Biltong is cured, dried meat — traditionally beef — originating from South Africa. It has become widely popular in the UK, particularly among halal consumers who prefer it as a high-protein snack. But the question of whether biltong is halal is more nuanced than it looks.
The Core Halal Question: Slaughter Certification
Biltong is made from beef (or sometimes ostrich, venison, or game meat). For beef to be halal:
- The animal must be slaughtered by a Muslim following Islamic rites (zabiha)
- The name of Allah must be recited at the point of slaughter
- The animal must be alive and healthy at slaughter
- Blood must drain from the body
The curing process — vinegar, salt, spices, and drying — does not affect halal status. The slaughter is the only question that matters for plain biltong made with permissible meat.
For beef biltong: the slaughter must be halal-certified. A label that simply says “beef” with no halal certification tells you nothing about the slaughter method.
Is Cruga Biltong Halal?
Cruga is a UK-based biltong brand, widely available in Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Holland & Barrett, and online. It is one of the most searched biltong brands in the UK.
Cruga does not carry halal certification. The beef used in Cruga biltong comes from conventional UK slaughterhouses, which do not use halal slaughter methods.
Cruga’s packaging makes no halal claims and does not display any halal certification logo.
Verdict: Not halal — conventional (non-zabiha) beef slaughter.
Is Savanna Biltong Halal?
Savanna Biltong (another UK brand sold in specialist shops and online) similarly does not carry halal certification on its standard UK range.
Check the specific product’s current label — some specialist importers stock South African biltong that is halal-certified for the export market.
South African Biltong — A Different Story
In South Africa, halal-certified biltong is widely produced and consumed. South Africa has a significant Muslim population concentrated in the Western Cape, and halal biltong is a mainstream product in most butcheries and supermarkets.
South African halal biltong typically carries certification from:
- MJC (Muslim Judicial Council) — Cape-based halal authority
- NIHT (National Independent Halaal Trust)
- SANHA (South African National Halaal Authority)
If you are purchasing imported South African biltong in the UK, look for one of these certification marks on the packet. Do not assume all South African biltong is halal — conventional (non-halal) biltong is also produced and exported.
The Curing Ingredients — Secondary Check
Beyond slaughter, check the curing ingredients:
| Ingredient | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beef (halal-slaughtered) | Halal | Core requirement |
| Salt | Halal | |
| Vinegar (spirit or malt) | Halal | |
| Wine vinegar | Mushbooh | Contested — some scholars accept |
| Brown sugar or coriander | Halal | |
| E250 — Sodium Nitrite | Halal | Synthetic preservative — synthetic, halal |
| E252 — Potassium Nitrate | Halal | Synthetic preservative — halal |
| Natural flavours | Mushbooh | Source not disclosed |
The most common concern after slaughter is natural flavours — which can legally include animal-derived substances in UK/EU labelling. For plain biltong (beef, salt, vinegar, spices), this risk is minimal. For flavoured varieties (peri-peri, chilli), natural flavours are more likely to be present.
Ostrich and Game Biltong
Biltong is sometimes made from ostrich, venison (deer), or other game meats.
- Ostrich biltong: Ostrich is a permissible animal under Islamic law. The slaughter certification question applies equally — the bird must be halal-slaughtered. Ostrich biltong without certification is Mushbooh.
- Venison/deer biltong: Deer are permissible. Same slaughter certification requirement applies. Wild-caught deer (hunted) follows different rules — many scholars require the hunter to be Muslim and say bismillah at the point of kill.
- Pork biltong: Haram. Exists in some European markets.
How to Find Halal Biltong in the UK
- Specialist halal butchers — Many UK halal butchers (particularly in areas with South African Muslim communities: Cape Town expats in London, Birmingham) stock halal-certified biltong.
- Online halal retailers — Several UK halal food delivery services stock certified South African biltong with MJC/SANHA logos.
- Make your own — If you have access to halal-certified beef, making biltong at home is straightforward. The process requires no specialist equipment beyond a drying rack and good airflow.
Summary
| Biltong Type | Status | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Cruga (UK) | Not halal | No halal certification, conventional beef |
| Standard UK supermarket biltong | Not halal | No halal cert |
| South African biltong (MJC/SANHA/NIHT cert) | Halal | Verify logo on the specific pack |
| Imported biltong (no logo) | Mushbooh | Cannot verify slaughter method |
| Ostrich biltong (uncertified) | Mushbooh | Permissible animal, but slaughter unverified |
For biltong to be halal, the beef (or other meat) must come from a halal-slaughtered animal and the product must carry a recognised halal certification mark from a body that audits the slaughter process — not just the ingredients.
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