Is Kefir Halal?

The short answer

Kefir is fermented milk, and the tiny amount of alcohol in it is far too low to make anyone drunk. Because the ruling on alcohol depends on whether a drink can make you drunk, most scholars say kefir is halal. It must be made from halal milk, fermented normally, and free of non-halal additives.

Why is the small amount of alcohol in kefir not a problem?

Kefir is made by adding kefir grains to milk. The grains are a living mix of yeast and bacteria. As they ferment the milk, they make lactic acid, carbon dioxide and a small amount of alcohol, usually a fraction of a percent.

A key hadith says, "Whatever makes a person drunk in a large amount, a small amount of it is haram." Scholars understand this to mean that the ban is tied to getting drunk. If a drink has so little alcohol that no amount of it could make someone drunk, it is not treated like wine. On this basis, kefir is treated like vinegar and other ordinary fermented foods. These foods also contain tiny traces of alcohol, and they are halal.

When is kefir halal?

• The milk must come from a halal animal, such as a cow, goat or sheep.
• The fermentation must be normal. Kefir is usually fermented for 24 to 48 hours. LPPOM MUI, Indonesia's halal body, treats fermented drinks with 0.5% alcohol or less as halal. Fermenting kefir on purpose to make more alcohol changes the answer.
• There must be no non-halal additives. Flavored kefir from the store can contain non-halal gelatin or flavorings, so read the label.

What about water kefir and over-fermented kefir?

Most caution applies to kefir that has been fermented for a long time, or fermented a second time, and to some water kefir. The alcohol in these can climb higher. Ordinary milk kefir from a store, or a normal homemade batch, stays well within the permitted range. A batch left to ferment until it becomes fizzy and alcoholic is the one to check.

Common questions

Does kefir contain alcohol?

Yes, but only a very small amount, usually well under 1%. Fermentation makes it naturally. The amount is far too low to make anyone drunk, which is why most scholars say kefir is halal.

Is kefir halal in Islam?

For most scholars, yes. The ruling on alcohol depends on whether a drink can make you drunk, and kefir cannot. Halal bodies such as LPPOM MUI allow kefir made from halal milk, fermented normally and free of haram additives.

Is store-bought flavored kefir halal?

Usually, but check the label. Flavored kefir can contain non-halal gelatin or flavorings, even though plain kefir is halal.

Is water kefir halal?

Milk kefir is the simple case. Water kefir and batches fermented for a long time can contain more alcohol, so they should be checked against the rule that a drink must not be able to make you drunk.

The bottom line

Most scholars say kefir is halal, because its natural alcohol is far too low to make anyone drunk. Make sure the milk comes from a halal animal, the fermentation is normal, and any flavored kefir has no non-halal additives.