isithalal.food

Are ANZAC biscuits Halal?

Yes — this one is Halal.

Halal
Medium confidence About this ruling

About this ruling

Evidence confidence
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Reviewed

ANZAC biscuits are made from rolled oats, flour, desiccated coconut, sugar, golden syrup, butter and bicarbonate of soda, with no egg.

Next step Enjoy them; on packaged biscuits, glance at the label for the fat and any emulsifier. How to verify
Scan a label

What decides the answer

  • Home-made or bakery ANZAC biscuits

    Halal

  • Packaged biscuits with vegetable fat and no emulsifier

    Halal

  • Packaged biscuits with an unsourced emulsifier

    check the label

Why this ruling

ANZAC biscuits are Australia's and New Zealand's best-known bake: chewy or crisp rounds of rolled oats, flour, desiccated coconut and sugar, bound with golden syrup and melted butter, and raised with a little bicarbonate of soda dissolved in boiling water. They are named after the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps of the First World War and are baked in huge numbers for ANZAC Day on 25 April.[3][1]

Why there is no egg

The usual story is that the recipe was built to keep and travel without eggs, which were scarce during the war, using golden syrup to bind the dough instead. Whatever the history, the recipe has no egg, no meat and no gelatin.

What is in them

Ingredient Halal?
Rolled oats, flour, desiccated coconut, sugar Yes
Golden syrup Yes; it is a sugar syrup
Butter Yes
Bicarbonate of soda Yes; see E500

A home-made or bakery ANZAC biscuit is Halal.[2]

Packaged ANZAC biscuits

The word "Anzac" is protected in Australia, and biscuits sold under it have to stay close to the traditional recipe and be called biscuits, not cookies. Packaged versions may still use vegetable fat such as palm oil instead of butter, and some add an emulsifier such as E471 whose source is not stated; see E471. A vegetarian mark or a Halal certification settles it.

Their neighbours

The other Australian classic on the same plate is the lamington. For more Australian food, see the Australia guide.

How to verify

  1. The recipe is oats, flour, coconut, sugar, golden syrup, butter and bicarbonate of soda.
  2. Packaged versions may use palm or other vegetable fat and sometimes an emulsifier; check the source or look for a vegetarian mark.
  3. There is no egg in the traditional recipe.

Quick checks

  • What fat is in packaged ones?
  • Is there an emulsifier such as E471?
  • Home-made and bakery ANZAC biscuits are Halal.

Frequently asked questions

Are ANZAC biscuits Halal?
Yes. They are made from oats, flour, coconut, sugar, golden syrup and butter, with no egg, meat or gelatin. Check the label on packaged ones for the fat and any emulsifier.
Why do ANZAC biscuits have no egg?
The usual story is that the recipe was designed to travel and keep, without eggs, which were scarce during the First World War. The biscuits are named after the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.
Is golden syrup Halal?
Yes. Golden syrup is a sugar syrup made during cane sugar refining.
Are shop-bought ANZAC biscuits Halal?
Usually. Check the fat, which may be butter or vegetable oil, and any emulsifier.

Scholarly view

Oats, flour, coconut, sugar, golden syrup and butter are Halal. Only an animal fat other than butter or an animal-sourced emulsifier would change the answer.

Sources

Named Islamic, certifier, manufacturer, and regulatory sources used on this page. Inline markers like [1] jump here. Retrieval dates show when we last checked the live URL. Editorial methodology.

Islamic / scriptural

  1. Qur'an 5:3

    Qur'an Retrieved

    Swine prohibition.

Context / background

  1. Wikipedia: Anzac biscuit

    Wikipedia Retrieved

    Culinary identity: Biscuit of rolled oats, flour, sugar, butter, golden syrup and baking soda, with optional coconut. Identity context, not a Halal certificate.

  2. Australia.com

    Tourism Australia Retrieved

    Tourism / identity context.

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