What Gelatine Do Allen's Lollies Use? Beef, Pork, and Vegan Options Explained

October 21, 2025 •

3 min read

Allen's, an iconic Australian confectionery brand since 1891, has a long-standing tradition of producing beloved lollies. For many consumers, particularly those with dietary restrictions or ethical considerations, knowing the source of ingredients like gelatine is a top priority.

Quick Summary

Most Allen's lollies contain halal beef gelatine, but there are exceptions, such as Sour Randomz, which uses pork gelatine. Newer lines like Jubees and Jelly Beans offer vegan, gelatine-free alternatives.

Key Points

Halal Beef Gelatine: Most Allen's lollies contain halal beef gelatine, making them suitable for some dietary restrictions, but they are not certified halal.
Pork Gelatine Exception: Allen's Sour Randomz is a specific product known to use pork gelatine, so consumers should check ingredients carefully.
New Vegan Options: Recent product launches like Jubees and the reformulated Jelly Beans are explicitly vegan-friendly, using plant-based alternatives to animal gelatine.
Plant-Based Alternatives: Vegan lollies use ingredients like agar-agar, pectin, and carrageenan to achieve a gel-like texture without animal products.
Check the Label: Given the variations, the most reliable way to confirm ingredients is to read the label of the specific Allen's product you intend to consume.
Texture Differences: Animal gelatine provides a signature melt-in-the-mouth chewiness, while vegan alternatives like agar-agar can produce a firmer, more brittle gel.

The Primary Source of Gelatine in Allen's Lollies

According to Nestlé Australia, the parent company of Allen's, the majority of its lollies use halal beef gelatine. This is the standard for products like the popular Snakes Alive, Frogs Alive, and Classic Party Mix, providing their characteristic chewy texture. Gelatine is a translucent, tasteless, and odourless setting agent derived from the collagen found in animal parts, typically sourced from the skin, bones, and cartilage of animals. By using beef gelatine, the products are suitable for consumers who adhere to halal dietary guidelines, though it's important to note that the products themselves are not officially halal certified.

The Pork Gelatine Exception

While halal beef gelatine is the norm, Nestlé explicitly states one key exception: Allen's Sour Randomz contain pork gelatine. This information is crucial for those who avoid pork products for religious, ethical, or personal reasons. For this reason, anyone consuming Allen's products must be vigilant and check the specific product's ingredient list, as the general rule does not apply to every lolly in the range.

The Rise of Vegan-Friendly Alternatives

Responding to growing consumer demand for plant-based options, Allen's has expanded its product line to include several gelatine-free lollies that are suitable for vegans. This is a significant development, as most traditional gummy candies rely on animal-derived gelatine for their texture.

Examples of vegan-friendly Allen's lollies include:

Jubees: Launched in 2022, this range features flavours inspired by classic Allen's lollies but in a chewy, vegan-friendly jube format. The texture is achieved using alternative plant-based ingredients.
Jelly Beans: Allen's made headlines in 2022 when it reformulated its Jelly Beans to be 100% vegan-friendly. The change involved swapping the carmine colouring, which is derived from cochineal beetles, for plant-based agents like beetroot and paprika. The packaging is updated with a "vegan-friendly" label to reflect this change.

Alternatives to Animal Gelatine in Confectionery

For those seeking gelatine-free alternatives, manufacturers often turn to plant-based gelling agents. The choice of alternative affects the final product's texture, mouthfeel, and gelling properties.

Agar-Agar: A popular vegan replacement derived from algae. It creates a firmer gel than gelatine, sets quickly, and is flavourless. It is heat-stable and does not require refrigeration to set.
Pectin: A natural polysaccharide found in fruits and vegetables, particularly high in apples and citrus peels. Pectin is ideal for creating soft, fruit jellies, such as jams.
Carrageenan: A seaweed-derived gelling agent used to make softer gels and puddings. While once common, its use has been a subject of some debate due to potential health concerns.

Gelatine vs. Vegan Alternatives: A Comparison


Feature	Animal Gelatine	Vegan Alternatives (Agar-Agar, Pectin)
Source	Animal collagen (skin, bones, cartilage) from beef, pork, or fish.	Plant-based sources like seaweed (agar-agar, carrageenan) or fruits (pectin).
Texture	Creates an elastic, springy, and chewy texture with a melt-in-the-mouth sensation.	Varies by alternative. Agar-agar creates a firmer, more brittle gel. Pectin creates a softer, fruit-jelly-like texture.
Melting Point	Melts at or just below body temperature (35-37°C), giving a rapid melt and smooth finish.	Agar-agar sets at room temperature and has a higher melting point, while pectin needs heat to activate and sets upon cooling.
Setting Time	Requires cooling to set over several hours.	Agar-agar sets very quickly, often within an hour. Pectin's setting time is dependent on temperature and other ingredients.
Bloom Strength	Measured in 'Bloom' values, indicating gel strength. Pork gelatine typically has higher bloom strength than beef.	Not measured in Bloom values but can be adjusted by the amount used to achieve desired gel firmness.
Use Case	Traditional gummy candies, marshmallows, and desserts requiring elasticity and chewiness.	Vegan gummy candies, fruit jellies, jams, and dairy-free desserts.

Conclusion

Understanding what gelatine do Allen's lollies use is essential for consumers with specific dietary needs or ethical preferences. While the brand primarily uses halal beef gelatine in its classic range, it is crucial to remember that exceptions exist, most notably the use of pork gelatine in Sour Randomz. The confectionery landscape is changing, and Allen's has demonstrated this shift by introducing popular vegan options like Jubees and Jelly Beans, providing alternatives that substitute animal gelatine with plant-based ingredients like pectin and agar-agar. Consumers are advised to always check the ingredient list for the specific product they are purchasing, especially if they follow a halal, kosher, vegetarian, or vegan diet.

Visit Allen's official website for product information.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, most Allen's lollies are not vegetarian because they contain animal-derived gelatine, typically from beef or pork. However, newer products labeled as vegan, like Jubees and certain Jelly Beans, are suitable for vegetarians.

Allen's lollies are not officially halal certified. However, Nestlé Australia states that the gelatine used in the majority of its range is sourced from halal beef, with a few exceptions.

According to Nestlé, Allen's Sour Randomz contain pork gelatine. Consumers with dietary restrictions related to pork should always check the ingredient list of any specific Allen's product.

Allen's has introduced vegan-friendly options, including the Jubees range and the reformulated Jelly Beans. Look for the 'vegan-friendly' label on the packaging to be sure.

Gelatine is a setting agent derived from the collagen of animal bones, skin, and connective tissues through a boiling process. The most common sources are pork skin and cattle bones.

Vegan lollies use plant-based gelling agents such as agar-agar (from algae), pectin (from fruit), and carrageenan (from seaweed) to achieve their chewy texture.

No, carmine is not a vegan ingredient. It is a red food colouring derived from crushed cochineal beetles. When Allen's reformulated its Jelly Beans to be vegan, they replaced the carmine with plant-based alternatives like beetroot.

While gelatine is largely tasteless, different sources and production methods can slightly influence the final flavour profile or texture. However, flavour is primarily determined by other ingredients, and any differences are generally very subtle.