FAQ on Halal-Haram Foodstuff

Can I eat in fast food restaurants?

We assume the question concerns restaurants in predominantly non-Muslims societies. There are three basic considerations: one is the meat or poultry itself, another is the method of preparation and segregation and the third is the other items that combine to make up the meal.

Let's start with the other items. Most meals will have a bun or bread, some other additives, condiments, etc. One needs to be sure these items are Halal. That is not always the case for these items may contain animal derived ingredients.

Now let us consider the meat and poultry itself. There are some who interpret the ayah about the food of the People of the Book (Ahlul Kitab) to mean Muslims can eat the meat of Halal animals slaughtered by Christians and Jews. Others take the ayah about not eating meat that has not been slaughtered with the recitation of the name of ALLAH to mean if Ahlul Kitab do not recite the name of ALLAH during slaughter, then their meat is not acceptable. There does not seem to be a consensus. Others add the Hadith that what is Halal is clear and what is haram is clear, and that between these two ends are unclear things. The Hadith tells us that whoever avoids these unclear matters has protected himself from committing sin and whoever does not avoid them may fall into sin. They feel this means if it is not clearly Halal, then it is best to avoid it.

After all this is said, it may still leave room for personal consideration. At IFANCA, we have decided we will not certify meat that is slaughtered without Tasmiyyah, so we would not certify the meat and poultry used in most of these fast food restaurants.

As to the final matter of preparation and segregation, most restaurants serve pork products as well as beef and chicken. The degree to which they keep these products segregated and the way they handle them also has an impact on the final sandwich or meal. Unless they use clean gloves to prepare each sandwich or wash their hands after touching the haram items and before touching the non-haram items, they would contaminate the non-haram items. In addition, common grills are sometimes used, as well as common utensils, fryers, etc.

In conclusion, we would not certify the normal meals found in these restaurants. For IFANCA to certify them, they would have to:

1. have an acceptable supply of Halal meat and chicken, slaughtered by a Muslim who recites Tasmiyyah
2. have all the other items (bread, buns, etc.) certified Halal, frying oil, etc.
3. have procedures that prevent the cross contamination of Halal items by non-Halal items. This would require separate ovens, cookers, grills, preparation area, utensils, etc. for the Halal items.
4. IFANCA would also require the presence of a Muslim employee and training of all employees to an acceptable understanding of the requirements of Halal food preparation.

We are some distance from achieving this at present, however; as more Muslims demand Halal certified products, more food providers and restaurant owners will start to accommodate them.

And ALLAH, Subhanahu wa ta'ala, knows best.

What Is The Verdict On Halal And Haram Lists?

Halal and haram lists came into being because Muslims expressed a concern about the foods available in the marketplace. Concerned and educated Muslims decided to investigate various products and ingredients to provide guidance to other Muslims. The lists served the purpose of educating Muslim consumers about food ingredients and food products. Lists which discuss ingredients are useful in understanding product labels and making Halal choices. On the other hand, lists of specific products are not as useful because the status of the products can change at any time and this could lead to consuming haram products. Also a product brand which is Halal in one geographic region may contain haram ingredients in another region or country. That is why the Islamic Food And Nutrition Council Of America offers certification services to food providers. IFANCA will supervise the production facilities, provide Muslim slaughtermen, examine and approve ingredients and supervise the production to assure a product is Halal. When approved, IFANCA will issue a Halal certificate and allow the product to bear the Crescent M symbol on the package. This is the surest way to know the product in question is Halal.

And ALLAH, Subhanahu wa ta'ala, knows best.

Can I Eat The Food Served On Airlines?

Airlines offer a variety of meal choices to meet passenger needs. There are low salt meals, vegetarian meals, seafood meals and others. Some airlines even offer Muslim meals. In general, the Muslim meals are not certified by a qualified Halal certifying agency. This means it is not known if the meat and other ingredients are derived from Zabiha animals and are free of pork products and alcohol. Airlines will provide certified Halal meals when they see sufficient demand to justify it. Every Muslim traveler should request a Halal meal and if unavailable, the traveler should make sure the request is recorded so it can be considered in the future. Ask for a letter from the head of the food service section in response to your request for a Halal meal. That way, you can be sure your request has reached the decision-maker. After registering your request, you may have to opt for the seafood or vegetarian meal. Don't be surprised by ordering a Kosher meal, only to find it has been prepared in wine.

And ALLAH, Subhanahu wa ta'ala, knows best.

Isn't All Cheese Halal?

The production of cheese requires the use of enzymes to coagulate or curdle the milk and the addition of other ingredients for various functions. The enzymes can be derived from animal, vegetable or microbial sources. The animal sources include pigs and cattle. The enzyme derived from pigs is called pepsin, and is haram. Another enzyme derived from pigs or small cattle is lipase. (Lipase can also be made by microorganisms, which is Halal.)

One of the enzymes derived from the inner lining of the fourth stomach of calves is called rennet. It may come from Zabiha calves or non-Zabiha calves. The enzyme can also be produced microbial. Microbial enzymes are not derived from meat and are Halal.

And ALLAH, Subhanahu wa ta'ala, knows best.

What Is The Source Of Rennet?

Rennet is one of the enzymes used to make cheese. Rennet is a crude preparation containing dried, ground linings of the calf stomach. Rennet comes from the stomach of young calves. After the calf is slaughtered/killed, the stomach is removed, filled with milk and hanged to dry. After it dries, it is ground up to make crude extract of rennet, which is then purified or sold as is. If the calf was slaughtered according to Islamic requirements, the rennet will be Halal. Otherwise, it is not.

The active ingredient (enzyme) in rennet is chymosin. Today, purified chymosin is also manufactured through genetic modifications of microorganisms when chymosin gene from calf is duplicated and inserted into microbial cells. Calf rennet is still used by specialty cheese manufacturers. Moreover, pig enzymes, such as lipase, are still used in high flavor, ripened cheeses, like romano. Today, most cheeses in the North American markets are questionable. However, IFANCA has certified some specialty cheeses.

Most cheese products do not list the source of the enzyme, so one must ask the producer where they enzyme comes from. Of course, it is possible the source will change without notification. Finally, cheese products may contain many other ingredients, which must also be examined.

If an ingredient label states the product contains rennet, that means it came from the animal source. As such, items containing rennet must be considered questionable for the Halal-consumer until the source is known. If the source calf was not processed according to Islamic law, the product is not acceptable for Halal consumption. In general, most rennet produced in the US comes from calves which have not been prodessed in accordance with Islamic requirements, so it is not acceptable.

If the product containing the rennet is Halal certified, that means the source of the rennet should be Halal. And ALLAH, Subhanahu wa ta'ala, knows best.

Is Chocolate Liquor Haram?

No. Chocolate liquor is a sweet syrup containing chocolate, sugar and other ingredients. It is used in making candy, drinks and other chocolate flavored products. It does not contain any alcohol, so it is not haram.

And ALLAH, Subhanahu wa ta'ala, knows best.

Can We Eat Gelatin?

Gelatin is a protein product obtained from the collagen of vertebrates, including pigs, cattle, and fish. It is recovered by hydrolysis. The main raw materials used today are pigskins, cattle bones and cattle hide. Of these, the most common source is pigskins.

Gelatin is used in the preparation of baked goods, ice cream, yogurt, jellies and gelatin jello. It is also used in the medical and pharmaceutical industry. Gelatin has other non-food uses, such as photographic film and carbonless paper.

If the word gelatin appears on a label without reference to its source, it is generally derived from pig skins and cattle bones, so it must be avoided.

It is possible to produce Halal gelatin by using the bones and hides of Halal slaughtered cattle. In such a case, the gelatin would be certified Halal and labeled as Halal gelatin. IFANCA certified Halal gelatin made from fish bones or Halal slaughtered cattle is now available for the food and pharmaceutical industry.

And ALLAH, Subhanahu wa ta'ala, knows best.

Are Kosher products Halal?

This is a question that comes up once in a while. Let us take the time to provide a thorough analysis. In Islam, Halal means ‘lawful’ or ‘permitted’ and refers to all matters of life, not just food. In the same way, haram means ‘unlawful’ or ‘prohibited’ and refers to all matters of life, not just food. So it is proper to refer to pure foods, marriage to a cousin, having marital relations during the nights of Ramadan, etc. as being Halal. In the same light, it is proper to refer to pork, marriage to your sister or brother, hunting while in the Sacred Precincts or in Pilgrim garb (for Haj or Umrah), shameful deeds, etc. as being haram.

When it comes to meat and poultry, Muslims also use the term Zabiha (Dhabiha) to refer to meat from a Halal animal slaughtered by a Muslim in the prescribed Islamic way. (Meat from haram animals does not become Halal, even if it is slaughtered in the prescribed Islamic way. And a Muslim would never slaughter a haram animal.)

Kosher is a term associated only with food. It has a similar meaning as Halal does in the context of food, but there are also many differences. Some of the differences are listed below:

• Islam prohibits all intoxicants, including alcohols, liquors and wines, whereas Judaism regards alcohol and wines as Kosher. Hence Kosher foods may contain alcohol. If they do, they are haram.
• Gelatin is considered Kosher by many Jews regardless of its source of origin. For Muslims, if gelatin is prepared from swine it is haram. Even if gelatin is prepared from cows that are not Zabiha, many scholars consider it haram.
• Kosher practice does not require Jews to pronounce the name of God on the animals while slaughtering, but Muslims must pronounce the name of ALLAH on all animals while slaughtering.

There may be other differences between Halal and Kosher that make the Kosher questionable for Muslims to consume.

These differences may seem minor to some. However, indulging in haram is a very serious offense against ALLAH and the punishment may be severe. Consuming alcohol or pork is a clear violation of ALLAH’s commandments and should not be taken lightly. The pronouncement of the name of ALLAH at the time of slaughter is also a major act of worship and obedience. Remembering and pronouncing the name of ALLAH is very dear to Muslims and it is required at the time of slaughter. Not only is it an act of worship. It also is the key to many blessings and bounties. One can easily taste the difference in meat slaughtered while pronouncing the name of ALLAH and meat slaughtered without pronouncing the name of ALLAH.

And ALLAH, Subhanahu wa ta'ala, knows best.

Is Lecithin Halal?

Lecithin is an emulsifier. It is found in plants such as soybeans, egg yolks and animal sources. As we discussed earlier, emulsifiers are compounds used to keep oils or fats and water dispersed in one phase (i.e., they prevent oil and water from separating).

If the lecithin is derived from plants, egg yolks or Halal animals slaughtered according to Islamic Law, it is Halal. Otherwise it is not. While most lecithin produced in the USA is currently derived from soybeans, it is still possible it might come from animal sources.

Unless the ingredient label says soya lecithin or vegetable lecithin, you need to check with the producer to determine the source.

And ALLAH, Subhanahu wa ta'ala, knows best.

Are Mono And Di-Glycerides Halal?

Mono and di-glycerides are fatty substances that are used as emulsifiers. Emulsifiers are compounds used to keep oils or fats and water dispersed in one phase (i.e., they prevent oil and water from separating).

Mono and di-glycerides can be derived from animal or vegetable sources. When derived from vegetable sources, they are Halal. When derived from animal sources, they are questionable. More information is required to determine if they are Halal. If the animal is a Halal animal processed according to Islamic law, and all the subsequent processing qualifies for Halal, then they would be Halal. Otherwise, they are haram.

Presently, Halal consumers should avoid them unless they are labeled as 100% vegetable mono and di-glycerides.

Mono and di-glycerides are used in a wide variety of products, including baked goods, peanut butter, margarine, shortening and other products.

And ALLAH, Subhanahu wa ta'ala, knows best.

Is Yellow No. 5 Halal?

Yellow No. 5 and all other numbered dyes (colors) are made from petrochemicals. In their pure form, they are Halal. However, when used in food products they may be mixed with other doubtful or haram ingredients, such as gelatin. Sometimes non-dye ingredients may be added to dissolve or disperse the dye so that it can be applied in a drink, hard candy or other food product. Finally, standardizing ingredients may also be added to help control the concentration of the dye being used. This causes some doubt about products containing these dyes.

To determine if the product containing the dye is Halal, you need to ask the manufacturer of the product what the other components of the dye are and where they come from?

Of course, if the product containing the dye is certified Halal, then it would be acceptable.

And ALLAH, Subhanahu wa ta'ala, knows best.

Source: http://www.ifanca.org/faq/