Halal:

The Halal status is given to a food product on the following basis:

1. The food product is made from only pure Halal ingredients with Halal processing aid or hidden
ingredients and no natural or artificial flavors (except those in which alcohol was not used as
solvent).
2. The Halal food product is NOT made with pork, pork-by-products, bacon, ham, lard, pig enzymes,
any other meat-by-products, any other ingredients such as:
Gelatin from pork and non zabiha cow
Kosher Gelatin except fish gelatin
L-Cysteine made from human hair or chicken or duck feathers
Wine
Liquor
Beer batter
Rum flavor
Ethyl Alcohol as a main ingredient appears on the ingredient list
Cochineal or Carmine, a red color from insects
Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce ( A alcoholic fermented product containing 1-2% alcohol)
Yeast Extract or Autolyzed Yeast made from brewer yeast, a by-product of beer making
Torula Yeast grown on alcohol
Nucleotides (building block of nucleic acid) are obtained from yeast cells grown on alcohol,
used in Infant Milk formulas to help babies build a good immune, digestive system and
decreased incident of diarrhea
Vanilla Extract which must contain minimum of 35% Alcohol by US FDA regulation
Wine Vinegar because there will leftover wine which is not converted to vinegar
If ethyl alcohol is used as a solvent in natural or artificial flavors.

3. Confectionary Glaze or Resinous Glaze made with Shellac which is dissolve in alcohol and then
alcohol is evaporated.
4. Carrageenan, if ethyl alcohol was used during processing for crystallization.
5. Natural Vanilla or Natural Vanilla Flavor (because Alcohol is used in its extraction).
6. Halal or Genuine Kosher certification is also used as criteria for assigning the Halal status for a
food product, which meets the Islamic dietary requirements. Because no Halal certified food
products are available throughout USA except few such MCG Halal certified Seneca Foods Apple
Chips and few from other organizations. The use of genuine Kosher certified food products as Halal
is for temporary period only until the Halal symbol carrying food products are available in
supermarkets throughout USA. Not all Kosher certified food products are Halal. The only one is
Halal, which meets the Islamic dietary requirements.

Halal If No Alcohol Used In Flavors:

The criterion for food products under this category is the same as the Halal category except the
food products here are made with natural or artificial flavors. The natural and artificial flavors used
in these food products may or may not contain alcohol as a solvent. It is beyond our scope to find
each food product in this category, which may or may not be made with alcohol containing flavors.
We request our brothers and sisters to call manufacturers to find out about alcohol in flavors.

Not Halal:

The following food products are included in this category:

1. The Haram food products that are made with pork-by-product ingredients and wine.
2. The food products that are made with kosher gelatin and bear the kosher symbol K but did not
meet the Islamic dietary requirements.
3. The Haram food products that are made with pork gelatin and bear the kosher symbol K.
4. The products made with ingredients derived from non-zabiha meat byproducts.
5. The products made from fat based ingredients without Halal or kosher certification and with no
guarantee they meet the Islamic dietary requirements.
6. The products that are made from natural and artificial flavors which are not Halal or Kosher
certified with or without alcohol as a solvent.
7. The products that are made with alcoholic fermentation and may contain 2-3 % alcohol such as
naturally brewed soy sauce.
8. The products that are made with human hair L- Cysteine with or without kosher certification.
9. The products that are made with questionable ingredients and whose source are not verified as
Halal.
10. The products, which are kosher certified and bear kosher symbol but do not meet the Islamic
dietary requirements.
11. The products made with ingredients derived from non-zabiha beef byproduct such beef gelatin.
12. The products made from fat based ingredients without kosher symbols.
13. The products that are made from natural and artificial flavors which are not certified as Kosher
with or without alcohol as a solvent.
14. The products that are made with alcoholic fermentation and may contain 2-3 % alcohol such as
naturally brewed soya sauce.
15. The products that are made with human hair L- cysteine with or without kosher certification.
16. The products that are made with questionable ingredients and whose source has not been
verified.
17. The products that are made under kosher certification and bear kosher symbol on food product
but do not meet the Islamic dietary requirements.

Facts about Food Ingredients And Food Products

1. Gelatin:
Gelatin is a water soluble protein obtained from bone, skin of beef, fish and pork. It is used as a gelling
agent in foods and used in the capsule. Jell-o gelatin products are made with pork and beef gelatin. A
K Kosher symbol appears on the package. The Kosher Certifying Organization considered it Kosher
because the Pork skins & bones used to make gelatin are not in original form in gelatin. Gelatin is not
considered Halal unless it is made from Zabiha slaughtered animals or from fish.

2. Kosher Gelatin:
There are two type of kosher gelatin; one is made from non Kosher slaughtered cows and the other is
made from pork with a K kosher symbol on mostly yogurts. Kosher gelatin is not a Halal ingredient.
Muslims should avoid yogurts and other products made from kosher gelatin.

3. L-Cysteine:
A non essential Amino acid used as dough conditioners in bagels & other product is made from human
hairs, non Zabiha chicken/duck feathers, from synthetic process and fermentation process. L-Cysteine
made from fermentation process or made by synthetic method is considered Halal.

4. Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce:

Soy Sauce containing Soy, wheat as ingredients are made just like wine and it is an alcoholic fermentation
type product containing 2% alcohol. It is used in many food products and Chinese foods. But Non Naturally
brewed soy sauce such as La Choy Brand All Purpose Soy Sauce is Halal made from Hydrolyzed Soy Protein,
Corn Syrup, and Water & Salt.

5. Yeast Extract or Autolyzed Yeast:

Yeast extract or autolyzed yeast can be made from brewer yeast after it is taken out from beer making
or it can also be made from bakers yeast. Only Baker yeast extract is Halal. Baker Yeast extract is used
in soup and other products for meaty flavor. Brewer yeast extract is used in cheese and cheese cracker
for bitter taste.

6. Pork or Beef Gelatin in Apple Juice:

During apple juice processing coarse solids & colloidal material are removed to make apple juice looks
clear. Pork or beef gelatin tannin precipitation is still used in USA & Europe to filter solids in apple
juice processing. So we recommend buying only apple juice with Kosher Symbol OU on the bottle. It will
certify that no gelatin is used in apple juice processing.

7. Torula Yeast:
Torula Yeast is appearing in many potato chips. It is grown on sugar cane molasses or alcohol so this
ingredient is Mashbooh.

8. Nucleotide in Infant Formula:

Nucleotide is the structural unit of nucleotide chain forming nucleic acid as RNA & DNA. It consists of
nuclei base, a pentose sugar and a phosphate. It plays an important role in energy transport and enzyme
regulation. It is obtained from yeast cells which grow and multiply in ethyl alcohol and alcohol penetrates
into yeast cells and remains there. So it is not considered Halal because of alcohol.

9. Cochineal or Carmine Red Color:

It is obtained from insects and all insect except locust are Haram in Hanafi Mazhab.

10. Alcohol in flavors:

Alcohol, oil, water, propylene glycol are used as a solvent in natural or artificial flavors. It is considered
as a processing aid ingredient or hidden ingredient and will not appear on the ingredients statement.
Only flavor house & food companies who used in their products know which solvent is used in flavors.
Usually high fat products such as higher percent vegetable oil margarine do not use alcohol as a solvent
in the artificial flavor. All natural and vegetable juices contain very minute amounts of alcohol produced
during natural ripening, this minute amount is not considered as Haram. But added alcohol as a solvent
in flavors does not meet the Islamic dietary requirements. Muslim consumers should always use the 800
number to confirm the status of added alcohol as a solvent in flavors.

11. Flavor:
A flavor has to be considered Halal if it is made from Halal ingredient without alcohol and bares a Halal
or Kosher symbol on the package containing flavors. Please do not buy products without symbol on the
package if it contains flavor.

12. Natural Flavoring:

Natural flavoring is also a name given to those spice extracts ingredients such as oleoresin of black
peppers and others. Usually acetone is used as extracting chemical which is a Halal ingredient. Natural
flavoring is used in sauces such as BBQ sauce, Tomato Ketchup.

13. Cheese:
Rennet is not the only criteria to decide Halal status of a cheese or cheese by product such as whey or
lactose. Many Halal food websites use only this criterion to give Halal status to cheese and whey which
is not correct. Even with microbial rennet, Haram starter culture media can be used to grow starter
culture bacteria which are added to milk for flavor & texture before adding microbial rennet. In this case
the cheese is not considered Halal because of a Hadith mentioned in introduction. For a cheese to be
Halal it has to be under Halal or Kosher Certification only.
14. Vitamins:
Vitamins available on the counter are not Halal except Kosher certified Solgar, Landau and Maxi-Health.
These Vitamins are available in some specific pharmacies or available through their websites or natural
food stores.

15. Vanilla Extract:

Vanilla Extract is not considered as a Halal ingredient because legally it must contains minimum of 35%
ethyl alcohol. Vanilla Extract is mostly used in ice cream and cookies.

16. Sugar Alcohol:

The sugar alcohols are made from plant carbohydrates except Lactitol which can be made from sucrose
or whey and all the sugar alcohols are Halal except if Lactittol is made from non Halal whey. But if
Lactitol is made from sucrose then it is Halal. There is no ethyl alcohol present in them. Alcohol is just
the name because of chemical formulas.

17. Vanilla Beans or Crushed Vanilla Beans:

Pure vanilla beans are Halal and available at spice aisle under McCormick brand. Some ice creams contain
vanilla beans or crushed vanilla beans. They are Halal only if they are obtained before extraction with
alcohol. If they are obtained as left over after extracting with alcohol then vanilla beans or crushed
vanilla beans are not Halal.

18. Natural flavor or natural flavoring in unsalted butter:

Natural flavoring in unsalted butter is called Starter Distillate and it contains Diacetyl. Besides diacetyl,
starter distillate contains minor amounts of acetaldehyde, ethyl formate, ethyl acetate, acetone, ethyl
alcohol, 2-butanone, acetic acid and acetoin. So MCG does not consider it as Halal.

19. Confectionary Glaze:

Confectionary Glazes are available to food companies in various concentration. They are the alcohol
solutions of different types of food grade Shellac. Different amounts of Shellac are dissolved in one gallon
of ethyl alcohol. Then alcohol is evaporated. The benefit of use of confectionary glazes on certain food
products is to have good appearance, increase shelf life, moisture protection and avoid coated products
sticking together in package. Confectionary glazes are also available in different colors and these colored
confectionary glazes are used in decorating cakes and ice cream. MCG considered it as not Halal food
ingredient.

20. Vitamin A and Vitamin D in Milk:

Vitamin A in milk is made by reacting calcium carbonate with water and then esterified with palmitic
acid. Vitamin D3 is produced from sheep wools lanolin without slaughtering the sheep. Vitamins Mix for
milk fortification also contains hidden ingredients which do not appear on the milk bottle. They are
polysorabate 80 a fat based emulsifier, water, propylene glycol and sodium benzoate. The Vitamins Mix
both in USA and Canada is kosher certified and Halal. It means the plamitic acid is from vegetable fat,
the lanolin is Halal, the polysorbate 80 is from soy fat, propylene glycol is a Halal solvent, the sodium
benzoate is a Halal chemical. So all milk is Halal.

20. Carrageenan:
It is a seaweed gum. Ethyl Alcohol or Isopropyl Alcohol or Potassium Chloride or nothing is used during it
processing of Carrageenan. It is a Mashbooh ingredient and not Halal if Ethyl Alcohol is used.
21. Pectin:
Pectin is a gum obtained from citrus peel. Fruit Pectin is Halal only if Isopropyl alcohol is used to
crystallize it during its processing but if alcohol is used then it is not Halal although no alcohol left in
pectin powder. It is a Mashbooh ingredient.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Halal status of Mono & Diglycerides:

Mono & Diglycerides are fat based emulsifier and are made by reacting glycerol (fat based) with fats and
oils. Monoglycerides can be made from beef or pork or soybean fat. Only soybean and zabiha slaughtered
cow fat based Mono & Diglyceries are Halal. A Halal or Kosher symbol (which meets the Islamic dietary
requirements) on a food package containing Mono & Diglycerides indicates that it is obtained from
soybean fat.

2. Is Whey a Halal ingredient?

Muslims think that whey is a milk based ingredient, it has to be Halal but the answer is no. There are two
kinds of whey, one is sweet or rennet whey and other is acid whey. Acid whey is obtained during the
making of acid type of cheese such as cottage cheese. Sweet or rennet whey is used more in food products
than acid whey. Sweet whey or rennet whey is a by-product of rennet cheese such as cheddar cheese.
Whey is portion of milk remaining after coagulation and removal of curd. Whey is Halal only if the Halal
starter culture bacteria, Halal medium on which starter culture is grown (Starter culture bacteria are
Halal if they are obtained from milk source not meat source and media on which these starter culture
bacteria are grown has to be made from Halal ingredients such milk), microbial rennet, microbial lipase
enzyme, Halal color, Halal flavor has added to milk. These requirements can only be obtained if the
cheese and whey are Halal or Kosher certified (which meet the Islamic dietary requirements). A Halal or
Kosher symbol (which meet the Islamic dietary requirements) on a food package containing whey
indicates that it is manufactured under Halal or Kosher supervision. Whey is Halal only if it is Halal or
Kosher certified.

3. FD&C yellow No. 5 or FD&C red No. 40 colors:

FD&C yellow No. 5 or FD&C red No. 40 are chemical dyes and lakes. They are Halal if used as pure
granular or powder form but if they are used in liquid form then the solvent has to be Halal because
vegetable oil or glycerin (from pork or beef or vegetable fat) can be used as a solvent to mix these colors
in liquid products. A Halal or Kosher symbol (which meet the Islamic dietary requirements) on a food
package containing these colors indicates that no pork or beef fat glycerin was used as a solvent.

4. Halal status of L-Cysteine:

A non essential amino acid is used as dough conditioner in bagels, pizza, bread, hard rolls. L-Cysteine is
manufactured from human hair (Haram source), non zabiha or dead chicken/duck feathers and from
synthetic source or fermentation sources. MCG considered it Halal if it is made from synthetic or
fermentation source.

5. Are all apple juice brands Halal?

No, only those apple juice brands which bear a Kosher symbol on the container are considered Halal
because it indicates no pork gelatin is used as filtering material for a clear apple juice.
6. Are all natural or artificial flavors Halal?
No, in order for a natural or artificial flavor to be Halal, it has to be made from Halal flavoring material
and no ethyl alcohol is used as a solvent. A Kosher symbol (which meet the Islamic dietary requirements)
on a food package containing natural or artificial flavor indicates that it is manufactured from Halal
flavoring material but ethyl alcohol may or may not be used as a solvent. It requires further investigation
from food manufacturer to confirm that no alcohol is used as a solvent.

7. Halal Status of chocolate Liquor:

Chocolate Liquor is manufactured from grinding the cocoa nibs from cocoa beans. It is a Halal ingredient
and does not contain any liquor or alcohol.

8. Is Vanilla Extract a Halal ingredient?

No, Vanilla Extract is used as a flavor and it is made from vanilla bean extract. It contains minimum of
35% ethyl alcohol otherwise it will not be called as vanilla extract according FDA regulation.

9. Halal status of Yeast Extract or autolyzed Yeast:

If the yeast extract or autolyzed yeast is made from bakers yeast then it is a Halal ingredient. But if it
is made from brewers yeast as a by-product of beer making then it is not considered Halal because beer
can penetrate in the yeast cells and never convert to any other things. Autolyzed Yeast Extract or Yeast
Extract from beer is used mostly in cheese and crackers to provide bitterness according to food industry
experts. Autolyzed Yeast Extract from baker yeast is used in food products such as soups and other
products to give meaty taste without adding meat.

10. Which Vinegar is considered as Halal?

Distilled white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, malt vinegar, corn (Maize) sugar vinegar are considered
Halal. Wine Vinegar and Balsamic vinegar are not considered Halal because of left over wine in the wine
vinegar.

11. Processing Aid Ingredients or Hidden ingredients in food products and food
ingredients:
FDA will allow up to 2% of processing aid ingredients or hidden ingredients in a food product or in a food
ingredient without reporting in the ingredients statement. Only Halal or Kosher certified food products
which meet the Islamic dietary requirements protect Muslim consumers from Haram processing aid
ingredients or hidden ingredients. Example of Hidden ingredients is the use of pork gelatin in apple juice
processing, gelatin in Beta carotene, Polysorbate 80 (a fat based emulsifier) in vitamins mix for milk
fortification.

12. What are ingredients of Halal Soy Sauce?

Naturally brewed soy sauce is not a Halal soy sauce because it is just made like wine containing 2-3%
ethyl alcohol in it. Soy, wheat and water are main ingredients of naturally brewed soy sauce. All purpose
soy sauce or non brewed soy sauce is a Halal soy sauce made from water, salt, hydrolyzed soy protein,
corn syrup and sodium benzoate.

13. What is Torula Yeast, is it Halal?

Torula Yeast has the capacity to utilize pentose sugars. It is not used in making bread or beer or wine. It
is grown on a refined sugar feed stocks such as cane sugar, corn syrup, glucose, or alcohol.