Is Cheddar Cheese Halal? Rennet and US Brands

Cheddar is made from milk, cultures, salt and a coagulant called rennet. The milk and salt raise no issue. The rennet is the question.

Rennet can come from the stomach of a calf, or it can be made by microbes through fermentation ^[1][3]. Scholars agree that microbial rennet is permissible ^[2][3]. They also agree that rennet from a properly slaughtered halal animal is fine, and that pork rennet is not ^[1][3].

The debate is about animal rennet from animals that were not slaughtered Islamically. See our main cheese page for the full discussion, and rennet for the ingredient itself.

IslamQA.info reports that Abu Hanifa, and one report from Imam Ahmad, held rennet from an unslaughtered animal to be pure, so cheese made with it is allowed. The majority of Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali scholars held it to be impure. The answer concludes that eating such cheese is not wrong ^[1].

Mufti Online, a Hanafi service in South Africa, is stricter. It points out that Abu Hanifa's two students disagreed with him, and it concludes that cheese made with modern animal rennet is impermissible ^[2]. Fatwa.ca advises avoiding a cheese when you cannot confirm its rennet source ^[3].

Cabot says it uses a microbial-based enzyme for its cheeses. The exceptions are its processed American slices and its shredded Mexican blend, which come from plants Cabot does not own ^[4].

Cabot also says it offers a broad range of halal cheddars certified by IFANCA, the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America. It tells buyers to look for the halal icon on the package ^[4]. Some Cabot products are not halal certified, including shredded and sliced cheeses, snack bars and sticks, and spreadable cheeses ^[4].

Tillamook says it has used fermentation-produced rennet since 2016. The company describes this rennet as vegetarian and as carrying kosher and halal certification ^[5]. It also says most of its cheeses are halal certified, and that you can check the package for the halal symbol ^[6].

There is one exception to note. Tillamook points shoppers who want animal rennet to its Maker's Reserve 10-Year Extra Sharp Cheddar ^[5]. If you avoid animal rennet, skip that product or check its label. See our Tillamook page.

Store brands and imported cheddars vary. Look for "microbial enzymes" or a halal symbol. If the label just says "enzymes," the source is unclear, and Fatwa.ca suggests contacting the maker ^[3].

Cheddar also shows up in snacks, sauces and ready meals. Cheese powder, nacho sauce and mac and cheese may use different cheese than the brand's blocks, and processed products can add gelatin or other ingredients ^[3]. See Kraft cheese and American cheese.