Halal Bread Brands in the USA

What can make bread not halal?

Flour, water, yeast and salt are all fine. The doubt comes from a few additives whose source US labels do not name.

Mono- and diglycerides (E471) and DATEM. These emulsifiers help the dough and keep bread soft. They can be made from plant or animal fat. They are common in soft supermarket bread, and the label rarely says which.

"Enzymes." Bakers add enzymes to improve the dough. They can come from microbes, plants or animals, and the label does not say which.

Whey. Whey is left over from cheesemaking. The cheese may have been made with animal rennet, so some people treat whey as doubtful unless it is certified.

L-cysteine (E920). This dough softener can be made in a lab or from feathers, which are halal, or from human hair, which is not. None of the ten US loaves in our table lists it, but some other breads and pizza doughs do.

The simplest choice is a bread with a short ingredient list and none of these additives, such as Ezekiel 4:9. A halal mark, or a clear statement from the maker, settles the question.

How can you check any bread yourself?

• Look for mono- and diglycerides (E471), DATEM, "enzymes," whey and L-cysteine (E920).
• If one is listed, check the maker's website. Some makers, such as King's Hawaiian and Thomas', say their emulsifiers come from plants.
• Breads with a short ingredient list, such as sprouted breads, often skip these additives.
• A halal mark confirms that every additive comes from a permitted source.

Frequently asked questions

Is bread halal?

Plain bread made from flour, water, yeast and salt is halal. The question is the additives. Mono- and diglycerides, DATEM, enzymes, whey and L-cysteine can come from animal sources, and US labels do not say. So without confirmation, many supermarket loaves are a "depends."

Is L-cysteine (E920) halal?

It depends on the source. L-cysteine made in a lab or from feathers is halal. L-cysteine made from human hair is not. US labels do not say which one is used, so E920 with no confirmed source is doubtful. A halal certificate or a statement from the maker settles it.

Which breads are the safest choice?

Breads with a short ingredient list and none of the doubtful additives, such as Ezekiel 4:9 sprouted bread. Halal-certified bread removes the doubt completely.

Are mono- and diglycerides halal?

They can come from plants or animals, and the label does not say which. When the maker says they come from plants, as King's Hawaiian and Thomas' do, that concern is settled. Otherwise, they keep a loaf at "depends."