Marks & Spencer occupies a unique position among UK supermarkets. Its food halls are renowned for quality, detailed labelling, and premium products — and that transparency is genuinely valuable for halal shoppers who need to make informed decisions. The meat department is a complete no-go, but M&S offers more halal-friendly options than you might expect, including some well-known category wins that have made headlines in the Muslim community.
M&S Meat: A Complete No
Marks & Spencer does not hold halal certification for any of its meat or poultry products. There are no halal counters, no halal-labelled packaged chicken, and no plans (as of 2026) to offer certified halal meat. This applies to:
- All M&S fresh chicken (including the premium Oakham Gold chicken)
- M&S beef, lamb, duck, and pork products
- All M&S prepared meat products (pâté, sliced meats, cooked chicken)
- M&S Dine In and Select Farms meat products
The quality of M&S meat is not in question — the halal certification is. Avoid all meat at M&S.
The Percy Pigs Story: A Landmark Reformulation
Percy Pigs are perhaps the most discussed product in M&S’s history from a halal perspective — and the news is genuinely good. The original Percy Pig sweets, introduced in 1992, contained pork gelatine. This made them haram for Muslim shoppers, which was a particular frustration given how beloved the product is.
In 2020, M&S reformulated Percy Pigs to be completely vegan. The pork gelatine was removed and replaced with a plant-based alternative. The entire Percy Pigs range became:
- Free of pork gelatine
- Free of animal gelatine of any kind
- Suitable for vegans
- Halal-friendly
This was significant enough to make national news. Percy Pigs — the pink pig sweets, the Percy Pig-flavoured products, and the various Percy Pig line extensions — are now halal. Always verify the current label on any new Percy Pig product, as M&S regularly launches new variants and you should confirm each one individually.
M&S Plant Kitchen: Fully Halal-Friendly
The M&S Plant Kitchen range was launched in 2019 and has been expanding steadily. It is entirely plant-based and vegan, which means:
- No meat of any kind
- No gelatine (pork or beef)
- No animal rennet
- No lard or tallow
Plant Kitchen products include ready meals, meat alternatives, dairy alternatives, snacks, and desserts. For Muslim shoppers, this range is one of the safest in any UK supermarket. Items to look for:
- Plant Kitchen burgers and sausages
- Plant Kitchen ready meals (curries, pasta dishes, Asian meals)
- Plant Kitchen dairy-free desserts
- Plant Kitchen deli-style products
As with all plant-based products, check for alcohol-based flavourings in marinades and sauces, and the rare possibility of E120 in brightly coloured products.
M&S Cheese: Labelling That Works For You
M&S is notable for its cheese labelling. Unlike some supermarkets where you must hunt for the vegetarian indicator, M&S is generally clear about rennet sources — and a good portion of the M&S cheese range uses vegetarian (microbial) rennet.
M&S Simply Food cheese range: Look for the “suitable for vegetarians” label. Many M&S own-brand Cheddar products, Brie, Camembert-style, and soft cheeses carry this marking.
M&S Wensleydale, Cheshire, and regional cheeses: These are more variable. Some traditionally-made regional cheeses are required by their PDO designation to use animal rennet. Check each one.
M&S Continental cheese imports: Authentic Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano), Pecorino Romano, Manchego, and similar PDO cheeses legally require animal rennet — not halal.
M&S premium cheese selection boxes: Individual cheese varieties within selection boxes may use different rennet types — read each component separately.
The bottom line: M&S cheese labelling is better than most. Use the vegetarian indicator as your primary guide and you can find good halal-safe cheese options here.
M&S Cakes and Baked Goods: Watch E471 and E476
The M&S bakery and cake range is popular, but requires E-code attention. Two emulsifiers appear regularly:
E471 (mono and diglycerides of fatty acids): Used in M&S own-brand cakes, muffins, and some breads. The source (animal or vegetable) is not specified on the label. When animal-derived, it is not halal.
E476 (polyglycerol polyricinoleate): Found in M&S chocolate products and chocolate-coated items. Can be derived from castor oil (vegetable) or animal fat — source unspecified.
M&S takes pride in clean ingredient labels compared to many competitors, and some of their premium cake range uses real butter and identifiable ingredients without complex E-codes. The Colin the Caterpillar cake range, for example, has been through various formulations — check current ingredients for gelatine in any mousse or jelly elements.
Gelatine watch: M&S desserts with jelly, mousse, or whipped cream elements may contain E441 (gelatine). M&S tends to use beef gelatine rather than pork in some products — but unless the label specifies “halal beef gelatine,” this is still a matter of debate among scholars. Check the current label and make your own determination.
M&S Ready Meals
M&S ready meals are a significant category — they are some of the best-reviewed chilled ready meals in UK retail. For halal shoppers:
- All M&S meat-based ready meals: Not halal — avoid (this includes Dine In range, Count On Us, and standard ready meals)
- M&S vegetarian ready meals: Generally halal-safe — check for E471 in creamy sauces
- M&S Plant Kitchen ready meals: Fully plant-based — generally halal
M&S does not label any of its mainstream ready meals as halal. For meat-based ready meals, this is a category to skip.
M&S Snacks and Confectionery
The M&S snack range is a pleasant surprise in several respects. M&S has reduced its use of artificial additives, which means fewer E-code concerns than some budget ranges:
- M&S own-brand crisps: generally lower in E-codes than budget supermarket equivalents. Check flavoured varieties for E631.
- M&S chocolate range: plain chocolate bars are generally halal. Filled chocolates with fondant, toffee, or caramel centres should be checked.
- M&S confectionery (beyond Percy Pigs): check each product. Some M&S sweets use gelatine — check whether animal-derived or plant-based.
- M&S nuts, trail mixes, and dried fruit: generally halal and clean in ingredients.
M&S Dine In Range
The M&S Dine In range — promoted as restaurant-quality meal deals — includes meat-based mains, sides, and desserts. The meat components are not halal certified. Side dishes (potato dauphinoise, roasted vegetables) and desserts need individual checking. Some Dine In desserts (cheesecakes, mousse-based desserts, panna cotta) may contain gelatine.
Summary
| Category | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Meat | No halal certification — avoid entirely |
| Percy Pigs | Reformulated 2020 — vegan and halal |
| Plant Kitchen range | Fully plant-based — generally halal |
| Cheese (vegetarian-labelled) | Halal — good labelling standard |
| Cheese (PDO / traditional) | Often animal rennet — check |
| Cakes and bakery | Check for E471 and E476 |
| Ready meals (meat) | Not halal — avoid |
| Vegetarian ready meals | Generally halal — check sauces |
| Snacks and crisps | Check flavoured varieties for E631 |
| Confectionery | Check gelatine type per product |
Ingredients change. Be first to know.
Brands reformulate without warning. We track every E-code update and halal certification — one short weekly email.
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