Jelly Babies are one of the UK's best-loved retro sweets, but they're not halal — and there's a specific, well-documented reason the answer got clearer (and more cautious) back in 2016.
The short answer: no
Maynards Bassetts Jelly Babies contain gelatine, and Bassetts has no halal certification in the UK. That alone rules them out for halal consumers, since gelatine's animal source needs to be verified and certified to be considered halal.
What changed in 2016
Before July 2016, Bassetts' gelatine was specifically labelled as bovine (beef-derived) on packaging. That month, Mondelez — Bassetts' parent company — announced it would start sourcing gelatine from either bovine or porcine sources, and would label it simply as "gelatine" rather than "bovine gelatine" going forward, specifically to be upfront with Muslim communities about the change. The shift rolled out across the range in phases through August and later 2016, eventually covering Jelly Babies, Liquorice Allsorts, Sports Mix, Midget Gems, Wine Pastilles, Mint Favourites, Sour Patch Kids, Wine Gums, Bertie's Mix, Mint Imperials and Juicy Chews.
Why this still trips people up
Some people remember Jelly Babies as bovine-gelatine (and therefore, while uncertified, at least not pork-derived) from before 2016, and haven't caught up with the labelling change. Since the source can now be bovine or porcine and isn't specified further, the safest assumption for anyone keeping halal is that it isn't suitable — the same logic applies across the whole affected range, not just Jelly Babies specifically.
Looking for genuinely halal-friendly sweets?
We stock a dedicated halal-friendly range, alongside vegan and pick 'n' mix more broadly. See our halal label guide for the difference between halal-friendly and certified halal. We've served over 25,000 customers UK-wide, with most orders dispatched within 1-2 business days.
Frequently asked questions
Are Jelly Babies halal?
No — they contain gelatine that may be bovine or porcine, and Bassetts isn't halal certified.
Did Jelly Babies used to be halal?
Never certified, but pre-2016 the gelatine was specifically bovine.
What else changed alongside Jelly Babies in 2016?
Liquorice Allsorts, Wine Gums, Midget Gems and several other Bassetts lines.