Halal is an Arabic word, meaning lawful, and is the Islamic dietary law that identifies food permitted for Muslims.
The consensus is that food/drinks must be free of pork, alcohol/intoxicants, poisons, harmful ingredients, or unhygienic elements. The animals that are allowed for consumption must be slaughtered per the methods prescribed under Islamic law, known as Zabihah.
Halal food items include: Zabiha meat (beef and lamb) and poultry. Fish with scales.
Haram Foods (Not Permitted)
• Pork and its by-products e.g. gelatin, lipase, pepsin
• Meat from animals not slaughtered according to the Islamic dietary law
• Alcohol and foods prepared with alcohol e.g. candies and cakes that include alcohol such as rum cake
• Foods made with pure or artificial vanilla extract (vanilla is prepared with alcohol)
• Foods containing blood and blood by-products e.g. blood pudding
• Foods made with any of the following: whey prepared with non-microbial enzyme, rennet, animal shortening, monoglycerides and diglycerides from an animal source, sodium stearoyl- lactylate, L-cysteine.