Cheese seems innocent enough. Milk, salt, time. What could possibly be the issue?
One word: rennet. It is the ingredient nobody mentions on the front of the packet, and it is the entire reason “is cheese halal” gets typed into Google hundreds of times a month. Here is the plain English answer, and what it means for the most important cheese application known to humanity: the cheeseburger.
The short answer
Cheese can be halal, and as a staple food for many Muslims, the main thing to check is the rennet, the enzyme used to set the cheese, because the key difference is whether it comes from halal sources.
**Cheese made with microbial or vegetarian rennet is generally considered halal.**Cheese made with animal rennet is only halal if that rennet came from a halal-slaughtered animal, which standard UK supermarket cheese does not guarantee. The majority of scholars therefore advise choosing vegetarian-rennet or certified halal cheese, though scholarly opinion differs on animal rennet from permissible animals not slaughtered to halal standards. If in doubt, follow your own scholar’s guidance before you eat or consume it.
The good news for UK shoppers: a large share of British-made cheese, including most own-brand cheddar and mozzarella, among the popular types people check first, now uses vegetarian rennet, and it usually says so on the label; cheddar can also be found halal certified.
What animal rennet actually is
Rennet is a set of enzymes used in cheese production to make milk split into curds and whey, traditionally extracted from the stomachs of young animals. Traditionally it came from the stomach lining of calves, which is where the halal question begins: if the animal was not slaughtered in a halal way, many scholars in islam hold more than one opinion on whether that rennet, and by extension the cheese, is haram, while some treat it as a mixed case rather than a simple absolute ruling.
Modern cheesemaking mostly moved on. Today there are three common types. Animal rennet, the traditional kind and the problem case, since halal rennet comes from halal sources rather than non-halal ones. Vegetarian or microbial rennet, grown from fungi or bacteria, with plant based options also used, no animal involved, generally accepted as halal, and still responsible for the development of cheese flavor and texture. Fermentation-produced chymosin, a lab-made copy of the calf enzyme with no animal source, also widely accepted.
So the question “is cheese halal” really means “what set this cheese”.
How to check a cheese in ten seconds
Turn the packet over. Check the packaging for a halal certification mark as well as “suitable for vegetarians”, “vegetarian rennet” or “microbial enzymes”: all good signs for halal products and helpful for consumers, especially halal consumers.
Watch out for the famous exceptions. Traditional Parmigiano-Reggiano and Grana Padano must use calf rennet by law, so authentic parmesan is off the list for most halal diners. Some traditional and imported cheeses are the same. When a label just says “enzymes” with no detail, treat it as unknown, because some products use animal enzymes that may come from pork. As a simple rule of thumb, avoid halloumi and blue cheese unless they are halal certified.
Other ingredients occasionally sneak in too: some cheese products use gelatine as a thickener, and a few speciality cheeses are washed in alcohol. The same careful label check matters across other dairy products too, and even cakes can be unclear without certification because of added ingredients. Our halal vs haram ingredients guide covers the wider ingredient minefield in detail.
The cheeseburger problem
Here is where it gets practical. You can buy the right cheese at home in ten seconds, even though it is often the main ingredient people notice in familiar orders like pizza as well as burgers. In a burger shop, you cannot see the packet.
A cheeseburger is only as halal as its weakest ingredient. Halal beef under a slice of unknown-rennet cheese is not a halal cheeseburger, it is a halal patty wearing a question mark. The same applies to the sauce, the bun glaze and anything else on board, which is why “the meat is halal” is not the same claim as “the food is halal”. Our guide to what makes a burger truly halal breaks down the full anatomy.
So when you order a cheeseburger anywhere, the real question is whether the kitchen has checked every ingredient, or just the headline one.
How Legends achieves halal certification
At Legends, the answer is the boring one, and boring is exactly what you want here: the ingredients and production process comply with halal standards. From sourcing to packaging, and with the kitchen checking cheese selection during production, the process is monitored throughout so halal consumers can order with confidence. The cheese on your smash burger, the mozzarella on The Portobello, the cheese blend on the Nashville Loaded Fries, the sauces, the lot, are all halal products.
That is what lets you order The OG with its double smashed patties and cheese, or The Kobe with turkey rashers and cheese, without a single follow-up question. It is a family-run business built halal from the ground up, and the cheese was never going to be the loophole.
Browse the full menu and pick your cheese delivery vehicle, with halal options used across dishes so you can indulge without second-guessing ingredients. There are worse research methods.
The takeaway
Cheese is usually fine, but “usually” is doing real work in that sentence. Feta is often halal because it is commonly made from sheep’s milk, while ricotta and gouda may also be halal depending on the rennet and certification, with a rich, creamy texture that still delivers on flavour. Many international producers now offer halal cheese options around the world, but checking still matters. Check for vegetarian or microbial rennet at the supermarket on cheese and other dairy products, be wary of traditional parmesan and vague “enzymes” labels, and at restaurants, favour kitchens that answer for the whole plate rather than just the meat.
Or skip the detective work entirely: find your nearest Legends across Bradford, Leeds, Huddersfield, Wakefield, Keighley, Batley, Manchester and Liverpool, or order online with 20% off your first website order. The cheeseburger, fully answered.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is some cheese not considered halal cheese?
Because of rennet, the enzyme that sets cheese. Halal cheese also depends on milk from halal animals, including cows and sheep, with goats also being a permissible source. Traditional rennet comes from calf stomachs, and if the animal was not slaughtered to halal standards, many scholars class the cheese as haram.
Is vegetarian cheese halal?
Generally yes. Cheese made with vegetarian, microbial, plant based, or fermentation-produced rennet contains no animal-derived enzymes and is widely accepted as halal, provided no other haram ingredients are added.
Is cheddar halal in the UK?
Most UK-made cheddar uses vegetarian rennet and is labelled “suitable for vegetarians”, which is a good sign. Always check the label, as some traditional cheddars still use animal rennet. Cheddar can also be found halal certified, which is a clearer option than relying only on “suitable for vegetarians” labels. It’s also a versatile cheese used in many dishes.
Is mozzarella halal?
Usually. Most mass-produced mozzarella uses microbial rennet. Traditional Italian varieties may use animal rennet, so check imported brands.
Is parmesan halal?
Authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano is made with calf rennet by law, so most halal diners avoid it. Vegetarian “Italian-style hard cheese” alternatives are widely available.
Is the cheese at Legends halal?
Yes. Every ingredient at Legends is 100% halal in every store, including all cheeses, sauces and toppings on every burger, loaded fries and dessert.
