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Is Beef Jerky Halal? Slaughter, Marinades and Brands

Short answer Depends

Beef jerky can be halal, but only certified jerky confirms it. It is halal only when the beef came from a properly slaughtered cow with God's name said [2], and the marinade has no wine, beer or pork ingredients. An Islamweb fatwa treated jerky made with wine as forbidden [5]. Look for a named halal certifier.

Last verified: If you're unsure, ask a scholar you trust.

What the schools of thought say

SchoolViewSource
All schools Beef is halal when the cow is slaughtered properly with God's name invoked; jerky follows the meat it is made from. [1][2][4]
Hanafi (SeekersGuidance) Ordinary US beef whose slaughter can't be verified should be avoided, so uncertified jerky is avoided too. [6]
Permissive view on supermarket meat (IslamQA) Meat from the People of the Book is permissible when properly slaughtered, with unknown cases treated as permissible by default. [3][7]
Jerky made with wine (Islamweb) Forbidden unless the process leaves no trace or effect of the wine; drying does not automatically make it permissible. [5]

What beef jerky is

Jerky is lean meat cut into strips, cured or marinated, and dried [8]. Commercial beef jerky is usually seasoned with salt, sugar, soy sauce and spices, then smoked or dried at low heat.

For halal purposes, two things decide the answer: the beef and the marinade. Drying and smoking do not change either one.

The beef: was it slaughtered properly?

Cattle are halal animals [4]. The Qur'an forbids carrion, blood, pork and animals dedicated to other than God [1], and meat over which God's name was not said [2].

Unless the pack names a halal certifier, jerky is made from ordinary commercial beef. Scholars differ on this kind of meat:

  • A permissive view holds that meat from Jews and Christians is permissible when properly slaughtered, and treats unknown cases as permissible by default [7]. It rests on the Qur'an's permission for their food [3].
  • A stricter Hanafi view advises avoiding meat when proper slaughter can't be confirmed [6].

If you want certainty, choose jerky that names a halal certifier. HMS, for example, certifies only hand-slaughtered meat and checks the chain from slaughter to store [9]. Our beef page explains the slaughter rules in more depth.

The marinade: wine, beer and pork

Jerky marinades are where problems hide.

  • Wine, beer or whiskey. Some craft and "bourbon" or "beer" jerky flavors use alcohol. An Islamweb fatwa looked at jerky made with wine, where the seller said oven-drying removed the alcohol. It said such food is forbidden unless no trace or effect of the wine remains, and that selling it is forbidden [5].
  • Teriyaki flavors may include sake or mirin. See our mirin page.
  • Worcestershire sauce is common in jerky. Some versions contain anchovies, which are halal, and some contain vinegar from alcohol. See our Worcestershire sauce page.
  • Mixed meats. Some meat sticks and snack packs combine beef with pork. Read the meat list, not just the front label.

Drying does not burn off alcohol reliably. USDA data shows alcohol baked for 25 minutes without stirring keeps about 45% [10].

Brands and where to buy

Don't assume a big brand is halal unless its label or website says so. See our Jack Link's page for the most-searched brand. Halal jerky does exist from smaller makers, often sold online and in halal grocery stores. Before you buy:

  • Look for a certifier's name or logo, not just the word "halal".
  • Check the ingredients for wine, beer, sake, mirin, pork or gelatin.
  • If a shop makes its own jerky, ask where the beef came from.

For other dried and cured meats, see our pastrami and salami pages.

Frequently asked questions

Is Jack Link's beef jerky halal?

Check our Jack Link's page for the brand's own statements. In general, jerky without a named halal certifier raises the slaughter question, where scholars differ [6][7]. If you want certainty, buy jerky that names a certifier on the pack.

Is beef jerky made with wine halal?

Islamweb says jerky made with wine is forbidden unless no trace or effect of the wine remains, and it ruled such jerky forbidden to sell [5]. Drying or baking does not reliably remove the alcohol [10].

Is beef jerky zabiha?

Only if the label says so with a named certifier. Most US jerky uses ordinary commercial beef. HMS, for example, certifies only hand-slaughtered meat [9]. Without a certifier, you can't confirm how the cow was slaughtered.

Is turkey or chicken jerky halal?

The same rules apply. Turkey and chicken are halal animals, but the meat must be properly slaughtered [2], and the marinade must be free of alcohol and pork. Check for a certifier on the pack.

Sources

  1. Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:3 · Quran.com · accessed
  2. Surah Al-An'am 6:121 · Quran.com · accessed
  3. Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:5 · Quran.com · accessed
  4. What Animals Are Halal and Haram to Eat in the Hanafi School? · SeekersGuidance · accessed
  5. Fatwa 85515: Beef jerky made with wine · Islamweb · accessed
  6. Eating the Meat of the People of the Book · SeekersGuidance · accessed
  7. Permissibility of eating meat slaughtered by Christians and Jews · IslamQA · accessed
  8. Jerky · Wikipedia · accessed
  9. Know Your Zabiha Halal · Halal Monitoring Services (HMS) · accessed
  10. USDA Table of Nutrient Retention Factors, Release 6 · USDA Agricultural Research Service · accessed