Who doesn’t love cheese? One thing that makes every dish delicious is CHEESE. But Muslims have to be very conscious about what they eat. All those who follow Islamic dietary guidelines always ask is cheddar cheese halal? Every other Muslim is confused about whether cheddar cheese is halal or haram. If you are here, you must have similar questions in mind. So stick around to discover the dietary status of cheddar cheese. Shall we begin?
What is Halal According to Islam?
Before we jump to today’s discussion, let’s have a brief introduction to halal dietary guidelines. This is something all Muslims are taught in their childhoods. Every Muslim knows the difference between halal and haram. It is highly unlikely you will find a Muslim who knows nothing about halal and haram. To learn more about Islamic dietary guidelines, read our guide on what does halal mean.
Still, sometimes, childhood teachings are not enough. Are you a Muslim and love cheese? You must be here to find out if cheddar cheese is halal or haram, right? So you can enjoy it without any guilt. Continue reading; we are about to reveal if cheddar cheese is halal or not.
Is Cheddar Cheese Halal?
This question has been asked plenty of times. Still, no one has given a firm answer. This is why many are still confused if cheddar cheese is halal or not. But today, we will make everything clear to you. Cheddar cheese is halal. All those who are seeking answers to is cheddar cheese halal? The answer is YES, it is halal. But hang on, not every cheddar cheese is halal. What makes this cheese halal are its ingredients. If the cheese has all the halal ingredients, it is halal. If any haram ingredient is added, even in small amounts, it is not permissible for a Muslim to consume such cheese. A simple answer to this question is the cheese is only halal if the ingredients are halal.
What Makes Cheddar Cheese Haram?
As we mentioned before, the status of cheddar cheese depends on its ingredients. So, what do you think makes cheddar cheese haram? Mostly, it’s one ingredient that changes the halal status of the cheese. And that is rennet. Rennet is used in the cheese-making process. It is the main ingredient of every cheese. It can be obtained from animal sources or vegetables.
There are no restrictions on eating vegetables in Islam. So, any cheddar cheese with vegetable rennet is halal. Did you know 95% of cheese is made from vegetable rennet? Yes, 95% but still a small percentage of cheese is relying on animal rennet. Many factors make animal rennet cheese haram for Muslims. From animal source to slaughtering process, any step that does not meet halal standards makes the animal product haram. Thus, if cheese is made from an animal rennet that is not slaughtered in an Islamic way, it automatically becomes haram for a Muslim.
Many of you must love parmesan cheese. We have previously written an article on is parmesan cheese halal. Read it if you have similar confusion about parmesan cheese too.
How Would I Know If the Cheddar Cheese is Halal?
Are you concerned about this, too? If yes, then you are worrying for no reason. Understanding what’s halal and haram is not rocket science. You can know if the cheddar cheese is halal or haram in seconds. Now, you must be wondering how. For that, you must continue reading.
Check the Ingredients
All you need to do is go through its ingredients. Yes, that is it. Read the ingredients carefully. Ingredients are the mirror reflection of the halal and haram status of a cheese. Do you see anything dubious? Or is there nothing that rings a bell in your mind? If you are satisfied with the ingredients, you are good to go.
One ingredient that should never be ignored is the rennet type. If the cheese says microbial rennet, non-animal rennet, or vegetable rennet, you are safe. All these rennets are halal. Hence, cheddar cheese made from these rennets is also halal.
Kosher Cheese
Are you too lazy to go into the details of the ingredients? Trust Kosher cheeses. All Kosher cheeses are made from vegetable ingredients. This is why all Kosher cheeses are safe to consume. Moreover, they meet halal standards, which makes them permissible for every Muslim.
Vegan Cheese
Another type of cheese that is available in the market is vegan cheese. This type of cheddar cheese is also halal. These cheeses are made from natural ingredients. Instead of animal milk, it is made from other supplementary ingredients. It includes coconut milk, nuts, etc. This is why vegan cheddar cheese is halal for Muslims. There is no doubt which animal’s milk is added to prepare cheese. It frees the consumer from worries about eating non-permissible items. It is one of the safest options when it comes to choosing halal cheddar cheese.
Halal Cheddar Cheese Brands
If you can’t find this, put your trust in us. Here is a list of Muslim-friendly brands. When you can’t find halal cheese yourself, get one from these.
- Bass Lake Cheese Factory
- Laughing Cow
- Happy Farms
- Kirkland Signature
- 365 Whole Foods
- Kerrygold
- Amy’s
- Nancy’s
You might also like to read about halal pizza restaurants in Canada.
Final Verdict
In the end, the halal status of cheddar cheese lies in its ingredients. If the ingredients are halal, the cheese is halal. One non-permissible ingredient is enough to make cheddar cheese haram. So, we can say cheddar cheese is neither halal nor haram. I hope this guide has cleared your confusion about cheddar cheese’s dietary status. Thank you for reading.
FAQs
Can Muslims eat cheddar cheese?
Yes, Muslims can eat cheddar cheese. Keep an account of its ingredients. If all the ingredients are halal, the cheese is also halal.
Does cheddar cheese contain pork?
No, cheddar cheese does not contain pork. Most cheddar cheese are halal. Still, there are a few brands that add bacon to cheese. Before buying cheese, make sure it is 100% halal.
Are enzymes in cheddar cheese halal?
If the enzyme source is microbes or plants, they are halal. But if the rennet is taken from an animal, it is not always halal.