Are Cheez-Its Halal?

Cheez-Its are a popular cheesy baked snack cracker manufactured by the Kellogg Company. With their tangy, cheesy flavor and crunchy texture, Cheez-Its have become a go-to snack for many. But an important question arises for Muslims and those who follow a halal diet: are Cheez-Its halal?

A Detailed Look at Cheez-It Ingredients

To determine if Cheez-Its are halal certified, we need to take a close look at the ingredients list:

Cheez-It Original Ingredients:

• Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, vitamin B1 [thiamin mononitrate], vitamin B2 [riboflavin], folic acid)
• Vegetable oil (canola, sunflower and/or corn oil)
• Cheese made with skim milk (skim milk, whey, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes)
• Salt
• Yeast
• Paprika
• Spices
• Ascorbic acid
• Citric acid

Cheez-It Snap’d Ingredients:

• Enriched flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
• Vegetable oil (canola, sunflower and/or corn oil)
• Cheese made with skim milk (skim milk, whey, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes)
• Salt
• Sugar
• Torula yeast
• Paprika
• Spices
• Ascorbic acid
• Citric acid
• Soy lecithin
• TBHQ and citric acid (to help protect flavor)

At first glance, the ingredients lists for both Original and Snap’d Cheez-Its appear to be halal-friendly. They don’t contain any meat, meat by-products, alcohol or animal-derived enzymes like rennet.

However, there are a few questionable ingredients that need deeper evaluation.

Evaluating Potentially Problematic Cheez-It Ingredients

Upon closer inspection, there are a handful of Cheez-It ingredients that could raise concerns about whether Cheez-Its are halal:

Enriched Flour

Enriched white flour contains niacin. Niacin can sometimes come from animal sources, which would make it non-halal.

However, Kellogg’s has confirmed that the niacin used in their Cheez-Its is synthetic niacin, making it vegetarian and halal.

Whey

Whey is a milk byproduct used to make the cheesy flavoring for Cheez-Its. Whey can be derived from animal rennet, which would not be halal.

However, Kellogg’s has stated that their Cheez-Its contain microbial rennet, not animal rennet. Microbial rennet is made from vegetarian fermentation, keeping it halal.

Vitamin D3

Some Cheez-It products contain vitamin D3 as an additive. Vitamin D3 can either come from lanolin (sheep’s wool) or lichen (vegan).

Kellogg’s confirmed that the vitamin D3 in their Cheez-Its is vegan, derived from lichen, not wool. This keeps them halal.

Soy Lecithin

Soy lecithin is an emulsifier used in some Cheez-It varieties. Lecithin allows smooth mixing of oils and water.

Lecithin can be derived from animals like egg yolks. However, Kellogg states that the soy lecithin used in Cheez-Its is 100% vegan.

So after closer analysis, the potentially problematic ingredients appear to actually be halal-friendly in Cheez-Its.

Are Cheez-Its Certified Halal?

After thoroughly evaluating all ingredients, Cheez-Its seem to meet halal requirements. However, are they officially certified halal?

No, Kellogg’s Cheez-Its do not currently have halal certification from an approved halal authority. Their production facilities also do not claim to be halal certified or guaranteed to be free from cross-contamination with non-halal foods during processing, storage or transportation.

So technically there is no definitive halal certification label on Cheez-Its packaging at this point.

Things for Muslims to Consider About Cheez-Its

For Muslims looking for definitive halal snacks, the lack of official certification on packaging may still be concerning when it comes to Cheez-Its. Here are some points to weigh up:

Ingredients appear halal-friendly: All Cheez-Its ingredients provided by Kellogg are vegetarian and not derived from prohibited sources like animals, alcohol or pork products.

No gluten cross-contamination controls: Cheez-Its contain wheat but there are no guarantees that the facility has controls in place to prevent gluten cross-contamination. Individuals with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity should be aware.

Manufactured on shared lines: Cheez-Its state on their website that equipment and shared lines are cleaned between production runs of products with different allergen profiles. But there is still a chance of cross-contamination with residues from non-halal products run earlier.

No alcohol and pork-free certifications: There are no guarantees given that alcohol and pork products are never handled in the same manufacturing plants or on shared equipment as Cheez-Its. Only products with clear alcohol and pork-free certifications provide full assurance.

So in summary, while Cheez-Its appear halal based on ingredients, Muslim consumers may still wish to exercise some caution given the lack of official halal and cross-contamination certifications.

Seeking Alternatives? Try These Halal-Certified Cheesy Snacks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For Muslim families and halal consumers looking for certified alternatives, here are some delicious halal-certified cheesy snacks to consider:

1. Snack Factory Original Pretzel Crisps

• Halal-certified by IFANCA
• Thin, crunchy pretzel crackers
• Oven-baked with real cheese flavor

2. Late July Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips

• Certified halal by IFANCA
• Crunchy corn tortilla chips
• Aged cheddar and jalapeño cheddar flavors

3. Frito-Lay Stacy’s Simply Naked Pita Chips

• Halal-certified according to Frito-Lay
• Flavors like Parmesan Garlic and Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper
• Baked pita chips made with real ingredients

4. Sahale Snacks Nut Blend Gluten Free Mini Cheddar Crackers

• Dairy-free and certified halal
• Baked cheddar-flavored cracker made from nuts, seeds, spices
• Provides protein and fiber

5. 34 Degrees Crisps in Flavors Like Chili Cheese and Sea Salt

• Certified halal by IFANCA
• Thin, crispy crackers made from rice and tapioca
• Kid-friendly flavors and shapes

Check your local grocery store or halal market for these yummy certified halal cheesy crackers and chips!

Product Name	Halal Certifying Body
Snack Factory Pretzel Crisps	Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA)
Late July Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips	Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA)
Frito-Lay Stacy’s Simply Naked Pita Chips	Stated by Manufacturer
Sahale Snacks Nut Blend Mini Cheddar Crackers	Stated by Manufacturer
34 Degrees Crisps	Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA)

The Verdict: Are Cheez-Its Halal?

In summary, Kellogg’s Cheez-It ingredients appear to meet Muslim halal standards. However, the snacks themselves are not officially certified as halal.

While the ingredients listing suggests Cheez-Its are halal-friendly, strict Muslim halal consumers may want to exercise some caution given the lack of inspection and certification by a halal authority.

For consumers wanting guaranteed halal-compliance, there are several delicious certified halal alternatives to try instead, covered in this article.

But for less strict halal followers, Cheez-Its can likely be enjoyed based on their ingredient make-up according to current information from the manufacturer. As always, individuals should use their own judgment and evaluation to decide if Cheez-Its meet their personal halal standards.