Halal product scanner
Scan a barcode with your camera, or type it in. We look up the product in the open OpenFoodFacts database, check every ingredient against our rules for haram and doubtful substances, and give you a verdict in seconds.
What we check for
Pork and pork derivatives (pork, bacon, lard). Alcohol and ethanol. Gelatin of unspecified source. Common animal-derived additives and E-numbers: E120 carmine, E441 gelatin, E471 and E472 mono/diglycerides, E904 shellac, E920 L-cysteine. Enzymes like rennet, pepsin, and lipase when the source is not stated. Certain ambiguous flavourings and glycerin.
We also look for positive halal certification signals on the label (halal, zabiha, HMC, IFANCA, JAKIM, MUIS, MUI). A labelled halal product with no flagged ingredients passes cleanly.
Important disclaimer
This tool is a strong first filter, not a fatwa. Product data comes from a community-maintained database and can be outdated. Many additives can be halal or haram depending on their source. For anything critical, read the physical label, contact the manufacturer, or consult a scholar. We follow the Prophetic guidance: "Leave what makes you doubt for what does not." (Tirmidhi 2518)
Frequently asked
How does the scanner work?+
You scan the product's barcode with your camera (or type it in manually). We look up the product in OpenFoodFacts, a free open-source food database with over 3 million products. Then we check each ingredient against our rules for haram and doubtful substances, and show you the verdict.
Is it always right?+
It is a strong first filter, not a fatwa. Three reasons it can be wrong: (1) the ingredient list in the database can be outdated; (2) many additives can be halal or haram depending on source; (3) the scholarly ruling on a specific ingredient may vary. Always read the physical label, and for serious cases, consult a scholar.
What does 'doubtful' mean?+
The product contains an ingredient that can be halal or haram depending on its source (for example gelatin, which can be pork-based or beef-based or plant-based). If the label does not specify, scholarly caution says to avoid it or verify with the manufacturer. 'When in doubt, leave it.' (Tirmidhi 2518)
Is gelatin halal?+
It depends on the source. Gelatin from halal-slaughtered (zabihah) cattle is halal. Gelatin from pork is haram. Fish gelatin is halal. Plant-based alternatives (agar, carrageenan) are halal. Unspecified gelatin on a label is doubtful.
Is E120 (carmine) halal?+
Carmine is a red dye made from crushed cochineal insects. The majority of contemporary scholars permit it because it comes from a permissible creature, but a traditional position considers it doubtful. We flag it as doubtful by default so you can decide.
Is vanilla extract halal?+
Traditional vanilla extract is made with ethanol. Some scholars permit it because the alcohol burns off in cooking and is present in trace amounts, others avoid it. Synthetic vanillin or glycerin-based vanilla extract is clearly halal.
Does the scanner work without signing in?+
Yes, fully. No account needed, no data saved. Sign-in unlocks other parts of Barakah (tasbih, prayer tracker, zakat) but the halal scanner is always free and open.
Which products are covered?+
Any barcode in OpenFoodFacts, which covers most packaged food sold in North America, Europe, and many other regions. Coverage is weaker for local brands in some markets. If a product is not found, you can still enter the ingredients manually and check.
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