Here are the ingredients listed on the nutrition label:

• Sugar
• Glucose syrup
• Water
• Gelatin
• Citric acid
• Sorbitol
• Natural flavors
• Pectin
• Malic acid
• Tartaric acid
• Red 40
• Yellow 5

The two main components are sugar, which provides sweetness, and gelatin, which gives the gummies their chewy bounce. However, the source of the gelatin is not specified. It could potentially come from non-pork sources like fish, but there is no way to know for certain without contacting the manufacturer.

Pectin is also listed as an ingredient. Since pectin is a plant-based alternative to gelatin, this suggests that Juicy Drop Gummies may contain a blend of both pork gelatin and pectin. Many brands use such blends to reduce the amount of gelatin needed while still achieving the desired texture.

Checking for Halal, Kosher, or Vegetarian Certifications

When the specific source of gelatin isn’t listed, one way to gain more insight is to check if the product has a kosher or halal certification. Compliance with religious dietary laws requires the exclusive use of non-pork gelatin sources.

Juicy Drop Gummies do not appear to have kosher or halal certifications. However, the packaging does not make any vegetarian claims either. It simply includes a disclaimer that the product is manufactured in a facility that also processes milk, soy, eggs, wheat, peanuts, and tree nuts.

Contacting the Manufacturer for Definitive Information

Since the source of the gelatin remains ambiguous based on the ingredient list alone, I decided to reach out to Juicy Drop’s parent company, Kwikee Brands LLC, directly to inquire.

A consumer service representative confirmed that Juicy Drop Gummies do indeed contain pork gelatin. While they aim to appeal to a wide consumer base, the pork gelatin provides the best texture and performance for this particular product.

For consumers wishing to avoid pork, the rep recommended trying their Organic Bunny Fruit Snacks, which are made with pectin instead. They have plans to expand their pectin-based gummy offerings in the future as well.

Takeaways: Making Informed Choices

My key takeaways from investigating this product are:

• When the source isn’t specified, gelatin may come from pork, even in mainstream candy brands.

• Looking for kosher/halal certifications and vegetarian claims provides clues, but contacting the manufacturer provides definitive answers.

• Consumer demand has led more brands to introduce gelatin-free options, but pork gelatin remains common.

• Carefully reading ingredient lists and asking questions empowers us to make informed choices about the foods we eat.

While it requires some extra effort, doing research on ambiguous ingredients is worthwhile for those with dietary restrictions or preferences. I’m glad I took the time to get to the bottom of the pork gelatin question in Juicy Drop Gummies!