Is This Cat Food Halal? A 10-Point Label Checklist

Use this checklist in the shop or online. If a food fails more than one or two of these, keep looking.

The checklist

1. A named certifier. "Halal" on its own means little. Look for a body such as the Halal Monitoring Committee. See HMC certification explained.
2. A certificate you can ask for. A genuine certificate names the product and the producer.
3. Named meat and fish. "Poultry meal" or "tuna meal" is clear. "Meat and animal derivatives" is not.
4. No pork, ever. It should be ruled out in writing, not just left off the label.
5. Gelatine. Is it from a halal source, and is the source stated?
6. Animal fat. "Animal fat" without a named animal is a common hiding place.
7. Flavourings and digests. Ask what they are made from. Fish-based ones are not a concern, but unnamed ones are.
8. E-numbers and additives. See halal additives and E-numbers.
9. Cross-contamination. Is the food made on dedicated lines or checked by the certifier?
10. Allergen and ingredient honesty. A clear full ingredient list with percentages is a good sign of an honest producer.

Our recipes

Our two dry recipes are HMC-certified and list every ingredient with percentages on the product pages. See chicken and tuna. For the longer guide, read how to read a cat food label.

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