Food · RUKN
Halal Food and Certification: What It Means, Who Pays, and Who Benefits
Halal means permissible under Islamic law: food a Muslim is allowed to eat. Non-Muslims can eat halal food too. Certification assesses ingredients and production under a particular standard, which is why the label can appear on snacks, vegetarian foods and seafood as well as meat.
A halal label can appear on chicken, chocolate, vegetable noodles or a seafood meal. If halal is often discussed in connection with meat, why do those other products carry the same word?
The answer begins with what halal means. Understanding that makes the questions about certification, costs and international trade much easier to follow.
What does halal mean?
Halal is Arabic for lawful or permissible under Islamic law. When applied to food, permissible means that a Muslim is allowed to eat or drink it. It does not mean that they must eat that particular food. The opposite is haram: prohibited. IFANCA: meaning of halal
Halal is not a cuisine or a special recipe. Rice, fruit, vegetables, bread and many other familiar foods can be halal. A curry, pasta dish or sandwich can also be halal when its ingredients and preparation meet the relevant requirements.
The rules include prohibitions on pork, blood and intoxicating drinks, alongside requirements concerning meat and contact with prohibited substances. These considerations can extend to processing, equipment, transport and storage. Codex guidance on halal food
Can a non-Muslim eat halal food?
Yes. Halal food is not reserved for Muslims. The label describes the food’s status under Islamic dietary rules; it does not require the person eating it to be Muslim. Islamic Services of America: halal information
Eating a halal meal does not require adopting Islamic beliefs or taking part in worship. A person may choose it to share a meal with Muslim friends, because it is available, or simply because they enjoy it.
People can still follow their own religious, ethical and dietary requirements. Halal does not automatically mean a food meets every other person’s needs.
Does halal meat mean an animal was sacrificed to Allah?
The word halal alone does not mean an animal was offered as a ritual sacrifice.
Islamic slaughter has religious requirements, including invoking God’s name under the standards used by halal certifiers. Allah is Arabic for God. Codex’s halal guidelines include saying “Bismillah,” meaning “in the name of Allah,” immediately before slaughter. Codex slaughter guidance
That is distinct from udhiyah, also called qurbani, the particular sacrifice associated with Eid al-Adha. Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta distinguishes that rite from animals slaughtered for sale, ordinary eating or feeding guests. Dar al-Ifta on udhiyah (Arabic)
Ordinary halal meat and Eid sacrificial meat can both be halal, but they are not interchangeable descriptions. Saying God’s name during slaughter does not, by itself, mean the meat is an Eid sacrifice.
A halal certificate on a biscuit or vegetable sauce does not mean an animal was sacrificed for it. The assessment concerns its ingredients and production.
Why do snacks and vegetarian foods carry halal labels?
Because the assessment goes beyond visible pieces of meat.
A sweet may contain gelatine. A cheese-flavoured snack may contain ingredients produced using enzymes. Emulsifiers, flavourings and additives can come from different sources. Processing aids and shared equipment may also need examination.
US-based IFANCA identifies these ingredient-source questions in its consumer guidance. An unfamiliar ingredient is not automatically prohibited; its source or processing may need clarification. IFANCA: ingredients and halal status
Vegetarian food does not necessarily settle every halal question. A dish might contain alcohol used in cooking, while a processed product may need checks on flavourings and production conditions. Halal Monitoring Services food guide
A halal logo on a plant-based product can therefore indicate that relevant ingredients and processes were assessed. It does not mean vegetables require slaughter or a religious ceremony.
What about seafood?
Fish do not require the livestock-slaughter procedure used for cattle or poultry. But a prepared seafood dish can contain other ingredients that need checking, such as sauces or cooking alcohol. HMS seafood guidance
There is also no single answer for every aquatic species across all Muslim traditions. Malaysia’s Federal Territories Mufti Office discusses a broad allowance for aquatic animals with qualifications. The office of Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani gives a more restrictive ruling, allowing fish with scales and shrimp while excluding other specified marine animals. Malaysian guidance · Sistani’s guidance
For a certified seafood product, useful questions include the species, added ingredients, processing and the standard the certifier applies.
What does certification add?
Halal status and certification are related but different. Halal status concerns religious permissibility. Certification provides a documented assessment under a particular scheme.
For example, IFANCA’s published process includes an application, fee quotation, technical review, on-site audit and final certification decision. For consumers who cannot inspect a factory or investigate every supplier, this can provide useful assurance. IFANCA certification process
The absence of a certificate does not automatically make food haram. Malaysia’s Federal Territories Mufti Office permits eating at an uncertified restaurant when its ingredients and preparation are reliably known to meet Islamic requirements, while recommending recognised certification to reduce uncertainty. Guidance on restaurants without halal logos (Malay PDF)
A business’s legal duty to obtain certification is a separate issue. Religious permissibility does not remove obligations imposed by the market where the product is sold.
Kosher offers a useful comparison
Kosher certification is another example of assessing food against religious dietary requirements. The Orthodox Union explains that its process examines ingredients and production, including a facility visit and continuing supervision. This helps explain why religious certification can matter for manufactured foods beyond meat. OU Kosher certification
The comparison has limits. Jewish and Islamic dietary rules are distinct, and a kosher symbol is not automatically a substitute for halal assurance. We explored the differences in our earlier article: What is kosher, and can Muslims eat kosher food?
Why systems differ around the world
There is no single worldwide administrative system for halal certification.
In Malaysia, JAKIM’s 2024 statement describes applications for its national scheme as voluntary, while explaining the legal framework governing certification and marking and discussing local licensing initiatives. JAKIM clarification (Malay)
In Australia, the government’s register for halal red-meat exports identifies approved organisations and their recognition by particular importing markets. A certifier accepted for one destination may not have the same recognition for another. Australian government register
In Indonesia, BPJPH administers legal certification obligations in phases. Its October 2026 explanation of PP 40/2026 maintains the requirements that have applied since 18 October 2024 to food, drinks, slaughter products and slaughter services from medium and large businesses. For those categories, the micro and small-business phase runs to 17 October 2028; requirements for the specified foreign products and slaughter services begin on 18 October 2028. Businesses need to check which category applies to them. BPJPH explanation (Indonesian)
These examples show why one country’s arrangements should not be presented as the global rule.
Who pays, and does it increase prices?
Funding depends on the scheme. IFANCA’s process includes a fee quotation or invoice for the applicant. Other arrangements exist: Indonesia’s SEHATI programme offers free certification to eligible micro and small businesses, subject to its criteria and availability. Assessment requirements still apply. IFANCA · BPJPH SEHATI (Indonesian)
There is no universal price or funding model. A business may also incur costs for staff time, records, training or operational changes.
Whether those costs affect the retail price requires evidence about the particular business, its output, pricing and competition. It is too broad to claim certification always creates a substantial surcharge, and equally unwarranted to promise it can never affect prices.
Who benefits?
Consumers can gain information and reassurance about products they cannot easily investigate themselves. Businesses can serve customers who need halal assurance and meet requirements in particular markets. Certifying organisations receive revenue where their services are fee-funded.
That makes transparent charges, competent assessment and credible oversight important. Certifiers should be able to explain their standards, what a certificate covers, and how complaints or non-compliance are handled. A fee does not establish wrongdoing; a religious purpose does not remove the need for accountability.
Reading the label with the right expectations
A halal mark is most useful when you can identify its issuer, verify its current status and understand its scope. A certificate for one product or premises should not automatically be extended to everything a business sells. For practical steps, see our guide: How to check a halal certificate and logo.
A halal label should not be treated as a guarantee of superior nutrition. Codex cautions against using halal claims to imply a product is healthier or nutritionally superior to other foods. Codex guidance
Halal tells us about religious permissibility. Certification tells us that particular requirements have been assessed. Understanding both helps us respect Muslim dietary practice, welcome non-Muslim diners and ask sensible questions about the organisations behind the mark.
Related reading: Halal food and ingredients: what to check. Are vegetarian and vegan foods always halal?. Are prawns, crabs and other shellfish halal?. Browse Food articles.
