Is McCoy's Halal?

Is McCoy’s Halal?

McCoy’s is KP Snacks’ ridge-cut crisp brand, known for its bold flavours and thick-cut texture. Halal status varies significantly between flavours.

Flame Grilled Steak — Mushbooh

McCoy’s Flame Grilled Steak is the most problematic flavour from a halal perspective. It contains:

• Beef flavouring — source undisclosed. Beef flavouring can be derived from halal or non-halal slaughtered animals; without certification, this is Mushbooh.
• E631 (disodium inosinate) and/or E635 (disodium 5’-ribonucleotides) — flavour enhancers that can be pork, fish, or plant-derived. Source not disclosed on KP Snacks UK packaging.
• Pork derivatives — some flavour blends in beef-flavoured crisps use pork fat or pork-derived flavourings. KP Snacks does not confirm this is absent.

This flavour should be avoided by halal consumers.

Original and Salt & Vinegar — Cleaner

McCoy’s Original (plain salted) uses potato, sunflower oil, and salt. No meat flavouring, no E631/E635. This flavour is halal.

McCoy’s Salt & Vinegar uses vinegar powder (acetic acid), salt, and sunflower oil. No meat derivatives. This flavour is halal.

Other Flavours

McCoy’s Sour Cream & Onion contains dairy (sour cream powder) — halal. McCoy’s Muchos range uses chicken-flavoured seasoning — check the label for meat-derived ingredients.

KP Snacks holds no halal certification for McCoy’s from any UK or international Islamic body.

Summary

Factor	Details
Halal certification	None
Flame Grilled Steak	Mushbooh — beef flavouring, E631/E635 from undisclosed source
Original (salted)	Halal — potato, sunflower oil, salt
Salt & Vinegar	Halal — no meat derivatives
Key concerns	Meat flavouring and E631/E635 in flavoured varieties
Verdict	Mushbooh (meat-flavoured variants); Halal (plain/salt & vinegar)