Is It Kosher? M&Ms sold in the United States are certified kosher dairy by the Orthodox Union, so the bag carries an OU-D. M&Ms made for the UK and much of Europe are a different story: they are not kosher certified, and the red coating often uses carmine (E120), an insect-derived dye. The country on the back of the bag matters more than the brand on the front.
Is It Kosher? Sour Patch Kids are kosher when the package carries a recognized hechsher, and the classic American version is certified pareve by the Orthodox Union. The catch is that certification lives on the bag, not on the brand name, so the symbol has to actually be there.
Is It Kosher? Standard Jell-O gelatin dessert is not kosher certified in United States stores, because it is made with gelatin that is usually animal-derived and carries no reliable symbol. A box is kosher only when it clearly shows a trusted hechsher. If you keep kosher, a certified gelatin dessert is the safer choice.
Is It Kosher? Gummy bears are kosher only when they carry a reliable hechsher, and most ordinary bags do not. The chew usually comes from gelatin, which is often sourced from non-kosher animals. Certified kosher gummy bears do exist, so the real skill is reading the package.
Is It Kosher? In the US, Skittles no longer contain gelatin and the ingredients read as pareve, yet the standard bag carries no kosher symbol. Without a hechsher, a careful kosher shopper treats them as uncertified rather than kosher. Recipes also change by country, so the answer depends on the exact bag.
Is It Kosher? Haribo is kosher only when the specific bag carries a trusted kosher symbol. Most standard Haribo gummies are not kosher, because they are made with pork gelatin. Certified Haribo lines do exist, so the mark on that exact package is what decides it.