Is Parmesan Cheese Halal? Calf Rennet Explained

Most cheeses can be made with animal or microbial rennet, depending on the maker. Genuine Parmigiano Reggiano cannot.

The official production rules for Parmigiano Reggiano, set by its consortium in Italy, say the milk must be curdled only with calf rennet. Additives are not allowed ^[1]. The consortium describes the cheese as made from just milk, salt and rennet ^[2].

This means every wheel of real Parmigiano Reggiano uses animal rennet. Unless the calves were slaughtered Islamically, it falls into the area where scholars differ.

IslamQA.info explains the classic difference. Rennet from a properly slaughtered halal animal is pure and fine to eat. For rennet from an animal not slaughtered Islamically, the majority of Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali scholars held it to be impure. Abu Hanifa, and one report from Imam Ahmad, held it to be pure, and Ibn Taymiyyah favored that view. The answer concludes that eating such cheese is not wrong ^[4].

Other scholars are stricter. Mufti Online, a Hanafi fatwa service in South Africa, notes that Abu Hanifa's students disagreed with him and concludes that cheese with modern animal rennet is impermissible ^[5]. Fatwa.ca advises avoiding cheese when you cannot confirm the rennet source ^[6].

So whether regular Parmigiano Reggiano is acceptable to you depends on which of these views you follow. If you follow the stricter view, you would avoid regular Parmigiano Reggiano and choose a halal-certified wedge instead ^[2][5].

The consortium's own glossary describes a halal-certified version of Parmigiano Reggiano. It follows the same official production rules and is certified to Islamic dietary standards, with traceability through every stage of production ^[2].

If you want real Parmigiano Reggiano without the rennet question, look for a halal mark and the name of the certifying body on the package or wedge. Ask your cheese counter or importer if you do not see one.

Outside the EU, the name "parmesan" has become generic and is legally used for imitations ^[3]. Some American generic parmesan is sold already grated and aged less than 12 months ^[3].

Because these cheeses are not bound by the Italian rules, they can use animal or microbial rennet. You have to check each brand:

• Look for "microbial enzymes" or "vegetarian" on the label.
• Look for a halal symbol.
• If the label just says "enzymes," contact the maker, as Fatwa.ca suggests ^[6].

Grated parmesan in shakers may also contain cellulose to stop clumping ^[3]. This plant-based additive raises no halal concern.

Parmesan turns up in Caesar dressing, pesto, Alfredo sauce and on pasta and pizza. Restaurants rarely know the rennet source, so ask, or choose dishes without it if you avoid animal rennet. Caesar dressing often contains anchovies too; see anchovies.

For other cheeses, see cheese, mozzarella and cheddar.