In the US, yes — original Starburst Fruit Chews contain gelatin. In the UK, no — the recipe was reformulated years ago to remove gelatin entirely. This makes Starburst one of those frustrating candies where the answer depends on which country you’re buying them in.
But it gets more complicated. Even within the US, not all Starburst products contain gelatin. Starburst Minis are gelatin-free (they use pectin instead), while Starburst Gummies and Starburst Airs both contain gelatin. And Starburst Jelly Beans have a different issue entirely — no gelatin, but they contain confectioner’s glaze (shellac), which is derived from insects.
Here’s the complete product-by-product breakdown so you know exactly what’s safe and what’s not.
- US Starburst Ingredients
- UK Starburst Ingredients
- Every Starburst Product: Gelatin Status
- What Type of Gelatin Is in Starburst?
- Are Starburst Vegan?
- Are Starburst Vegetarian?
- Are Starburst Halal?
- Are Starburst Gluten-Free?
- Are Starburst Dairy-Free?
- Gelatin-Free Alternatives to Starburst
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The Bottom Line
US Starburst Ingredients
The standard US Starburst Original Fruit Chews ingredient list reads:
Corn syrup, sugar, hydrogenated palm kernel oil; less than 2% of: apple juice from concentrate, citric acid, tapioca dextrin, natural and artificial flavors, gelatin, modified corn starch, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), colors (Red 40, Yellow 6, Yellow 5).
Gelatin is listed clearly in the “less than 2%” section. Like Hi-Chew, it’s a small percentage — but it’s there, and it makes the product non-vegetarian.
The gelatin is what gives US Starburst their signature chewy, taffy-like pull. Without it, the candy would have a completely different mouthfeel — which is exactly what happened when the UK version was reformulated.
UK Starburst Ingredients
The UK Starburst Original Fruit Chews use a different formula:
Glucose syrup, sugar, palm fat, concentrated fruit juices 1.4% (apple, orange, blackcurrant, strawberry, lime, lemon), acid (citric acid), modified starch, acid (malic acid), dextrin, flavourings, maltodextrin, antioxidant (tocopherols), colours (paprika extract, lutein, anthocyanins, curcumin).
No gelatin. The UK version uses modified starch as the binding agent instead, and swaps the synthetic food dyes (Red 40, Yellow 5) for natural colorings (paprika extract, curcumin). Mars reformulated the UK recipe to meet growing demand for vegetarian-friendly sweets in the British market. The packaging confirms the product is “suitable for vegetarians.”
The texture of UK Starburst is slightly different — a bit softer and less elastically chewy than the US version. Most people don’t notice the difference unless they’re comparing them side by side.
This is an interesting mirror image of Sour Patch Kids, where the situation is reversed: US Sour Patch Kids are gelatin-free, but UK Sour Patch Kids contain gelatin.
Every Starburst Product: Gelatin Status
Here’s the full breakdown for US products:
Contains Gelatin (US)
Starburst Original Fruit Chews — gelatin listed in ingredients. All four classic flavors (Strawberry, Cherry, Orange, Lemon) and all variety packs.
Starburst FaveREDs — same base formula as Originals. Contains gelatin.
Starburst Tropical — contains gelatin.
Starburst Gummies — contains gelatin. Ingredient list: corn syrup, sugar, modified corn starch, water, gelatin, fumaric acid, lactic acid, citric acid, calcium lactate, natural and artificial flavors, and food colors.
Starburst Airs — contains gelatin. The aerated gummy texture relies on gelatin for structure.
Gelatin-Free (US)
Starburst Minis — the unwrapped, bite-sized version uses pectin (a plant-based gelling agent derived from fruit) instead of gelatin. This is the only gelatin-free Starburst chew available in the US. However, Starburst Minis do contain confectioner’s glaze (shellac), which is derived from lac insects — so while they’re vegetarian, they’re not considered vegan by most standards.
Starburst Gum — does not appear to contain gelatin. Uses a standard gum base. For more on gelatin in chewing gum generally, see our article on whether gum has gelatin.
No Gelatin But Not Vegan (US)
Starburst Jelly Beans — do not contain gelatin, but do contain confectioner’s glaze (shellac) and beeswax, both of which are animal-derived. Not vegan.
What Type of Gelatin Is in Starburst?
The gelatin source in US Starburst has been a subject of some confusion online. Multiple consumer inquiries to Mars (the manufacturer) have yielded mixed answers over the years. Some reports indicate beef gelatin for the original fruit chews, while others suggest pork gelatin for the gummies line.
The safest approach: if you’re avoiding gelatin for religious, ethical, or dietary reasons, treat all gelatin-containing Starburst products as off-limits regardless of the animal source. Mars does not provide a definitive, public, product-by-product breakdown of gelatin sourcing the way some other manufacturers do.
For more on how gelatin sourcing varies and why it matters for different diets, see our guide on what gelatin is made of.
Are Starburst Vegan?
US: No. The original fruit chews contain gelatin. Even the gelatin-free Starburst Minis contain confectioner’s glaze (shellac), which is insect-derived. There is currently no fully vegan Starburst product in the US market.
UK: Mostly yes. The original fruit chews are gelatin-free, contain no confectioner’s glaze, and use natural colorings. The UK packaging states “suitable for vegetarians.” Most vegans consider UK Starburst acceptable, with the possible exception of the palm fat and sugar processing concerns that apply to almost all mainstream candy.
Are Starburst Vegetarian?
US Original Chews: No — gelatin is an animal product.
US Minis: Yes — no gelatin (uses pectin). Confectioner’s glaze is debatable for some vegetarians but generally accepted.
UK Chews: Yes — confirmed “suitable for vegetarians” on packaging.
Gummies and Airs: No — contain gelatin in both markets.
Are Starburst Halal?
US Original Chews: Unclear. Contains gelatin, and Mars has not confirmed whether it’s pork or beef-derived with certainty. Without halal certification, these should be treated as non-halal for anyone following strict Islamic dietary guidelines.
UK Chews: Generally considered halal since they contain no gelatin and no pork-derived ingredients. However, they don’t carry formal halal certification.
For a comprehensive explanation of how gelatin affects halal status, see our halal gelatin guide.
Are Starburst Gluten-Free?
Yes. All Starburst products — US and UK, with or without gelatin — are gluten-free. They contain no wheat, barley, rye, or other gluten-containing ingredients.
Are Starburst Dairy-Free?
Yes. Standard Starburst products do not contain dairy. Some seasonal or limited-edition varieties with chocolate or yogurt coatings may include dairy — check the label on specialty products.
Gelatin-Free Alternatives to Starburst
If you love Starburst’s fruity, chewy profile but want to avoid gelatin, here are your best options:
UK Starburst — if you can find imported UK packs (available at some international candy shops and online retailers), they’re the exact same candy minus the gelatin.
Starburst Minis (US) — gelatin-free, though they contain confectioner’s glaze. The closest option if you’re vegetarian but not strictly vegan.
YumEarth Organic Chewys — a direct Starburst alternative with organic ingredients, no gelatin, no artificial colors, and no high fructose corn syrup. Available at most natural food stores and online.
Torie & Howard Chewie Fruities — organic fruit chews made with pectin instead of gelatin. Similar flavor profile to Starburst.
Lovely Organic Fruit Chews — another pectin-based, gelatin-free option with natural flavors and colors.
Skittles — while not a chew (they’re a hard-shell candy), Skittles removed gelatin from their recipe in 2009 and are now gelatin-free in the US. They scratch a similar fruity candy itch.
For more plant-based alternatives to gelatin in candy and cooking, our gelatin substitutes guide covers pectin, agar-agar, and other options.
Frequently Asked Questions
The gelatin source in US Starburst is not definitively confirmed by Mars. Some consumer inquiries have been told beef gelatin (for original chews) and pork gelatin (for gummies). If you’re avoiding pork specifically, the safest approach is to avoid all gelatin-containing Starburst products unless Mars provides formal halal or kosher certification.
No. While Starburst Minis are gelatin-free (they use pectin), they contain confectioner’s glaze (shellac), which is derived from lac insects. Most vegans do not consider confectioner’s glaze to be plant-based.
Mars reformulated the UK recipe to meet consumer demand for vegetarian-friendly candy in the British market, where awareness of gelatin as an animal product is generally higher. The US market hasn’t made the same switch yet, likely because the texture change wasn’t deemed worth the reformulation cost for the American consumer base.
No. Starburst Gummies contain gelatin in both the US and UK markets. The gummy format relies heavily on gelatin for its texture — unlike the fruit chew format, which can be achieved with modified starch or pectin.
Starburst removed gelatin from their UK fruit chew recipe but have not done so for the US version as of 2026. Mars successfully removed gelatin from Skittles globally in 2009, proving it’s technically possible — but they haven’t applied the same change to Starburst in the US.
In the US, Skittles are the better choice — they removed gelatin in 2009 and contain no animal-derived gelling agents. US Starburst still contain gelatin. In the UK, both are gelatin-free.
The Bottom Line
Starburst’s gelatin status is a product-by-product and country-by-country situation:
US Original Fruit Chews — contain gelatin. Not vegetarian, not vegan. US Minis — gelatin-free (use pectin). Vegetarian but not vegan (contain confectioner’s glaze). US Gummies and Airs — contain gelatin. UK Fruit Chews — gelatin-free. Vegetarian and generally considered vegan.
If you’re in the US and want a Starburst-like experience without gelatin, your best bets are Starburst Minis (if you’re okay with confectioner’s glaze), imported UK Starburst, or alternatives like YumEarth Organic Chewys.
For the full list of which candies contain gelatin and which don’t, see our complete guide: Which Candies Have Gelatin?
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