Halal and Haram in Chocolates and Ice Creams
HALAL & HARAM DIRECTORY
O believers ! Eat of the good things that We have provided you with and give thanks to Allah. (2: 172)
Though thorough research has gone into producing this guideline, it is by no means complete and only covers the common products as it is very difficult to obtain exactly the listing of halal and haram ingredients present in all products. Also, companies are constantly changing their product ingredients and Muslims should always be aware that what is originally certified halal might in the future be haram and vice versa. Due to aggressive campaigning by The Vegetarian Society, UK, most products now display their symbol ‘Suitable For Vegetarians’ which means that there is NO animal content in that particular product, making it halal. However, a product can still contain alcohol, making it haram. Please check.
Points to note:
· Medicine containing alcohol is not permissible unless on authority of a doctor with no alternative medicine available.
· If alcohol undergoes significant chemical changes causing it to lose its original properties via chemical processes, then its usage and consumption is permissible, as in the case where wine has turned into vinegar. Hence, it is also why all soap (without pig-derived ingredients) are permissible to use for Muslims.
· Gelatine is a thickener derived from skins, tendons, ligaments, bones to produce a gelling agent. Some remnant of the original product still remains in the final packaged product, making it impure and improper for use despite the great chemical changes it underwent.
· Processed foods contain food additives, regulated by the alphabet ‘E’, such as emulsifiers, raising agents, preservatives, colouring and gelling agents.
At time of compilation, all other ‘E’ number additives are halal except for these:
| ‘E’ Number | Description |
| E120 | Cochineal - derived from the cochineal beetle |
| E160a | Alpha-, Beta-, Gamma- Carotene – haram if gelatine is added to it |
| E471 | Mono and Di-Glycerides of fatty acids – when Glycerol is used, one has to find out the source whether animal or synthetic |
| E472 (a-e) | Lactic acid esters of Mono- and D-Glycerides of fatty acids, prepared from esters of Glycerol |
| E473 | Sucrose esters of fatty acids prepared from Glycerol and Sucrose |
| E474 | Sycroglycerides prepared by reaction of Sucrose on natural Triglycerides, derived from palm oil, lard, etc |
| E475 | Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids, prepared in the labrotary |
| E476 | Polyglycerol esters of polycondensed fatty acids of castor oil, prepared from castor oil and Glycerol esters |
| E477 | Propylene Glycol of fatty acids |
| E478 | Prepared from esters of glycerol and lactic acid |
| E570 | Stearic Acid, naturally occurring fatty acid found in animal fats and vegetable oils, used as anticaking agent |
| E572 | Prepared synthetically from commercial stearic acid |
| E631 | Prepared from insect, meat and fish extract |
| E635 | Same source as E631 |
| E640 | - |
| E920 | Naturally occurring amino acid manufactured from animal hair and chicken feathers |
· Rennet is an enzyme which can be animal or microbial. It is a mixture of 2 enzymes derived from calves’ stomachs and is used in cheese-making.
Whey powder is a product of cheese-making using rennet.
If the rennet is extracted from an Islamically slaughtered animal, it is halal.
If not, scholars differ in opinion, with permissible and impermissible fatwas arising.
Therefore consumption of whey powder and rennet-based products depends on which fatwa is held to.
According to taqwa, abstinence is desirable. As far as possible, buy cheese suitable for vegetarians.
CLASSIFICATIONS
CAKESCadbury’s (Manor Bakeries)
· halal - Caramel Cake Bars, Caramel Cakes (Selection Pack), Caramel Mini Cake Bars, Chocolate Flake Cake, Chocolate Mini Rolls, Christmas Log, Christmas Pudding Cakes, Creamy White Buttons Cakes, Flake Cakes, Fry’s Turkish Delight Cakes, Fudge Cakes, Jaffa Cubes, Milk Choc Mini Cake Bars, Milk Chocolate Cake Bars, Mini Swiss Gateaux, Mini Yule Logs, Orange Choc Roll, Orange Egg Cake, Rich Chocolate Roll, Snow Flake Cakes, Swiss Gateaux, Toffee Mini Rolls, Turkish Delight Mini Cake Bars
Lyons Cake
· Battenberg; Buttercream Sandwich; Carrot Corner House Cake; Chocolate – Crunch Cakes, Cup Cakes, Fudge Cake, Sandwich, Slices, Swiss Roll; Coconut Crunch Cakes; Easter Egg Cakes; Family Chocolate Swiss Roll; Farmhouse Slices; French Sandwich; Jaffa fingers; Jumbo Chocolate Swiss Roll; Lemon – Cup Cakes, Curd Tarts, Slices; Lyons 6 Chocolate Cup Cakes; Mandarin Chocolate Cake and Roll; Merry Mellows; Mince Pies; Orange Cup Cakes; Raspberry & Vanilla Swiss Roll; Raspberry Swiss Roll; Trifle Sponges; Viennese Whirls
Mr Kipling
· Almond Slices, Angel Slices, Apricot & Raisin Flapjacks, Bakewell Slices, Bakewell Tart, Battenberg, Black Forest Slices, Caramel Shortcakes, Cherry Bakewells, Cherry Slices, Chocolate Chip Cake Bars, Christmas Slices, classic Collection, Country Slices, Classic Collection, Country Slices, Double Chocolate Cake Bites, Dundee Slices, Fruit Trifles, Individual Apple & Blackcurrant Pie, Jam Tarts Selection, Lemon Slices, Manor House Cake, Marble Choc & Vanilla Slices, Mince Parcels, Mince Pies, Mini Battenberg, Mini Coconut and Lemon Sponge Cakes, Mini Orange/Lemon Battenberg Cakes, Mini Victoria Sponge Cakes, Mini Xmas Cakes, Rich Chocolate Slices, Santa Bake, Stollen Slices, Strawberry Sundaes, Tangy Lemon Tartlets, Treacle Tart
DRINKS
All Normal & Diet - Seven Up, Coca-Cola, Sprite, Lilt, Fanta, Tango, Pepsi Cola; Schweppes, Five Alive, Fruit Burst, Sunny Delight, Lucozade, Ribena
SNACKS/CRISPS
Bestfoods UK Ltd
· pot noodles with chicken/beef/turkey flavour certified ‘Suitable For Vegetarians’ and therefore HALAL
Golden Wonder
· halal – GW Pickled Onion, Prawn Cocktails, Spring Onion, Ringos Cheese and Onions
Kettle Foods Ltd
· halal – Kettle Baked Potato Chip: flavours Sea Salt and Olive Oil, Sundried Tomato and Herb, sour Cream and Chips, Kettle Chips: flavours Balsamic vinegar and Sea Salt, Butter and Mint Seasonal Edition, French Onion, Kansas City Barbacue, Lightly Salted, Salsa with Mequite, Stilton & Poer Seasonal Edition, Kettle Poppins – American Cheese Maple Syrup and Sea Salt
· Kettle Chips Yoghurt and Green Onion – contains calf whey powder/syrup
KP Foods Groups
· halal - “Nutsters” Soury Crunchy Peanuts Ready Salted, Dry Roasted Peanuts, Dry Roasted Peanuts Salt & Vinegar flavour, McCoys Original Thick Crunchy Potato chips, Ready Salted, Spicy Tomato/Tomato Sauce Flavour, Worcester Sauce Flavour and Salt & Vinegar - Mcvities “Go Ahead” Oven Bake , Hula Hoops, Crisps, Frisps, Discos, Minichips, Roasted Peanuts Tabago Chilli Flavour, Salted Roasted Almonds
Procter & Gamble Limited
· halal - Pringles – Barbecue, Cheez-Ums, Ridges Original, Salt & Vinegar, Sour Cream & Onion
Walkers Snack Foods Limited
· halal – Cheese & Onion French Fries; Doritos Dippas; Prawn Cocktail and Salt & Vinegar – Quavers; Ready Salted and Salt & Vinegar – Chipsticks, French Fries; Smiths – Cheese & Onion Crisps, Ready Salted Crisps, Salt & Vinegar Crisps, Salt ‘n’ Shake; Walkers – Cheese & Chive Crisps, Prawn Cocktail Crisps, Ready Salted Crisps, Ready Salted Lites, Spring Onion Crisps, MAX Salt & Vinegar, MAX Original
· these products contain rennet in the cheese flavouring – Cheese Quavers; Cheesy Monster Munch; Savoury Cheese Snaps; Spicy Tomato Snaps; Walkers - Cheese & Onion Crisps, Cheese & Onion Lites, Tomato Ketchup Crisps, MAX Hard Cheese & Onion
· it is obvious that Doritos is not present in the halal section as it has been confirmed that all Doritos (except Doritos Dippas) contain animal substances
SPREADS
Chivers Hartley
· halal – Cadbury Chocolate Spreads Smooth Chocolate, Milk Chocolate and Banana
Ferrero UK Limited
· Nutella Hazelnut Chocolate Spread – contains calf whey powder/syrup
SWEETS/CHOCOLATES
Cadbury Limited
· halal – Allora; Boost; bournville; California Dreaming; Creamy White Buttons; Dairy Mile – Normal, Miniatures, Quick, Wildlife; Double Fudge Dream; Flake; Freddo; Fruit & Nut; Hazelnut Heaven; Marble; Milk Chocolate Buttons; Orange Cream; Orange Milk Chocolate; Peppermint; Roses – Brazilnut Caramel, Caramel, Caramel Keg, Coconut, Coffee Flavour Crème, Fudge, Hazel In Caramel, Hazel Whirl, Milk Chocolate Miniature, Montelimar, Nutty Truffle Log, Noisette Whirl, Orange Crème, Plian chocolate Miniature, Strawberry Rose, Truffle Chunk; Shortcake Snack; Snack Sandwich chocolate; Starbar; Three Wishes; Time Out; Twirl; Wafer Snack; wholenut; Wispa – Gold, Mint, Normal; Yowie
Daintee
· halal – Blackcurrent + Liquorice; Brazil Nut Toffee; chocolate Caramels; Chocolate Eclairs; Chocolate Fudge; Chocolate Limes; Mint Assortment; Mint Humbugs; Orange Creams; Orange Lemon Slices; Peppermint Creams; Sparkling Mints; Vanilla Fudge; Harlows Mintoes
Ferrero UK Limited
· halal – Kinder – Bueno, Chocolate, Surprise; Tic Tac – Fresh Mint, Lime/Orange, Orange
· Ferrero Rocher Chocolates – contains calf whey powder/syrup
Fisherman’s Friend
· halal – Aniseed, Lemon, Original, Original Noaodep Sugar Lozenges; Sugar Free Mints; Super Strongmint
Mars Confectionery UK Limited
· halal – Bounty – Dark, Milk, Milk Twin and Funsize; Galaxy – Block, Caramel, Caramel Cracker, Caramel Eggs, Caramel Hearts, Caramel Tree Decoration, Fruit and Nut, Hazelnut, Ministicks, Minstrels, Ripple, Silk Eggs; Lockets : All Varieties; M&M; Maltesers; Mars; Milky Way Magic Star & Tree Decorations; Miniatures; Revels; Skittles; Snickers; Starburst; Starburst Joosters; topic; Tracker Chocolate Chip and Roast Nut; Tunes: All Varieties; Twix
· these products contain calf whey powder/syrup – Bounty Milk Miniatures; Celebration; Funsize – Mars, Milky Way, Snickers; Standard Size and Twin – Galaxy Caramel Swirls and M&M’s Peanut, Milky Way Crispy Rolls, Milky Way; Twix Kingsize
Nestle UK Limited (Nestle Rowntree)
· halal - After Eight Thin Mints; Black Magic – Chocolate Brazil, Lemon Dream, Orange Cream, Raspberry Roulade, Tablet, toffee & Mallow; Dairy Box – Chocolate Brazil, Hazelnut Caramel; Fox’s Glacier Fruits and Mints; Jellytots; Maverick; Milky Bar and Buttons; Mint Munchies; Polo Mint – Original, Strong, Spearmint, Sugar Free, Supermints; Quality Street – Fruits of the Forest, Orange Crème, Strawberry Crème, Toffee Penny, Smarties, Toffo – Assorted, Mint, Plain; Zploder Bar
· these products contain calf whey powder/syrup – Aero – Milk chocolate, Orange, Peppermint; Animal Bar; Black Magic – Caramel, Hazel Cluster, Hazel in Caramel; Blue Ribband; Breakaway – Milk Camarac and Milk Chocolate; Caramac; Dairy Box – Almond Fayre, Autumn Hazelnut, Caramel Classic, Country Fudge, Nut Swirl, Strawberry Fool, Toffee Cup, Turkish Delight, Vanilla Truffle, Wafer Sandwich; Golden Cup; Kit Kat; Lion Bar; Matchmakers – Coconut, Mint, Orange; Milkybar White Chocolate Mini Eggs; Munchies; Quality Street – Caramel Cup, Coconut Éclair, Dairy Fudge, Fruit & Nut Delight, Hazelnut Éclair, Hazelnut in Caramel, Milk chocolate Hazelnut, Noisette Triangle, Toffee Deluxe, Toffee Fingers, Vanilla Octagon; Rolo Bar; Rolo; Smarties – orange only; Vice Versas; Walnut whip – Vanilla; White Chocolate After Eight Think Mint; Yorkie – Milk Chocolate, Nutter, Raisin & Biscuit#
Thorntons PLC
· halal – Assorted Range; Choccie; Conti; Dark Chocolates; Diabetic Chocolates; Liquorice; Luxury Cream; Milk Chocolates; Mint Chocolates; MK Chocolate Range, Orange Bars; Peanut Brittle; Toffee Bags; White Chocolate; White Mint Bags; Jellies
Trebor Bassett Limited
· halal – Barker & Dobson; Barratt; Bassett’s Fundays (except Rum and Butter Toffee); Butterkist & Pimms Popcorn; Jameson’s Chocolate Range; Pascall; Sharp; Trebor
DAIRY PRODUCTS
Kraft Jacobs Suchard
· halal – Dairylea Cheese Spreads; Kraft – Cheddarie, Cracker, Philadelphia, Processed Slices
· Kraft Singles Cheese Food Slices contains calf rennet
New Zealand Milk (UK) Ltd
· halal - Acorn Butter; Anchor Butter
St Ivel Limited
· halal – Butter; Gold Range; Golden Churn; Supersoft Spread; Utterly Butterly; Vitalite; Cheese: Blue Stilton; Brie; Cheddar; Cheshire; Cotsdale; Double Gloucester; English Cheese; Farmhouse; Mature; Mild; Red Leicester; Scottish; Shape Cottage Cheese; Vegearian White Mild; Wexford; Dessert: Luxury Devonshire Trifles; Shape Rice Desserts
ICE-CREAM
Birds Eye Wall’s Limited
· halal – Blue Ribbon – Raspberry Ripple Slice, Vanilla, Neapolitan; Callipo; Carte D’Or; Catering Slice – Strawberry, Vanilla; Choc Bar – Blue Ribbon Milk Chocolate, Chunky, Chunky Dark, Blue Ribbon Dark, Light and Toffee, Golden Vanilla, Cadbury Dairy Milk; Cornetto – Mint Choc Chip, Chocolate (Winter Range), Choc & Nut, Strawberry; Cream of Cornish Vanilla; Dairy Cream Eclairs; Elite Tub – Strawberry, Vanilla; Feast – The Bar (UK); Gino Ginelli – Choc Chip, Double Choc Crunch, Mint Choc Chip, Toffee Fudge, Tutt Frutti; Joe Snow; Kick Off; Magnum – Cone, Dark Choc, Mint, Orange Choc, White Choc; Max – Fruit Split Orange, Lemon Fruit Ice, Milk Ice, Mini Pot, Mint Cone; Mini – Eclairs, Juice Apple, Milk Choc, Strawbery, Vanilla, Viennetta Toffee and Vanilla; Orange Fruitie; Romantica – Cappuccino, Choc, Red Fruit, Vanilla Butterscotch, Winter; Soft Scoop – Blue Ribbon Vanilla, Choc, Mint, Strawberry, Toffee; Solero; Tangle; Too Good To Be True; Twinpack; Viennetta – all flavours; Wall’s Dairy; Wall’s Real Dairy Premium
Mars confectionery UK Limited
· halal – Skittles Ice Cream, Starburst
· Chocolate Covered Ice Cream contains calf whey powder/syrup
These companies usually label their products with ‘Suitable For Vegetarian’ labels.
BISCUITS
Burton’s Biscutis, Crawford’s, Fox’s Biscuits, Mcvitie’s (UK), Pennywise, Rumpler’s Confectionery, The Ryvita Company Limited
TINNED FOOD (eg soup, baked beans,…)
Baxters of Speyside Limited, H. J. Heinz Limited, Weigh Watchers (Heinz), Bestfoods UK Ltd, Campbell’s Grocery Products Ltd
COOKING SAUCE/SALAD DRESSING/SEASONINGS/MIXES/PASTES
Baxters of Speyside Limited, Bestfoods UK Ltd, Campbell’s Frozen Foods Ltd, H.J Heinz Limited, Nestle UK Limited, Patak (Spices) Limited, Weight Watchers (Heinz)
CEREALS/GRAINS
Jordan’s Cereals Limited
· Country Crisp with Luxury Raisins, Raspberries or Strawberries contain calf whey powder/syrup
Kellogg Supply Service (Europe) Ltd
· haram – Frosted Wheats (contains gelatine), Raisin Splitz (glycerin ingredient may be prepared from either vegetable or animal sources), Toppas, Kellogg’s Frosted Pop-Tarts (contains gelatine derived from pork or beef)
· Coco Pops & Country Store – whey powder used is a by-product of the dairy industry, specifically cheesemaking. Rennet is utilized in this process but is of microbial origin, NOT from calves or other sources
· Fruit ‘n’ Fibre, Common Sense Oat Bran Flakes with Raisin and Apple and Golder Crsps – ingredients contain glycerated vine fruits and raisins but glycerin used for this purpose is synthetic and is NOT derived from animal sources
Quaker Oats Limited
Weetabix Limited
· Alpen Crunch Alpen contains calf whey powder/syrup
COSMETICS
Colgate-Palmolive Ltd
· halal - Soft ‘n’ Gentle Antiperspirants, Palmolive Shave Foams and Gels, Colgate Toothpastes – all varieties
Avon Cosmetic Limited
· halal -After Shave Gel/Lotion, Aromatherapy Products; Bath Foam; Bath Oil; Body Sprays; Bronze Range; Bubble Baths; California Range; Camille Albane Range; Casbah Cream; Clearskin Range; Country Harvest; Daily Revival Moisturiser; Face Masks; Floralique; Footworks; Gardenia Perfume; Liquid Cleanser; Man Plus Moisturiser and Cleanser; Moisture Rich Range; Nail Perfect Range; Naturals Range; Nurtura Range; Perle Noire Bath Oil and Deodrant; Pure Care; Techniques Hair Products; Tranquil Moments Range; Vip
Elida Faberge
· halal - Pond’s Dry Skin Cream, Pond’s Moisturiser, Mentodent Toothpaste
Body Shop
· these products contain ingredients which are by-products of the meat industry: Bath Beads – all varieties, Bath Bubbles – Cola, Forest Jelly, Ice Cream, Satsuma, Strawberry; Hawthorn Hand Cream; Shampoo – Mint & Thyme, Orange Oat, Seaweed & Peony; Tea Tree Oil Facial Wash
MEDICINE
Smithkline Beecham
· halal – Beechams 75 mg Aspirin Tablet; Beechams Hot Lemon; Diocalm Junior; Fynnos Salt; Germoloene: Cream/Wipes/Fotspray; Night Nurse Liquid; Oxy: Medicated Cream/ Cleanser/ Duopads/Facial Wash; Phensic Soluble; Veno: Expectorant/Cough Misture; Corsodyl: Gel/Spray/Mouthswash; Maclean Active Mouthguard; Aquafresh range – tube; Fenjal Classic Bath; Beechams hot Blackcurrant; Day Nurse Liquid; Enos Fruit Salts (regular); Flynnos Calcium Aspirin; Germoloids: Cream/Tissues; Maccleans Indigestion Tablets; Ralgex: Cream/Spray/Freeze; Spray Resolve
· doubtful: these products may contain animal-derived materials – Ashton & Parsons Infant Powder; Beechams: Pills, Hot Lemon With Honey, Powder Capsules, Powder Tablets, Powders, Couchcaps; Contac 400; Day Nurse Capsules; Ellimans Embrocation; Germolene Ointment; Germoloids - Suppositories, Ointment; Orovide 7 Sachets, Tablets; Oxy – 5 Lotion (advanced formula), Sensitive Facial Wash, 10 Cover-up; Phensic; Scotts Emulsion; Settlers; Veno Honey & Lemon; Yeastvite; Macleans – Sensitive Tube & Pump, Freshmit Pump, Mildmint Pump, Milk Teeth Tube & Pump, Frestmint Tube, Mildmint Tube; Aquafresh – Fresh ‘n’ Minty Pump, Mild ‘n’ Minty Pump; C-Vit Tablets; Diocalm & Diocalm Ultra, Eno Lemon & Orange; Iron Jelloids; Night Nurse Capsules; Phyllosan; Ralgex Stick; Sominex; Vykmin
Question : Animal rennet Halaal
Could you please tell me if Whey is derived from animal? Is is Haram? I have noticed that any products with Whey does not say "suitable for Vegetarians". What about cheeses? I have heard that most cheeses are from Rennet. Could you please explain what that is and tell me which cheeses I should avoid? Especially French cheeses like camembert, goat cheese...
Views: 634960 Last Updated: 31/08/2003
Answer
Last Updated: 31/08/2003
Read the following article carefully taken from the Muslim Food Guide by Mufti Yusuf Sacha and Please be advised that this is the view according to the Hanaafi Madh-hab:
Rennet is an enzyme used in the food industry for the preparation of cheese by curdling milk. Rennet extracted from the stomach of a calf or animal whose meat is Halaal (lawful) after slaughtering in accordance with Islamic Thabh is unanimously Halaal (permissible) for consumption. If the above mentioned animals were not slaughtered in accordance with Islamic law then the Honourable Saahibayn of the Hanafi Legal School, Imam Abu Yusuf and Imam Muhammad, hold the view that the rennet itself is Halaal but its consumption would be Haraam (unlawful) because of its contamination with impure moisture etc. found in the stomach of the animal. According to them, rennet is fluid or viscous [running] and because of the penetration and saturation of impure moisture it would be impossible to purify it, therefore such rennet would remain Haraam.
However, Imaam Abu Hanifah does not regard the moisture found in the stomach of the above mentioned animals to be impure. Therefore the rennet obtained from them is Halaal, according to him.
The permissibility of rennet, therefore, is not really dependent on the slaughterer being Muslim or non-Muslim but upon whether there is life in rennet or not, and whether it absorbs the impurities found in the stomach of a newly born slaughtered calf. This is the outcome of the difference between Imaam Abu Hanifah and his two students, the Saahibayn,
Because of this difference in the opinion of the school, the Fatwa (legal opinion) allows a person to consume rennet (in the form of cheese etc.). Whilst Taqwa (piety) desires abstinence.
Allah Knows Best.
Further clarification and authentification.
1) In a commentary of the hadith text, Mishqatul Masaabeeh, by the famous Hanafi, scholar, Ali Qaari, Mirqaat, volume 8, page 193, is mentioned in the Kitaabul A’timah, Fasl Thaani.
Ibn Umar, radhiallahu anhu, narrates that our Rasul, sallallahu alayhi wasallam, was given a piece of Jubnah [Cheese] in Tabuk; he called for a knife, praying the tasmiyya he cut it [and ate it] narrated by Abu Dawud.
In the commentary, is mentioned; in this is proof of the purity of anfahah, because if it was impure then the cheese itself would be impure for it cannot be made without it [anfahah].
Again In this commentary in volume 2, page 79/80 is mentioned, in Bab Mash alal Khufayn, Fasl Awwal.
Tabraani narrates with a good sanad, although Ghareeb, that in one of the ghazawah, cheese was brought to Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam; He asked where it was made? Someone replied in Persia or in the lands of the Majus. Place the knife on it [cut it] and eat it. Someone said; O Rasulullah, we fear it may be carrion [Maitah]. He replied pray the tasmiyyah and eat it. Tirmidhi has mentioned a hadith wherein the Prophet was given a pair of leather socks and he wore them, without knowing whether they were pure or not. In the hadith of Salmaan, our Rasul was questioned regarding Jubn [cheese], Simn [clarifed butter] and Faraa’e [leather] together with the fact that it was taken from the lands of the Majus. It was mentioned to Umar regarding Jubn [cheese] and said to him that the rennet of dead animals are put in it [cheese]. He replied pray the tasmiyyah and eat it. Imam Ahmad mentions that this is the most sound hadith regarding cheese manufactured by Majus.
From the above commentaries it is evident that if rennet is derived from an animal that is permissible to eat, despite how it is slaughtered, it is Halaal to eat such cheese, despite the method used in the making of cheese.The rennet formed by the milk drunk by a newly born calf, which is then slaughtered and taken from its stomach is somewhat solid and has the effect of solidifying liquid milk and transforming it into cheese. Its permissibility though seemingly irrational because what is within the womb and stomach is under the law of impurity but the permissibility of cheese is established by Nass [Sharii proof] and agreed, therefore rennet is pure and permissible Fatwa Mazahir Ulum Volume 1 page 110.
2) Mufti Taqi’ Uthmaani, mentions that the ruling of Hadhraat Saahibayn is more cautious whilst that of Imaam Abu Hanifah is extensive or accommodating. If a pious person refrains it is better, whilst if a person is consuming cheese do not stop him. However, the rennet derived from the stomach of a pig is Haraam and Impure, provided its original property and chemical makeup does not undergo any drastic change.
Vegetarian or synthetic rennet, if nothing impure has been added to it will be Halaal. The cheese sold in supermarkets and shops, if it is vegetarian or derived from animals slaughtered Islamically is permissible to consume.
On the other hand if it is pig rennet used in the cheese, without transformation then this is not permissible.
Lastly, the rennet in cheese from animals other than pig is permissible, but abstention is desirable.
Bahr al-Raa’iq Volume 1 page 112/3
Register of the Fatawa Darul Ulum Karachi Number 175 23A Dated 11/3/ 1415
We quoted the actual Fatwa (legal verdict) regarding rennet used in cheese, by Mufti Nizamuddin Sahab in the MFG, and the following points from it are noteworthy.
3) 3.1) According to Imaam Abu Hanifah the rennet of Halaal (permissible) animals which have not been slaughtered according to Islamic law is Ja’iz (permissible for consumption). Thus the animal which has been slaughtered by a non-Muslim is also one which has not been slaughtered according to Islamic law and therefore the rennet extracted from such an animal is Ja’iz.
The reason being that the lawfulness of rennet does not depend upon the slaughterer being a Muslim or non-Muslim, in fact it depends upon whether there is life in it or not. If there is no life in rennet then death cannot occur because life and death are opposites. The circulation of blood in an organ is the cause of life. No blood flows through rennet therefore rennet is not a living organism. To consume and use rennet is permissible. The Honourable Saahibayn’s difference in opinion in this is connected to the fact that rennet is situated in close proximity to impure substances contained in the stomach of the animal irrespective of whether the rennet from the animal was extracted and slaughtered by a Muslim or a non-Muslim.
3.2) If it is known with certainty that rennet is obtained from liquid substance extracted from pigs then such rennet is absolutely Haraam.
3.3) The rennet obtained from an animal slaughtered by a non-Muslim or Muslim in accordance with Islamic law or contrary to it, is in all cases Ja’iz as long as the animal in question is not a pig. This is the opinion of Imaam Abu Hanifah. According to the Saahibayn it is Impure.
3.4) Rennet extracted from plants is Halaal.
What is Whey?
During cheese making, a coagulum is formed by clotting milk with rennet. When the coagulum is cut, a watery liquid known as whey is released and drained off leaving the curd to be salted and further processed into cheese. Whey contains water, fat, protein, lactose, minerals and lactic acid. Cream, butter, cheese, drinks, syrups and powder are some of the products made from whey. Whey will come under the same rule as rennet because it is a by-product which appears during the process of cheese making.
taken from : http://www.gmwa.org.uk/foodguide2/index.php?page=viewquestion&id=20
The summary is -
3.3) The rennet obtained from an animal slaughtered by a non-Muslim or Muslim in accordance with Islamic law or contrary to it, is in all cases Ja’iz as long as the animal in question is not a pig. This is the opinion of Imaam Abu Hanifah. According to the Saahibayn it is Impure.
* Whey comes under the same rule as rennet because it is a by-product.
Full article here - http://www.gmwa.org.uk/foodguide2/in...question&id=20.
LIST
Aquadrops AppleHalaal
Aquadrops Citrus Halaal
Bounty Milk Halaal *
Bounty Dark Halaal *
Celebrations Halaal *
Flyte Halaal *
Galaxy Milk Halaal
Galaxy Fruit & Nut Halaal *
Galaxy Hazelnut Halaal *
Galaxy Amicelli Halaal *
Galaxy Caramel Halaal *
Galaxy Promises Halaal *
Galaxy Ripple Halaal
Galaxy Minstrels Halaal *
Lockets Honey & Lemon Halaal
Lockets Blackcurrant Halaal
Lockets Extra Strong Halaal
M&Ms Peanut Halaal * (alcoholic flavourings)
M&Ms Chocolate Halaal * (alcoholic flavourings)
M&Ms Crispy Halaal * (alcoholic flavourings)
Maltesers Halaal *
Maltesers White Halaal *
Mars Halaal *
Mars Funsize Halaal *
Milky Way Halaal *
Milky Way Magic Stars Halaal *
Revels Halaal
Skittles - Fruits Halaal
Skittles - Sours HARAAM (E120)
Skittles - Gum Halaal
Snickers Halaal *
Snickers Funsize Halaal *
Starburst Original Halaal
Starburst Strawberry Halaal
Starburst Sours Halaal
Topic Halaal *
Tracker Chocolate Chip Halaal
Tracker Roasted Nut Halaal
Tunes Cherry Halaal
Tunes Blackcurrant Halaal
Tunes Strawberry Halaal
Twix Halaal *
ICE CREAMS
Bounty - All varieties Halaal *
Galaxy - All varieties Halaal *
Mars Bar - All varieties Halaal *
Maltesers - All varieties Halaal *
M&Ms Halaal *
Snickers - All varieties Halaal *
Starburst - All varieties Halaal
Twix Bar Halaal *
Twix Tub Halaal *
KEY
* These products contain calf whey syrup or cheese. Please refer to fatwa on this link
** Please avoid.
*** trace alcohol as a flavour, colour carrier (Halaal)
Additional Reading
http://livinghalal.blogspot.com/2007/05/mars-bars-halal-or-haram.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6653175.stm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/may/14/foodanddrink
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