Question: I am having trouble figuring out which cheese is halaal at the grocery. Specifically this problem relates to sliced, individually wrapped cheese only. When I read the ingredients I see things like enzymes and cheese cultures which I am unsure of, among the rest of ingredients. I believe microbial enzymes are halaal but could you confirm this for me please.

What confuses me is that even the halaal brands have the same ingredients so how can I tell if the cheese is in fact halaal even if it is not explicitly stated.

I compared various sliced cheeses to Milkana and Bega products which are said to be certified halaal, and they all have similar ingredients, so does that mean all of them are halaal?

Also is calf's rennet halaal?

Answer: Perhaps the following guidelines may help you decide which cheese is halal:

• Most Cheddar, Parmesan and Mozzarella cheese on the market is made with either calf rennet or microbial rennet.
  
  
• Microbial rennet is accepted by all Scholars of Fiqh as being halal.
  
  
• Calf rennet is accepted by many scholars as halal. This is also the opinion of the Darul Uloom Halal Committee.
  
  
• All of the New Zealand and Australian brands of cheese on the market are halal.
  
  
• The concern about halal cheese has to do with the use of pork rennet or gelatin which will more likely come from the American cheese or American singles. For example Kraft Velveeta singles are not halal, however, Kraft Mac'n Cheese (yellow and white) are halal.
  
  
• If you are doubtful about any particular brand of cheese you can contact the Darul Uloom Halal Committee at 693-0364 or 682-4474 for more information.
  

Darul Uloom Halal Committee