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Is Cheese Halal? Rennet, Enzymes and What to Check

Short answer Depends

It depends on the rennet. Cheese made with microbial or plant-based enzymes is halal by broad agreement [2][3]. Cheese with rennet from animals not slaughtered Islamically is debated: Abu Hanifa allowed it, while most Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali scholars did not [1]. Several big US brands use microbial rennet [4][5]. If you're unsure, ask a scholar you trust.

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What the schools of thought say

SchoolViewSource
Hanafi Imam Abu Hanifa held rennet from an unslaughtered animal to be pure, so the cheese is allowed; his two students disagreed. A South African Hanafi fatwa concludes that cheese with such rennet should be avoided today. [1][2]
Maliki The majority of Maliki scholars hold rennet from an animal not slaughtered Islamically to be impure. [1]
Shafi'i The majority of Shafi'i scholars hold such rennet to be impure. [1]
Hanbali Two reports from Imam Ahmad: one holds such rennet impure, the other pure. Ibn Taymiyyah favored the view that it is pure. [1]
All schools Rennet from microbial or plant sources, or from a properly slaughtered halal animal, is permissible. Rennet from pigs is not. [1][2][3]

Why cheese can be a halal question

Milk, salt and cultures are not a concern. The question is rennet, the enzyme that turns milk into curds. Traditional rennet is taken from the stomach of a calf or nursing lamb [1].

Today, cheesemakers can use three kinds of coagulant:

  • Animal rennet, from calves or other animals.
  • Microbial rennet, made by fermentation without animals.
  • Plant-based coagulants, used in some traditional cheeses.

If the rennet is microbial or plant-based, scholars agree it is permissible [2][3]. If it comes from a halal animal that was properly slaughtered, it is also fine [1][2]. The debate is about rennet from animals that were not slaughtered Islamically, which describes most animal rennet in the West.

What the schools say about animal rennet

IslamQA.info summarizes the classic difference. The majority of Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali scholars held that rennet from an animal not slaughtered Islamically is impure. Abu Hanifa, and one report from Imam Ahmad, held that it is pure. Ibn Taymiyyah favored the second view. Both sides cite reports about the Companions eating cheese made by non-Muslims [1]. That answer concludes that there is nothing wrong with eating such cheese [1].

Other scholars are stricter. Mufti Online, a Hanafi fatwa service in South Africa, notes that Abu Hanifa's two main students disagreed with him. It argues that modern rennet comes from stomach lining that all the imams considered impure, and it concludes that cheese made with it is impermissible today [2].

A Canadian Hanafi answer from Fatwa.ca takes a practical approach. It accepts non-animal rennet, rejects pork rennet, and advises avoiding a cheese if you cannot confirm its rennet source [3].

How to read a cheese label

  • "Microbial enzymes" or "non-animal rennet": acceptable to scholars on all sides [2][3].
  • "Porcine rennet" or pork enzymes: not halal [3].
  • Just "enzymes" or "rennet": the source is unclear. Fatwa.ca suggests calling the manufacturer [3].
  • A halal symbol: the simplest answer. Check which certifier issued it.

Processed cheese spreads and some cheese products may contain gelatin. Its source matters as well [3]. See gelatin.

Halal-certified and microbial cheese in the US

Several large US brands have moved to microbial rennet.

  • Cabot says it uses a microbial enzyme for its cheeses, except processed American slices and a shredded Mexican blend made at other plants. It offers halal cheddars certified by IFANCA, the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America [4].
  • Tillamook says it has used fermentation-produced rennet with kosher and halal certification since 2016, and that most of its cheeses are halal certified [5][7]. See Tillamook.

Always check the specific package, since certification can differ by product.

Cheese types and dishes

Some cheeses raise extra questions. Genuine Italian Parmigiano Reggiano must be made with calf rennet [6]. See parmesan. For everyday cheeses, see cheddar, mozzarella, feta and American cheese.

In restaurants, ask about the cheese as well as the meat. A cheese pizza or mac and cheese can still include animal rennet, bacon or wine.

Frequently asked questions

Is cheese with animal rennet halal?

Scholars differ. If the animal was properly slaughtered, it is fine [1]. If not, Abu Hanifa and one report from Imam Ahmad allowed it, while the majority of Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali scholars did not [1]. Some Hanafi muftis today advise avoiding it [2].

Is microbial rennet halal?

Yes. Microbial rennet is made without animals, and scholars who are strict about animal rennet accept it [2][3]. Look for "microbial enzymes" or "non-animal rennet" on the label.

What does "enzymes" mean on a cheese label?

It can mean animal, microbial or other enzymes, so the label alone does not tell you the source. Fatwa.ca advises contacting the manufacturer, and avoiding the cheese if you remain unsure [3].

Which cheese brands are halal certified in the US?

Cabot offers IFANCA-certified halal cheddars [4], and Tillamook says most of its cheeses are halal certified [7]. Certification varies by product, so look for the halal symbol on the package you buy.

Sources

  1. Ruling on eating cheese if the source of the rennet is not known · IslamQA.info · accessed
  2. The preferred opinion in the Hanafi Mazhab regarding the cheese produced from rennet · Mufti Online (Darul Uloom Zakariyya) · accessed
  3. Could you give an easy to understand guideline for assessing suitability of cheese? · Fatwa.ca via IslamQA.org · accessed
  4. Frequently Asked Questions · Cabot Creamery · accessed
  5. What is rennet? What types of rennet do you use to make your cheese? · Tillamook · accessed
  6. Parmigiano Reggiano production specification (disciplinare) · Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano · accessed
  7. Are any of your products halal? · Tillamook · accessed