The Halal Check Online blog
Halal food, made simple
Short, practical guides to shopping and eating halal with confidence. New posts every week.
Featured · How-to · 2 min read
How to Read Any Food Label for Halal in 60 Seconds
A simple four-step routine for checking a food label in the shop: logos first, then meat, gelatine, alcohol and the doubtful E-numbers.
Read the guide →How-to · 2 min read
How to Read Any Food Label for Halal in 60 Seconds
A simple four-step routine for checking a food label in the shop: logos first, then meat, gelatine, alcohol and the doubtful E-numbers.
Shopping · 2 min read
Halal Fast Food in the UK: Which Chains Are Halal?
Which UK fast food chains serve halal meat? KFC, Nando's, Subway, McDonald's, Popeyes and more — and how to check your local branch before you order.
Ingredients · 2 min read
Is Gelatine Halal? Pork, Beef and Fish Gelatine Explained
Gelatine is in sweets, yoghurts, desserts and capsules. Learn when gelatine is halal, why most UK gelatine is pork, and which halal alternatives to look for.
Shopping · 2 min read
Is It Halal? 15 Popular UK Snacks Checked
KitKat, Skittles, Oreos, Pringles, Walkers, Doritos and more: which popular UK snacks are halal, which need a closer look, and what to check on the pack.
How-to · 2 min read
Halal Investing in the UK: ISAs, Pensions and Funds
A plain-English guide to halal investing in the UK: Lifetime ISAs, workplace pensions, index funds, shares and crypto — and how to keep your savings halal.
Shopping · 2 min read
Ramadan Halal Shopping List: What to Check Before Iftar
A practical Ramadan halal shopping checklist: dates, drinks, desserts, meat and snacks — the ingredients to watch for and how to check labels quickly.
How-to · 2 min read
What Does Mushbooh Mean? Doubtful Halal Ingredients
Mushbooh means doubtful. Learn which ingredients are mushbooh, why E471, flavourings and enzymes are doubtful, and what to do when a halal check is unclear.
How-to · 2 min read
Halal Explained for Non-Muslims: Hosting, Work Events and Catering
A friendly, practical guide for non-Muslims: what halal means, what Muslims can and can't eat, and how to host a Muslim guest, colleague or pupil with confidence.
Certification · 2 min read
How to Get Halal Certified: UK Restaurants and Food Businesses
A step-by-step guide for UK restaurants, takeaways and food producers: choosing a halal certifier, what inspectors check, costs and renewals.
Shopping · 2 min read
Halal Sweets: What to Look For Before You Buy
Most chewy sweets contain gelatine. How to spot halal-friendly sweets using the ingredient list: pectin, agar, starch and beef gelatine.

Ingredients · 2 min read
Is Cheese Halal? Rennet, Enzymes and What to Look For
Cheese is made with rennet, which can come from calves or microbes. How to tell which cheeses are fine, and why Parmesan is different.

Ingredients · 2 min read
Is Vanilla Extract Halal? Extract vs Flavouring vs Vanillin
Vanilla extract is made with alcohol. Here is what scholars say, and which vanilla ingredients are clearly fine.
E-numbers · 2 min read
E-Numbers Muslims Should Check: The Short List
The handful of E-numbers that actually matter for halal — which are haram, which are doubtful, and how to tell from the label.

Certification · 2 min read
HMC vs HFA: What the Two UK Halal Logos Actually Mean
The difference between HMC and HFA halal certification in the UK, explained simply — stunning, machine slaughter and what to look for on the pack.