Does Nerds Rope Candy Contain Pork Gelatin? Examining This Chewy Candy’s Ingredients

People have been eating Nerds for a long time. They have crunchy candy shells and sweet, chewy centers. Since the 1980s, lunchboxes have always had the cool, two-tone Nerds boxes full of tiny, tangy treats. But a question that comes up a lot is “Do Nerds ropes have pork gelatin?”

For those avoiding pork products for dietary, religious or personal reasons, it’s an important question to answer before biting into a chewy Nerds rope. Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients behind Nerds candy to find out.

A Brief Background on Nerds

Nerds candy was first introduced in 1983 by Nestle’s Willy Wonka brand. The original format was small, crunchy candies flavored in grape and strawberry Since then, Nerds have expanded into a wide range of flavors, formats, and off-shoots like Nerds Ropes

The tiny crunchy candies are made of sweetened syrup hardened around cornstarch or tapioca starch. The starch core gives them their signature texture – hard and brittle on the outside, with a softer, chewier interior when you bite into them.

This combination of textures is part of what makes Nerds so addictively fun to eat The candy coating adds satisfying crunch, while the soft core yields to your bite.

Do Classic Nerds Contain Pork Gelatin?

Official Nerds ingredients list says that the classic boxed candies do not have any animal gelatin or pork gelatin in them.

The ingredient list for original crunchy Nerds candies is:

• Sugar
• Corn syrup
• Starch (corn or tapioca)
• Less than 2% of: Citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, Red 40, Yellow 6, Red 40 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Blue 2 Lake, Blue 1 Lake, Yellow 5, Yellow 6.

So the regular small Nerds are gelatin-free and suitable for vegetarian, kosher, and halal diets.

However, Some Nerds Ropes Do Contain Pork Gelatin

While the original Nerds are gelatin-free, some varieties of Nerds Ropes do contain pork gelatin.

Nerds Ropes are a twisted, rope-like version of Nerds that have a soft, chewy texture thanks to the addition of gelatin. Nerds Ropes come in a variety of flavors and colors like Cherry-Grape, Blue Raspberry-Strawberry, Orange-Lemonade, and Tropical Punch.

Here are the ingredients for Nerds Ropes Orange-Lemonade flavor as listed online:

• Sugar, Corn Syrup, Citric Acid, Palm Kernel Oil, Artificial Flavor, Cornstarch, FD&C Yellow 5, FD&C Yellow 6. Contains 2% or less of: Pork Gelatin,Carnauba Wax.

The spicy cinnamon flavored Hot N’ Nerdy Nerds Ropes also contain pork gelatin as do other flavors. So vegetarians, vegans, and those avoiding pork will want to avoid Nerds Ropes.

Some Nerds Ropes Are Gelatin-Free

However, not all Nerds Ropes flavors contain pork gelatin. Certain varieties are gelatin-free, making them suitable for vegetarian diets.

For example, the ingredients for Nerds Ropes Rainbow Punch flavor lists:

• Sugar, corn syrup, citric acid, palm kernel oil, natural and artificial flavor, cornstarch, FD&C Red 40, FD&C Yellow 5, FD&C Yellow 6, FD&C Blue 1.

No gelatin is included. The same applies to Nerds Ropes in flavors like Concession Stand Mix and Berry Blast.

So for Nerds Ropes, it requires checking each flavor’s ingredients to know if pork gelatin was added or not. Overall, about half of Nerds Ropes are gelatin-free at the time of writing.

Why Do Some Candies Contain Pork Gelatin?

Pork gelatin is a common ingredient used to impart a chewy, gummy texture to candy. It is produced by boiling collagen-rich tissues from pigs’ skin and bones. The collagen is extracted and dried into powdered or sheet form.

Some key properties of gelatin that make it useful in candy:

• Forms thermally reversible gels that melt in the mouth
• Binds water which keeps candy like Nerds Ropes soft and moist
• Allows gel candies to be flavored and colored
• Stabilizes foams like marshmallow

For large-scale candy manufacturing, pork derived gelatin is often used instead of other sources like beef gelatin or vegan alternatives like pectin or agar. Using pork provides certain technical advantages like better melting properties in the mouth. Plus, it is cost-effective compared to some vegan options.

Many major brands like Starburst, Swedish Fish, Jelly Bellies, Mike and Ikes, and now Nerds Ropes use pork gelatin to achieve the perfect chewy texture expected in gel-based candies.

How To Identify Other Candies With Hidden Gelatin

Reading ingredient lists carefully is key to finding hidden pork gelatin in candy. Watch out for terms like:

• Gelatin
  -Pork gelatin
  -Beef gelatin
  -Hydrolyzed collagen or protein
  -Amino acids

Gelatin derived from beef is also common but avoided by certain religious groups as well as vegetarians. There are also synthetic gelatin alternatives made that are vegan, but these will be specifically labeled as such.

Some candies that often contain pork or beef gelatin include:

• Gummy bears
• Marshmallows
• Jelly beans
• Caramels
• Cream candies
• Licorice

Checking labels carefully or choosing certified Halal/Kosher candies is the best way for vegetarians, vegans, and those avoiding pork to identify gelatin-free options.

To summarize:

• Original small Nerds are gelatin-free and vegetarian friendly.

• However, about half of Nerds Ropes flavors contain pork gelatin as an ingredient.

• Spicy, chewy Nerds Ropes like Hot N’ Nerdy do contain pork gelatin.

• But some Nerds Ropes are gelatin-free – check ingredient lists to confirm.

So if you’re looking to avoid pork products, be sure to read the fine print on Nerds Rope packaging. While the classic crunchy Nerds are in the clear, the chewy ropes require closer inspection to separate the gelatin-free varieties from those containing pork. With an awareness of brands, ingredients, and alternatives, candy lovers can find plenty of pork-free options to satisfy their cravings.