Children's parties are full of the exact foods that most often contain gelatine and colourings from animal sources. If you are hosting, a little label reading means nobody has to pick through their plate. If your child is going to someone else's party, a quick word with the host goes a long way.
Sweets and party bags
This is where most of the problems are. Chewy sweets get their texture from gelatine, which can be pork.
- Look for halal-certified sweets, or ones labelled vegetarian or vegan, which are set with something other than gelatine, such as pectin, starch, agar or carrageenan (see gelatine-free sweets).
- Standard Haribo is a gelatine sweet. Haribo UK's own FAQ says its UK range uses gelatine "deriving from pork", with an exception for its halal products, which use beef gelatine. See Is Haribo halal?.
- Red and pink sweets may use carmine (E120), made from insects.
The birthday cake
Most sponge cakes are fine. Check these:
- Icing and buttercream are usually halal. Some ready-made fillings use gelatine.
- Sprinkles and decorations can contain shellac (E904) or carmine. Shimmery decorations often use E555, which is a mineral and fine.
- Drip cakes with liqueur, and some chocolate decorations, may contain alcohol.
- Chilled cheesecake is often set with gelatine. See is cheesecake halal?
Jelly and ice cream
Shop-bought jelly is usually made with pork gelatine. Vegetarian jelly crystals are set with a plant gelling agent such as agar or carrageenan. For ice cream, see our halal ice cream guide.
Savoury snacks
- Crisps: plain flavours are simplest, and flavoured ones often list flavourings, whey or emulsifiers. Our snacks table shows how popular crisps came out.
- Sausage rolls and mini pizzas: the meat is the question, so buy halal-certified versions or choose vegetarian ones.
- Cheese: see is mozzarella halal? for the rennet question.
Sending your child to a party
You don't need to make a fuss. Most parents are glad to know in advance. You could:
- Mention it when you reply to the invitation.
- Offer to send a small bag of halal sweets so your child isn't left out of the party bag.
- Teach older children to check for the word "gelatine".
Fast way to check
In the shop, scan the barcode of any packet and the checker will flag gelatine, carmine and alcohol for you, with the reason.
Common questions
Is party-bag chocolate halal? Plain milk chocolate usually lists no gelatine or alcohol, though it is not halal-certified. Check filled or novelty chocolates for gelatine and alcohol.
What about piñata sweets? The same rules as party bags apply. Many shops sell halal pick-and-mix, which makes filling a piñata easy.
