Is Haribo Vegan? Which Haribo Sweets Are Vegan or Vegetarian (2026)

Haribo is gummy candy, and gummy candy is usually gelatin. Nearly every Haribo product uses it, which rules them out for vegans and vegetarians alike. There are a few exceptions, mostly among the sour strips, and the UK has more of them than the US.

How to check any Haribo bag

If the label lists…	Status
Gelatin or gelatine	Not vegan
Beeswax, but no gelatin	Vegetarian only
Neither gelatin nor beeswax (often carnauba wax instead)	Vegan

Look near the end of the list for the glazing agents: beeswax is not vegan, carnauba wax is.

Haribo products we've checked (US)

Product	Status	What decides it
Sour S'ghetti	Vegan	No gelatin or beeswax; carnauba wax coating.
Sour Streamers	Check the label	On PETA's 2024 gelatin-free list; availability varies.
Goldbears	Not vegan	Gelatin and beeswax.
Twin Snakes	Not vegan	Gelatin.
Happy Cola	Not vegan	Gelatin.
Starmix	Not vegan	Gelatin and beeswax.
Worms	Not vegan	Gelatin and beeswax.

Haribo in the UK and Ireland

Haribo's UK and Irish range is different from the US one, with its own vegetarian and vegan sweets. Vegetarian bags carry a "suitable for vegetarians" mark, which means no gelatine but often beeswax. Only a handful are vegan.

Product (UK)	Status	What decides it
Rainbow Strips Z!ng	Vegan	Labelled suitable for vegans. Carnauba wax glaze, no gelatine or beeswax.
Pixels Z!ng	Vegan	Labelled vegan.
Giant Strawbs	Vegetarian only	No gelatine, but glazed with beeswax.
Sour Rainbow Twists	Vegetarian	Labelled suitable for vegetarians. Check the glazing agents for beeswax.
Bone Shakers (Halloween)	Vegetarian only	Labelled vegetarian; glazed with beeswax.
Balla Bites	Not vegan	No gelatine listed, but glazed with beeswax.
Starmix	Not vegetarian	Gelatine and beeswax.
Tangfastics	Not vegetarian	Gelatine.
Goldbears	Not vegetarian	Gelatine and beeswax.

The vegan sweets carry a "may contain milk" warning. That's about shared factory equipment rather than an ingredient, and most vegans accept it, but skip them if you avoid traces too.

Haribo's UK range changes often, and the same name can have a different recipe in another country. Check the mark and the ingredients on the bag you're buying.

Is halal Haribo vegan or vegetarian?

No. Haribo makes a halal range, sold in the UK and Ireland as well as Turkey and parts of Europe, with products such as Halal Happy Peaches and Halal Cherries. These swap pork gelatin for beef gelatin, so they're suitable for people avoiding pork, but they still contain gelatin from cattle. They aren't vegan or vegetarian.

Vegan vs vegetarian Haribo, explained

Vegetarian Haribo contains no gelatin, so no animal was slaughtered to make it. It may still contain beeswax, which comes from bees, so it isn't vegan.
Vegan Haribo contains neither gelatin nor beeswax (or any other animal ingredient). These bags usually say "suitable for vegans" or carry a vegan mark.
Regular Haribo contains gelatin and isn't suitable for either.

If a bag only says "suitable for vegetarians", check the glazing agents near the end of the ingredients for beeswax before assuming it's vegan.

Why Haribo uses gelatin

Gelatin gives gummies their springy chew. Vegan gummies use pectin, starch or agar instead, which gives a softer bite. Haribo's signature Goldbears texture depends on gelatin, and the company hasn't released a gelatin-free version in the US.

Vegan gummy alternatives

In the UK and Ireland, vegan gummies are easy to find in supermarket own-brand ranges; look for a vegan label. In the US, Sour Patch Kids, Swedish Fish and Dots are vegan. Our guide to vegan gummies lists more brands on both sides of the Atlantic.

FAQ

Is Haribo vegetarian?

Most Haribo isn't, because it contains gelatin. In the UK, Haribo makes a small vegetarian range, including Giant Strawbs and Sour Rainbow Twists, and a few vegan sweets such as Rainbow Strips Z!ng. Look for the vegetarian or vegan mark on the bag.

Are Haribo Starmix vegetarian?

No. UK Starmix contains gelatine and is glazed with beeswax.

Which Haribo are vegan in the UK?

Rainbow Strips Z!ng and Pixels Z!ng are labelled vegan. Both carry a 'may contain milk' warning, which is about cross-contact in the factory, not an ingredient.

Are Haribo Goldbears vegan?

No. They contain gelatin and a beeswax coating.

Which Haribo is vegan in the US?

Sour S'ghetti has no gelatin or beeswax on its US label. PETA has also listed Haribo Sour Streamers as gelatin-free, but check the bag, as US availability varies.

Is Haribo halal?

Standard Haribo uses pork gelatin. Haribo makes a halal range with beef gelatin, sold in the UK and Ireland among other markets, but those still aren't vegan or vegetarian.

Can vegetarians eat Haribo?

Only the products marked 'suitable for vegetarians', such as UK Giant Strawbs. Most Haribo, including Starmix and Goldbears, contains gelatin.

What's the difference between vegan and vegetarian Haribo?

A Haribo product without gelatin but with beeswax is vegetarian, not vegan. Without gelatin or beeswax, it's vegan.

Haribo – Which Are Vegan or Vegetarian?