Is Cheddar Cheese Halal Or Haram In Islam? (All Clear)
Cheddar cheese is a popular type of cheese widely used worldwide. It has a rich and creamy flavor that is great for making dishes like macaroni and cheese, sandwiches, and more.
But for Muslims, the question arises is cheddar cheese halal or not? This is because of the ingredients used to make cheddar cheese, mostly the rennet.
This article will answer all your queries regarding cheddar cheese and its halal status. We’ll also share which brands offer halal cheddar cheese and which don’t.
No matter where you live, either US, Uk, or Canada, you can use this article as a guide to make informed decisions when buying halal cheddar cheese. So, let’s get started!
Is Cheddar Cheese Halal
The answer to this question is not straightforward. It depends on the brand and ingredients used in manufacturing the cheddar cheese product.
Some brands use animal rennet in their cheese, which is not considered halal. Animal rennet is an enzyme produced in the stomachs of animals such as calves, lambs, and goats. The use of animal rennet is not allowed in halal products as it’s a byproduct of an animal.
Also, the chances of a dead animal’s rennet being added to the cheese are high. And the manufacturer doesn’t provide any information about what animal rennet is and how the animal is slaughtered according to Islamic laws.
On the other hand, some brands use vegetable-based rennet or microbial enzymes to make their cheddar cheese halal. These products are made without using any animal-based ingredients and do not involve the use of any bodily fluids or byproducts.
So, when buying cheddar cheese, it’s important to read the label beforehand and look for halal certifications.
Although most of the brands in the USA, Canada, and the UK produce haram cheddar cheese, a few brands offer halal cheddar cheese.
You can also learn is mozzarella cheese halal.
Brands That Offer Halal Cheddar Cheese
If you’re serious about finding halal cheddar cheese, here are some of the brands that offer halal cheddar cheese:
1. Cabot Creamery – Sharp Cheddar Cheese
This company offers halal cheddar cheese without using any animal rennet. Most of their products are free from animal rennet and artificial colors or flavors.
They are also certified halal and Kosher by the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America and by Tablet K, making them safe for Muslims.
However, not all of their cheese products are halal. So, be sure to check the halal label before purchasing any cheddar cheese. For example, Clothbound, Spreadable cheeses, Shredded, and Sliced Cheeses are not halal. (Proof)
2. Tillamook – Kosher Medium Cheddar Cheese
Tillamook is another brand that offers halal cheddar cheese. Their kosher medium cheddar cheese is made with fermentation-produced rennet, which makes it halal-friendly and kosher. (Proof)
This product is also vegan and free from additives, preservatives, and gluten.
However, note that not all of their cheese products are halal. Their other varieties, such as sharp, extra-sharp, and white cheddar, etc., contain animal rennet and are not certified halal.
Hence, every time you buy cheddar cheese from Tillamook, look for the halal label on the packaging.
These are the two brands we found that offer halal cheddar cheese. Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and there may also be other brands. But with the research of hours, we found these brands to be the most reliable.
If you choose other brands, make sure to read the label and look for halal certifications. Otherwise, also look at the non halal cheddar cheese selling brands list below that we found.
If you’re confused about consuming gluten-containing food, you can read is gluten halal.
Brands That Sell Non Halal Cheddar Cheese
While searching for halal cheddar cheese, we also found that some brands sell cheese products made with animal rennet.
These are the brands that we found to be selling non-halal cheddar cheese. So make sure to avoid them if you’re a Muslim:
- Kraft
- Tropical
- Sargento
- Nabisco
- Land’O Lakes
- Velveeta
- Keyfood
- Hotel Bar
- Heluva Goods
- Fine Fare
- C-Town
- Kirkland Signature
- Great Value
How To Identify Halal Cheddar Cheese
If you’re confused about pectin, you might also like reading is pectin halal.
To identify halal cheddar cheese, look for the following on the product label.
1. Look for the halal logo or certification on the product.
2. Read the ingredient list and look for “rennet of microbial origin,” which means the cheddar cheese is made with microbial enzymes instead of animal rennet.
3. Check if the product is vegan-friendly and free from animal products.
4. Look for the kosher symbol that indicates that the product is prepared according to Jewish dietary laws and is also safe for Muslims.
These are some of the tips you can use to identify halal cheddar cheese in any country.
You can also read is parmesan cheese halal.
FAQs
Q. Is cheddar cheese halal or haram?
A. It depends on the brand and ingredients used in manufacturing the cheddar cheese product. Some brands use animal rennet which is not considered halal. Other brands use vegetable-based rennet or microbial enzymes, which make their cheddar cheese halal.
Q. Which cheddar cheese is halal?
A. Cabot Creamery’s Sharp Cheddar Cheese and Tillamook’s Kosher Medium Cheddar Cheese are halal. However, not all of their products are halal certified. So, make sure to check the product label and look for the halal logo or certification before buying any cheddar cheese.
Q. Is great value cheddar cheese halal?
A. No, Great Value cheddar cheese is not halal certified as it contains animal rennet. Hence, Muslims should avoid it.
Q. Is cheddar cheese haram?
A. Yes, some brands of cheddar cheese use animal rennet which is haram and should be avoided by Muslims. However, some brands use vegetable-based rennet or microbial enzymes, which make their cheddar cheese halal.
Q. Is American cheddar cheese halal or haram?
A. American cheddar cheese is not straightforward. It depends on the brand and ingredients used in manufacturing the cheddar cheese product. Some brands like Cabot Creamery’s Sharp Cheddar Cheese and Tillamook’s Kosher Medium Cheddar Cheese are halal certified. However, others are not.
Q. Does cheddar cheese use rennet?
A. Yes, some brands of cheddar cheese use animal rennet which is haram and should be avoided by Muslims. Other brands use vegetable-based rennet or microbial enzymes, which make their cheddar cheese halal.
Q. Is cheddar cheese halal in Canada?
A. Yes, some brands of cheddar cheese in Canada are halal certified. Such as Cabot Creamery’s Sharp Cheddar Cheese and Tillamook’s Kosher Medium Cheddar Cheese are halal certified. However, most of the other brands are not.
Q. Is cheddar cheese halal in USA?
A. It depends on the brand and ingredients used in manufacturing the cheddar cheese product. Some brands like Cabot Creamery’s Sharp Cheddar Cheese and Tillamook’s Kosher Medium Cheddar Cheese are halal certified. However, most of the other brands are not.
Q. Is cheddar cheese halal in Uk?
A. In Uk, most of the cheddar cheese offered by local and international brands is not halal certified. However, there are few halal certified cheddar cheeses available in the UK, such as Cabot Creamery’s Sharp Cheddar Cheese and Tillamook’s Kosher Medium Cheddar Cheese.
Q. Is cheese haram?
A. Cheese itself is not haram, but if the ingredients used in the cheese are haram, then the cheese would be considered haram. The main concern when it comes to cheese and halal/haram is usually related to rennet, an enzyme used to produce many types of cheese.
Q. Why is cheddar cheese haram?
A. Cheddar cheese can be haram or halal depending on the source of rennet used in its production. If animal rennet is used, then it would be considered haram. However, if microbial or plant-based rennet is used, then it would be considered halal.
Conclusion
Cheddar cheese is halal or haram, depending on the brand and ingredients used in manufacturing it. Some brands use animal rennet which is not considered halal. Other brands use vegetable-based rennet or microbial enzymes, which make their cheddar cheese halal.
We found two brands that offer halal cheddar cheese – Cabot Creamery’s Sharp Cheddar Cheese and Tillamook’s Kosher Medium Cheddar Cheese.
To identify halal cheddar cheese, look for the following on the product label – Halal logo or certification, “rennet of microbial origin”, vegan-friendly, and kosher symbol.
We hope this article has given you a better understanding of cheddar cheese and answered is cheddar cheese halal?
May Allah bless us all! Ameen.
