Guide to Halal Foods

Guide to Halal Foods

Islam is a mosaic, not a monolith– Muslim people come from all over the world with varied food cultures and dietary preferences. 83% of American Muslims follow a Halal diet.

One of our values at FamilyWorks is to design programs with input and leadership from the communities we serve. One way to integrate this feedback is to have more purchasing of Halal foods, as well as more education for staff and volunteers on Halal foods. Increasing our understanding of culturally appropriate foods helps us meet the needs of the communities we work with. We try to take into consideration each person’s perspective of their own cultural and religious practice.

Halal dietary laws are derived from the Quran, the Hadith (teachings of the Prophet Muhammad), and centuries of interpretation by Islamic scholars. These laws define what is permissible (Halal) and what is forbidden (Haram). While some foods, such as pork, are universally recognized as Haram, other ingredients, such as certain enzymes or flavorings, require more careful consideration.

It is important to remember that individual preferences may vary. This guide offers general tips and guidelines to help you navigate Halal dietary requirements, but always consider each person’s perspective of their own cultural and religious practice. When in doubt, ask participants or group leaders about any specific dietary needs they may have.

Useful definitions:

Halal – lawful or permitted. Foods and beverages that are Halal comply with Islamic dietary laws.

Haram – not permitted

Zabihah – an animal product that is slaughtered according to Islamic dietary laws

The distinction between Halal and Haram is not always straightforward, as it involves various factors including the source of the food, how it is prepared, and the presence of certain ingredients.

FAQ:

Is halal the same as kosher?

No. Kosher and halal diets both have set strict guidelines regarding which foods are allowed and restricted based on religious teachings, but many halal foods are not kosher, and vice versa.

Do all Muslims eat halal?

No. Islam is not a monolith. 83% of Muslims in the United States follow a halal diet.

If someone keeps a halal diet, can they only eat food with the halal label?

No– many foods are halal without being labeled as such.

Best practices for food bank staff and volunteers:

  • Food traditions and dietary habits are affected by religion and culture. Be aware that food bank participants might have varied dietary needs.
  • Display the halal certification symbol and food ingredient labels
  • Provide halal meat, fish, and vegetarian proteins.
  • Read food labels carefully and regularly, as ingredients can change without notice.

Halal

Haram

Grains

Rice, pasta, and any grain product (bread, breakfast cereal, or baked goods) prepared without Haram ingredients

Any grain products prepared with Haram ingredients, such as alcohol, animal fat or shortening, lard or pure and artificial vanilla extract

Produce

All fruit and vegetables (fresh, frozen, canned, and dried) without Haram ingredients

Any fruit or vegetable prepared with alcohol, animal fat or shortening, bacon, gelatin, lard, or margarines containing some margarines with mono- or di-glycerides from an animal source

Dairy

Milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream, and other dairy made with bacterial culture or microbial enzymes, e.g.microbial rennet

Milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream, and other dairy made with vegetable rennet, gelatin, lipase, pepsin, pure or artificial vanilla extract, or whey

Protein

Meat and poultry slaughtered according to Zabihah (Islamic dietary law), seafood, nuts, seeds, tofu, dried beans, peas and lentils, eggs, peanut butter, and Halal deli meats

Pork and pork products (e.g. bacon, deli meat, ham, sausage), meat and poultry not slaughtered according to Zabihah (Islamic dietary law), canned beans, peas or lentils containing pork, and any protein prepared with alcohol, pork products or animal fat or shortening

Other

Beverages: carbonated drinks, fruit juice, tea and coffee
Fats and oils: butter, margarine, mayonnaise, vegetable oils and some salad dressings
Miscellaneous: chutneys, coconut milk, jam, pickles, spices, desserts with agar or carrageenan base
Sweeteners: honey, sugar, syrup, chocolate liquor (roasted ground cocoa bean syrup)

Beverages: beer, wine, alcohol, liqueur
Fats and oils: animal shortening, lard Miscellaneous:chocolates/candies made with alcohol or pure or artificial vanilla extract, gelatin
Sweeteners: chocolate liqueur (made from alcohol)

Halal

Rice, pasta, and any grain product (bread, breakfast cereal, or baked goods) prepared without Haram ingredients

All fruit and vegetables (fresh, frozen, canned, and dried) without Haram ingredients

Milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream, and other dairy made with bacterial culture or microbial enzymes, e.g.microbial rennet

Meat and poultry slaughtered according to Zabihah (Islamic dietary law), seafood, nuts, seeds, tofu, dried beans, peas and lentils, eggs, peanut butter, and Halal deli meats

Beverages: carbonated drinks, fruit juice, tea and coffee
Fats and oils: butter, margarine, mayonnaise, vegetable oils and some salad dressings
Miscellaneous: chutneys, coconut milk, jam, pickles, spices, desserts with agar or carrageenan base
Sweeteners: honey, sugar, syrup, chocolate liquor (roasted ground cocoa bean syrup)

Haram

Any grain products prepared with Haram ingredients, such as alcohol, animal fat or shortening, lard or pure and artificial vanilla extract

Any fruit or vegetable prepared with alcohol, animal fat or shortening, bacon, gelatin, lard, or margarines containing some margarines with mono- or di-glycerides from an animal source

Milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream, and other dairy made with vegetable rennet, gelatin, lipase, pepsin, pure or artificial vanilla extract, or whey

Pork and pork products (e.g. bacon, deli meat, ham, sausage), meat and poultry not slaughtered according to Zabihah (Islamic dietary law), canned beans, peas or lentils containing pork, and any protein prepared with alcohol, pork products or animal fat or shortening

Beverages: beer, wine, alcohol, liqueur
Fats and oils: animal shortening, lard
Miscellaneous: chocolates/candies made with alcohol or pure or artificial vanilla extract, gelatin
Sweeteners: chocolate liqueur (made from alcohol)

Ingredients to Avoid

No chart can list every possible food which may contain haram ingredients. Please check labels carefully and regularly.

Ingredients to avoid

Sources

May be found in:

Alcohol

Wine, beer, or spirits

Alcoholic drinks, desserts, confections, packaged foods, combination foods

Animal shortening

Pork, non-Zabilah beef

Combination foods, baked products, desserts

Broth

Pork, non-Zabilah beef

Soups, sauces, other combination foods

Gelatin

Pork, non-Zabilah beef

Some desserts, candy, baked goods, ice cream, molded puddings, yogurt

Ham, bacon

Pork

Canned beans, deli meats, frozen dinners, processed foods, soups, Caesar salad, salad dressings

Lard

Pork

Bread, crackers, pies, baked products

L-cysteine

Pork, non-Zabilah beef

Dough, flour

Lipase

Pork

Cheese, processed cheese, products containing cheese or yogurt

Mono- and di-glycerides

Pork, non-Zabilah beef

Bread, baked products, processed foods, animal shortening and some margarines

Pepsin

Pork

Cheese, yogurt

Rennet

Pork, non-Zabilah beef

Cheese, yogurt

Sodium stearoyl-lactylate

Pork, non-Zabilah beef

Bread

Vanilla extract

Pure or artificial vanilla extract

Baked products, confections, desserts, candies

Whey

Milk

Cheese, crackers, combination foods

Alcohol

Sources: Wine, beer, or spirits

May be found in: Alcoholic drinks, desserts, confections, packaged foods, combination foods

Animal shortening

Sources: Pork, non-Zabilah beef

May be found in: Combination foods, baked products, desserts

Broth

Sources: Pork, non-Zabilah beef

May be found in: Soups, sauces, other combination foods

Gelatin

Sources: Pork, non-Zabilah beef

May be found in: Some desserts, candy, baked goods, ice cream, molded puddings, yogurt

Ham, bacon

Sources: Pork

May be found in: Canned beans, deli meats, frozen dinners, processed foods, soups, Caesar salad, salad dressings

Lard

Sources: Pork

May be found in: Bread, crackers, pies, baked products

L-cysteine

Sources: Pork, non-Zabilah beef

May be found in: Dough, flour

Lipase

Sources: Pork

May be found in: Cheese, processed cheese, products containing cheese or yogurt

Mono- and di-glycerides

Sources: Pork, non-Zabilah beef

May be found in: Bread, baked products, processed foods, animal shortening and some margarines

Pepsin

Sources: Pork

May be found in: Cheese, yogurt

Rennet

Sources: Pork, non-Zabilah beef

May be found in: Cheese, yogurt

Sodium stearoyl-lactylate

Sources: Pork, non-Zabilah beef

May be found in: Bread

Vanilla extract

Sources: Pure or artificial vanilla extract

May be found in: Baked products, confections, desserts, candies

Whey

Sources: Milk

May be found in: Cheese, crackers, combination foods