Short answer: most Haribo sweets are not vegan. Classics like Starmix, Goldbears and Tangfastics contain gelatine, and several also use beeswax. But Haribo does make a few sweets it says are suitable for vegans. Here's how to tell them apart.
Why classic Haribo isn't vegan
1. Gelatine
Gelatine is what gives gummy sweets their chew, and it's made from animal skin and bones. Haribo's UK FAQ says its UK range "contains gelatine deriving from pork", with beef gelatine used only in its Halal products.
2. Beeswax
Many Haribo sweets are polished with a glazing agent to stop them sticking. Some use beeswax (E901), which comes from bees, so it isn't vegan. Others use only carnauba wax (E903), which comes from a palm tree and is vegan. This matters because some Haribo sweets have no gelatine but still contain beeswax.
Popular Haribo sweets checked
| Sweet (UK) | Gelatine? | Glaze | Vegan? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starmix | Yes | Beeswax, carnauba wax | No |
| Goldbears | Yes | Beeswax, carnauba wax | No |
| Tangfastics | Yes | Carnauba wax | No |
| Giant Strawbs | No | Beeswax | Vegetarian, not vegan |
| Sour Sparks | No | Beeswax | Vegetarian, not vegan |
| Jelly Beans | No | Carnauba wax | Yes, Haribo says suitable for vegans |
| Rainbow Strips Z!NG | No | Carnauba wax | Yes, Haribo says vegan (may contain traces of milk) |
Is Halal Haribo vegan?
No. Halal Haribo, sold in the UK and made in Turkey, uses beef gelatine instead of pork. Halal Goldbears also use beeswax. It's a good option for people avoiding pork, but it isn't vegan or vegetarian.
What about Haribo in the US?
US Haribo has different recipes. US Goldbears contain gelatin and white and yellow beeswax, plus artificial colours. Haribo's US FAQ names Z!NG Sour Streamers and Z!NG Sour S'ghetti as vegetarian options; we couldn't find any US Haribo product that Haribo itself labels vegan.
What about colours?
Good news here. UK Haribo sweets we checked are coloured with fruit and plant concentrates such as spirulina, carrot and blackcurrant, and none listed carmine (E120), the red colour made from insects. Red sweets from other brands are a different story, so it's still worth checking. See our list of 25 hidden animal ingredients.
The quick way to check any sweet
Recipes change and packs differ between countries, so the pack in your hand is what counts. Take a photo of the ingredient list with Vegan Scan AI and it will flag gelatine, beeswax and other animal ingredients in seconds, and tell you why.
Ingredients checked on 3 November 2026 from Haribo UK and US product pages and UK retailer listings. Recipes change; always read the current label. "May contain" warnings relate to allergens; if you have a food allergy, confirm with the manufacturer.
