Skip to content

Is Vinegar Halal? Spirit, Cider & Wine Vinegar Explained

Short answer Depends

Vinegar is widely treated as halal, and a hadith in Sahih Muslim praises it as a condiment [2]. The debate is about vinegar made on purpose from wine or alcohol. Hanafi scholars allow it [4][5], while Shafi'i and Hanbali scholars accept only wine that turned to vinegar by itself [3][6]. If you're unsure, ask a scholar you trust.

Last verified:

What the schools of thought say

SchoolViewSource
Hanafi Vinegar is permissible whether wine turned into vinegar on its own or was turned on purpose. SeekersGuidance and Qibla answers extend this to spirit (distilled) vinegar. [4][5][6]
Maliki Turning wine into vinegar on purpose is not allowed, but Darul Ifta Birmingham reports that Malikis permit consuming the vinegar once it has formed. Islam Q&A notes some Malikis prohibit it. [6][3]
Shafi'i Wine that becomes vinegar by itself is pure; deliberately converting it is not allowed. A SeekersGuidance Shafi'i answer says it is acceptable to follow the Hanafi view for commercial vinegar, since production is hard to verify. [6][7]
Hanbali Deliberately turning wine into vinegar is impermissible, and the resulting vinegar may not be consumed. Vinegar that formed naturally is permissible. [6][3]
Store-bought vinegar (Islam Q&A) A Muslim may buy vinegar from a seller unless he knows it was deliberately made from wine, citing a report from 'Umar. [3]

What vinegar is and how it's made

Vinegar is made in two steps. First, yeast turns the sugar in a juice or grain mash into alcohol. Then bacteria turn that alcohol into acetic acid. The US FDA lists several types, each made this way: cider (apple) vinegar, wine (grape) vinegar, malt vinegar, sugar vinegar, glucose vinegar, and spirit vinegar, which is also called distilled or grain vinegar [1]. Spirit vinegar starts from diluted distilled alcohol [1].

The FDA expects each type to contain at least 4 grams of acetic acid per 100 mL [1]. In the EU and UK, acetic acid used as an additive has its own code, E260 [11], but vinegar itself is listed by name.

Because vinegar passes through an alcohol stage, a small amount can remain. A Malaysian study of 12 commercial vinegars found ethanol levels from zero to about 0.59% [10]. The same study notes that Malaysia's fatwa committee accepts naturally occurring ethanol below set limits in foods [10].

What the hadith say

Vinegar has a positive place in the Sunnah. In Sahih Muslim, 'A'isha reports that the Prophet called vinegar the best of condiments [2]. Islam Q&A cites this as the reason scholars agree that wine which turns into vinegar on its own is permissible to eat and drink [3].

There is also a report from Anas ibn Malik. The Prophet was asked about making vinegar out of wine, and he said no [9]. Scholars read this hadith differently:

  • Shafi'i and Hanbali scholars take it as a ban on deliberately turning wine into vinegar [3][6].
  • Hanafi scholars explain it as a ruling for the early period after wine was banned, or as advice about what is fitting rather than a strict prohibition [5].

Distilled, cider and malt vinegar

Most vinegar sold in US supermarkets is distilled (white) vinegar or apple cider vinegar. Neither is made from grape wine [1].

The Hanafi answers we reviewed treat these as halal. Mufti Ebrahim Desai answered briefly that spirit vinegar and wine vinegar are both halal [8]. A SeekersGuidance answer says vinegar from wines and spirits is permitted [5]. Shaykh Faraz Rabbani gives the same Hanafi ruling for ketchup and mayonnaise made with spirit vinegar [4].

The Shafi'i school sets conditions, such as nothing impure being added during fermentation [7]. A SeekersGuidance Shafi'i scholar notes that these conditions are hard to check in factory vinegar, so following the Hanafi position there is acceptable [7].

Wine, balsamic and other vinegars

Wine vinegar is where the schools differ most. If you follow the Hanafi view, it is permissible either way [4][6]. If you follow the Shafi'i or Hanbali view, it depends on whether the wine was turned on purpose, which a label rarely tells you [3][6].

We cover each type on its own page:

Vinegar is also a common ingredient in sauces. See our pages on mayonnaise and soy sauce.

How to check a label

  • Look at the type. "Distilled," "white," "cider" and "malt" vinegar are not made from wine [1]. "Wine," "red wine," "sherry" and "balsamic" are grape-based.
  • Watch for cooking wine. Vinegar is different from cooking wine or mirin, which are alcoholic seasonings.
  • Check mixed products. Dressings and sauces may list several vinegars. Read the full ingredient list.
  • Pick a view and stay consistent. If wine vinegar is a concern for you, choose distilled or cider vinegar, or a product with a halal mark.

Frequently asked questions

Is white distilled vinegar halal?

Most scholars we reviewed treat it as halal. It is made from diluted distilled alcohol that bacteria turn into acetic acid [1]. Hanafi answers from SeekersGuidance and Mufti Ebrahim Desai say spirit vinegar is permitted [5][8].

Is apple cider vinegar halal?

Yes, in the views we reviewed. Apple cider vinegar is made by fermenting apple juice to alcohol and then to acetic acid [1]. It is not made from grape wine, so the wine vinegar debate does not apply in the same way.

Does vinegar contain alcohol?

It can contain a small trace. A Malaysian study of 12 commercial vinegars found ethanol from zero to about 0.59% [10]. Most of the alcohol is turned into acetic acid during fermentation, which is what makes vinegar sour [1].

Is wine vinegar halal?

Scholars differ. Hanafis allow it even when made on purpose [4][6]. Shafi'is and Hanbalis accept only wine that turned to vinegar by itself [3][6]. If you're unsure, ask a scholar you trust.

Sources

  1. CPG Sec 525.825 Vinegar, Definitions - Adulteration with Vinegar Eels · US Food and Drug Administration · accessed
  2. Sahih Muslim 2051a (the best of condiments is vinegar) · Sunnah.com · accessed
  3. Is Wine Vinegar Halal? · Islam Question & Answer · accessed
  4. Mayonnaise and tomato ketchup contain spirit vinegar, are they haram to consume · IslamQA.org (Qibla, Shaykh Faraz Rabbani) · accessed
  5. Are Wine Vinegar and Spirit Vinegar Permissible? · SeekersGuidance · accessed
  6. Ruling on vinegar made from wine · Darul Ifta Birmingham · accessed
  7. Is Vinegar Permissible in the Shafi'i School? · SeekersGuidance · accessed
  8. Spirit and Wine Vinegar · IslamQA.org (Albalagh, Mufti Ebrahim Desai) · accessed
  9. Bulugh al-Maram 24 (making vinegar out of wine) · Sunnah.com · accessed
  10. Study on physiochemical properties and the halalness of commercially marketed vinegar in Malaysia · International Food Research Journal (via FAO AGRIS) · accessed
  11. Approved additives and E numbers · Food Standards Agency (GOV.UK) · accessed