Is Salami Halal? Pork, Beef Salami and Wine

Salami is a cured sausage of fermented, air-dried meat, and it is typically made from pork ^[1]. Countries across Europe make their own versions ^[1].

In US delis, the most common type is Genoa salami. It is usually pork alone, sometimes with a little beef ^[2]. Its tangy taste comes from fermentation, and it is often seasoned with wine ^[2]. Hard salami, cotto salami and soppressata are also mostly pork.

So a plain "salami" at a US deli counter is almost always not halal.

The Qur'an names pork among the forbidden meats ^[3]. Any salami that contains pork, even mixed with beef, is not halal.

Wine is a second problem. The Qur'an calls intoxicants a defilement to avoid ^[5]. Many salamis use wine for flavor. Even a beef salami made with wine would not be accepted by most scholars and halal certifiers. Some products also use natural flavorings or cultures that are hard to trace, which is why certification helps.

Halal salami does exist. Halal brands make beef, chicken and turkey salami, often in Italian, Lebanese or Turkish styles. Halal butchers and Middle Eastern or South Asian grocers usually stock them.

A beef salami is only halal if the cow was slaughtered the Islamic way, with God's name said ^[3][4]. Kosher beef salami, such as the kind sold at Jewish delis, uses no pork, but scholars differ on whether kosher meat counts as halal ^[4]. See our kosher vs halal guide.

Turkey salami from mainstream brands is also common. It is pork-free, but usually not halal-certified, and the casing may be pork-based. Check the label.

Salami often appears where you might not expect it. Charcuterie boards, Italian subs, antipasto salads, muffuletta sandwiches and some pasta salads all commonly include pork salami. At parties and catered events, ask what the cured meats are before eating.

If you want a halal charcuterie board, build it from certified halal beef or turkey salami, halal pastrami or bresaola-style dried beef from a halal brand. Pair it with cheeses made with microbial rennet; see our cheese page for what to check. For Italian subs, ask a halal deli to swap in certified halal meats.

• Meat: Look for pork, pork fat or "pork casing". If any appear, it is not halal.
• Wine: Look for wine, red wine or wine vinegar in the ingredients. Genoa-style salami is often made with wine ^[2].
• Casing: Natural casings may come from pork intestines. Collagen casings can be beef or pork.
• Certification: Look for a named halal certifier, not just the word "halal".
• Pizza and sandwiches: Salami on pizza is usually pork. Ask the restaurant or choose a certified halal pizzeria.

For similar meats, see our pepperoni, pastrami and pork pages.