Halal Baby Formula Brands in the USA

Why does baby formula need a halal check?

Formula is mostly milk, sugars and oils, which are usually halal. But a few ingredients can come from more than one source, and a family cannot tell from the label.

Whey and milk proteins. Whey is made during cheese making. If the cheese used animal rennet, scholars differ on the whey.

Oils and DHA. Formula fats come from plants, and DHA can come from fish oil or algae. Both are halal, but some other fats could come from animals.

Vitamin D3 and other added nutrients. Vitamin D3 often comes from lanolin, a fat from sheep's wool. Most scholars accept it.

A halal label from the maker means it has checked these sources. That is why it matters more than reading the ingredient list yourself.

This page is about halal status only. It is not medical advice. Do not change your baby's formula without talking to your pediatrician, and never water down formula or make it at home.

How can you check a formula yourself?

• Look on the can or bottle for a halal mark or the word "halal" near the kosher mark.
• Check the maker's product page. Abbott and Mead Johnson list halal status for each product.
• Check each type separately. One brand can have halal and non-labeled products side by side.
• Ask the maker if your formula does not say. Their customer service lines can confirm.

What about toddler drinks and hypoallergenic formulas?

Toddler drinks and specialty formulas are separate products with their own labels. Hypoallergenic formulas break proteins down using enzymes, and the label does not name their source. Check each one on its own page or label.

Frequently asked questions

Is Similac halal?

Abbott lists Similac 360 Total Care, 360 Total Care Sensitive, Advance, Pro-Advance and Sensitive as halal on its product pages. Its page for Similac Alimentum does not mention halal, so ask Abbott about that one.

Is Enfamil halal?

Mead Johnson lists Enfamil Infant, Gentlease, Optimum, NeuroPro and ProSobee as halal on its product pages, next to their kosher dairy status.

Is Gerber formula halal?

Gerber's comparison chart lists Good Start Extensive HA as certified halal. We could not confirm the halal status of other Gerber formulas from Gerber's current pages, so check the label.

Is Kendamil halal?

Kendamil says its facility is halal inspected and that all of its Classic and Organic products are halal certified.

Is breast milk or donor milk a halal question?

Breast milk is halal. Donor milk raises a separate family-law question in Islam about milk kinship, which is outside this page. Ask a scholar if it applies to you.