Is Papa John's Halal?

Papa John's is one of the biggest pizza chains in the US, with about 3,500 US stores ^[2]. It does not hold a chain-wide halal certificate, and it does not publish a halal statement for its US menu.

The halal certifier HMS (Halal Monitoring Services) says plainly that it has not inspected or certified Papa John's ^[1]. HMS has not checked the slaughterhouses, processors or distributors behind the chain's meat toppings, so it cannot confirm that the meat is zabiha ^[1].

That does not prove that every item is haram. It means that no one has verified the meat for you. For the US, the honest answer is "not certified."

Many Muslims who avoid uncertified meat still order cheese or veggie pizza. Whether that works for you depends on a few things that Papa John's does not certify:

• Cheese. Cheese can be made with animal rennet or microbial enzymes. Scholars differ on cheese made with rennet from animals that were not slaughtered the halal way. Our page on cheese explains the main views.
• Shared prep. Pizza makers use the same counters, cutters and ovens for all pizzas. Meat toppings can touch a cheese pizza.
• Pork toppings. Read the menu and ingredient list for toppings like pepperoni, sausage and bacon, and avoid any that contain pork. Our page on pepperoni covers what it is usually made from.
• Dipping sauces and sides. Check the allergen and ingredient guide for animal-based ingredients.

If you're strict about cross-contact, a pizza place with a full halal certificate is the safer pick.

Papa John's operates in about 50 countries ^[2]. Each market is run by a local company or franchisee, and each picks its own suppliers. That is why halal status can change from one country to the next.

The company lists stores across the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait ^[3]. In these markets, ask the local brand for its halal policy or look for the certificate in store.

In the UK, where Papa John's has traded since 1999 ^[2], some branches are said to use halal chicken. We could not verify an official statement, so treat it as unconfirmed and ask your branch. The same goes for Canada ^[3].

Use these steps before you order:

1. Ask for the certificate. A real halal certificate names the certifier, the store address and an expiry date.
2. Check the certifier's directory. HMS says any Papa John's it certifies would be listed in its online directory ^[1].
3. Ask what it covers. A certificate may cover only some products, such as the chicken, and not the whole menu ^[1].
4. Don't rely on staff alone. A staff member may believe the meat is halal without knowing the supply chain.

For other pizza options, compare our pages on Domino's, Little Caesars and Pizza Hut.