Is Tillamook Halal?
It depends on what the label says.
Tillamook says the majority of its cheeses are Halal-certified, and that the pack carries a Halal symbol when they are.
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors · CC BY-SA 3.0
How to verify
- Cheese: look for the Halal symbol on the pack; Tillamook says that is how to tell which cheeses are certified.
- Avoid Maker's Reserve 10-Year Extra Sharp Cheddar if you avoid animal rennet: Tillamook names it as its animal-rennet cheese.
- Ice cream, yogurt, sour cream, butter and cream cheese spreads: no Halal certification. Tillamook says they are vegetarian (except Rocky Road ice cream), so judge them by ingredients.
- Frozen meals: not certified, and some contain meat.
Quick checks
- Look for the Halal symbol on the cheese pack.
- Maker's Reserve 10-Year Extra Sharp Cheddar uses animal rennet.
- Ice cream and other dairy are not Halal-certified.
What decides the answer
-
Tillamook cheese with a Halal symbol on the pack
Halal-certified -
Tillamook cheese without the symbol
made with Halal-certified fermentation rennet, per Tillamook, but the product itself is not certified -
Maker's Reserve 10-Year Extra Sharp Cheddar
animal rennet; depends on your school's view of rennet -
Frozen meals
not certified; some contain meat -
Ice cream, yogurt, sour cream, butter, cream cheese spreads
not Halal-certified; vegetarian per Tillamook, except Rocky Road ice cream
Why this ruling
Tillamook is the Oregon dairy co-operative best known for its cheddar. For Muslims it is one of the easier American cheese brands: it says most of its cheese is Halal-certified, and it names the one cheese that is not made the same way.
The cheese
Tillamook says the majority of its cheeses are Halal-certified, and that the way to tell is the Halal symbol on the pack.[1] Behind that is the rennet. Since 2016 Tillamook has made its cheese with a fermentation-produced rennet that, it says, is vegetarian and itself carries Kosher and Halal certification.[2] So even a Tillamook cheese without the symbol on the pack is made with that rennet, but only the symbol tells you the finished product is certified.
The one exception: Maker's Reserve 10-Year
Tillamook names a single cheese made with animal rennet: Maker's Reserve 10-Year Extra Sharp Cheddar. It is also the only Tillamook cheese the company does not call vegetarian.[2] Animal rennet from an animal not slaughtered Islamically is a known difference of opinion: the Hanafi school permits it from a lawful animal, and the majority of Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali scholars do not.[3] The rennet page sets out both views.
Ice cream and the rest of the range
| Product | Halal-certified? | What Tillamook says |
|---|---|---|
| Cheese | Most, with a symbol on the pack | Fermentation rennet with Halal certification |
| Maker's Reserve 10-Year Extra Sharp Cheddar | No | Animal rennet |
| Ice cream | No | Vegetarian except Rocky Road |
| Yogurt, sour cream, butter, cream cheese spreads | No | Vegetarian |
| Frozen meals | No | Some contain meat |
Source for every row: Tillamook's own FAQ.[1][2] Vegetarian is not the same as certified: it rules out meat and animal rennet, but not every question a Halal certifier checks, such as vanilla extract, which is made with alcohol. For uncertified ice cream, read each flavour's ingredients.
Kosher is not Halal
Tillamook also makes a Kosher Medium Cheddar under rabbinical supervision, with the same certified rennet.[2] Kosher supervision is a different system from Halal certification. For Tillamook, the Halal symbol on the pack is the answer. For how rennet decides cheese in general, see cheese.
Where you'll find it
- Cheddar blocks, slices and shreds
- Ice cream, yogurt, sour cream, butter and cream cheese spreads
- Frozen meals
Frequently asked questions
Is Tillamook cheese Halal?
Does Tillamook use animal rennet?
Is Tillamook ice cream Halal?
Is Tillamook cream cheese, yogurt or butter Halal?
Is Tillamook kosher cheddar the same as Halal?
Scholarly view
Rennet is the Halal question in cheese. Fermentation-produced rennet, like Tillamook's, raises no slaughter question, and Tillamook says its rennet carries Halal certification. Animal rennet from an animal not slaughtered Islamically is a known difference: the Hanafi school, following Abu Hanifah, permits rennet from a lawful non-pork animal, while the majority of Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali scholars do not. That difference is what decides Maker's Reserve 10-Year for you.
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
-
IslamQA 2841 — Is animal rennet Halal?
IslamQA Retrieved
Rennet from an Islamically slaughtered animal is pure by agreement. The majority Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali view: rennet from an animal not slaughtered according to Shari'ah should not be eaten. The Hanafi view differs.
Manufacturer / product
-
Are any of your products halal?
Tillamook County Creamery Association Retrieved
'The majority of our cheeses are halal certified, and you can check the packaging for a halal certification symbol to know whether they are certified or not. Our ice cream products are not certified halal. However, all of our ice creams except for Rocky Road are vegetarian and don't contain any animal-derived ingredients (other than milk and eggs). Our yogurt, sour cream, butter, and cream cheese spreads do not have halal certification. However, all of these products are vegetarian. Our frozen meals do not have halal certification, and sometimes contain meat.'
-
What is rennet? What types of rennet do you use to make your cheese?
Tillamook County Creamery Association Retrieved
'Since 2016, we have utilized fermentation-produced rennet that has Kosher and Halal certification and is vegetarian.' 'We do not use rennet that is produced by any pharmaceutical company. If you are looking for cheese made with animal rennet, we recommend our Maker's Reserve 10-Year Extra Sharp Cheddar.' Same page: all Tillamook cheese is vegetarian 'with the exception of Maker's Reserve 10-Year Extra Sharp Cheddar'; the Kosher Medium Cheddar is 'produced and packaged under official rabbinical guidance' with the same certified rennet.
