Food & Ingredients Articles
Articles and guides in the Food & Ingredients category.
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Is Shallot Halal? Raw Shallots vs Crispy Fried Shallot Products (2026)
Raw shallot is a plain vegetable with no halal concern at all. Packaged crispy fried shallots are usually clean too — shallots and palm oil — but check for animal-derived flavour powders on specific brands.
Is Tteokbokki (Topokki) Halal? Rice Cakes, Fish Cake, and the Gochujang Problem
Tteokbokki's core ingredients — rice cakes, anchovy broth, fish cake — are halal by nature. The real risk is store-bought gochujang, some of which uses alcohol in fermentation or as a preservative.
Is Trader Joe's Vanilla Bean Paste Halal? The Alcohol Question Explained
Both Trader Joe's Vanilla Bean Paste and the Bourbon version contain ethyl alcohol from the concentrated vanilla extract. Here's why that's Mushbooh rather than a clean Halal, and what changes when it's baked.
Is Piaren Ah Manuk Halal? Sabah's Grated Coconut Chicken Curry Explained
Piaren Ah Manuk is a chicken curry from Sabah's Iranun and Bajau communities, made with a rempah spice paste, grated coconut, and coconut milk. Here's why it's halal and where to find it in Malaysia.
Is Mayonnaise Halal? Hellmann's, Heinz, and Homemade Mayo Explained
Is mayonnaise halal? Plain mayo uses eggs, oil, and vinegar — all halal. The concern is the vinegar type and 'natural flavours' in branded products. Here's how to check your jar.
Is Biltong Halal? Cruga, Savanna, and What to Check on the Pack
Is biltong halal? Dried beef biltong requires halal slaughter certification — the beef source is the core question. UK brands like Cruga carry no halal certification. South African halal-certified biltong is widely available.
Is Chocolate Halal? The E-Codes to Check & Brands Ranked (2026)
Plain chocolate (cocoa + sugar + milk) is halal. The risk comes from E471, E442, E120, and E441. Here's which UK brands pass and exactly what to check on any label.