Is Popeyes Chicken Halal? Verdict: Official Statement All US Locations

This was our primary check, and gave us the green light to further investigate the ingredients that go into the breading. Popeyes, however, does not share this information on their website, which is a red flag for the halal-conscious consumer. Although we were unable to explore this area of Popeyes better, we uncovered a final piece of evidence that was damning enough to undermine any notion of the foods halal nature.

The Oil

We reached out to Popeyes corporate headquarters for an official answer to a pressing question: The frying oil. Some rumors had spread indicating that the oil was not regular vegetable oil. So we asked the question, "Does the oil contain beef or fat...?".

The conversation is below.

The email reads as follows:

Simone (Popeyes)

Apr 5, 2023, 1:52 PM EDT

Hello Mansoor,
 
Thank you for your patience while we reviewed your inquiry.
 
All fried menu items at our Popeyes US restaurants are cooked using Beef Tallow.
 
The information provided regarding our food is as complete as possible at the time of this email, and is based on ingredient lists provided by our suppliers. Variations may occur depending on the season, supplier and/or product preparation at your local restaurant. Please also note that normal kitchen operations can involve shared cooking, preparation areas and utensils, and the possibility exists that your food may come in contact with other food products, including other allergens and ingredients. We recommend that you always consult your healthcare provider for questions regarding your diet.
 
Please let us know if you need any additional information or have further questions or concerns. As always, thank you for being a valued Popeyes guest!
 
Best,

Simone
Guest Care Agent

As is clearly notated from the above official communication from the Popeyes rep, all fried foods at Popeyes Chicken restaurants are fried in oils derived from beef tallow as a standard across the US. This beef tallow is not sourced from any halal certified establishment, and even affects fries, pies, fish, or other foods that come into contact with it.

We also did our due diligence, and called 20+ restaurants across the country, from New York, to California, to Texas, to Florida, and in between. Our research team was given express confirmation that the frying oil used is made from beef tallow shortening. The only restaurant that mentioned the oil was vegetable, quickly hung up on us when we asked follow-up questions for confirmation.

Any derived ingredients sourced from animals not slaughtered according to Islamic ritual rites is deemed as najas (filth). Najaasa also includes pig, urine, and excrement. In other words, cooking with najas, such as non-halal beef tallow, is tantamount to cooking your food with urine. *Gross!*.

Scriptural Evidence

The Quran clearly states the importance of consuming food that is tayyib (i.e., not najas), or pure, as mentioned in Surah Al-Ma'idah (5:5):

"This day [all] good foods have been made lawful, and the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them..."

This verse emphasizes that Muslims are only allowed to consume food that is considered good and pure.

According to the HWW Certification Methodology & Analysis Report 2021, P.11, it states:

"Ahlul Kitaab – The People of the Book Allah says in the Quran:

“This day [all] good foods have been made lawful, and the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them.” 20 Ibn Kathir, the great mufassirin (exegete) in his tafsir al Quran (exegesis of the Quran) states: “When the most high mentioned “And the foods of those who have taken the book are permissible for you all”, Ibn abas, abu amam Ibn `Abbas, Abu Umamah, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, `Ikrimah, `Ata', Al-Hasan, Makhul, Ibrahim An-Nakha`i, As-Suddi and Muqatil bin Hayyan stated that Allah SWT means by that their slaughtered animals. About this matter, all of the scholars clarify that their slaughtered is permissible for the Muslims [only] because they believe in the impermissibility of slaughtering for other than Allah, and they do not mention upon their slaughtered (animals) except the name of Allah, even if they believe (things) about He, most high, what is free from him, and unholy.

Ibn Kathir mentions that this permission only extends to the people of the book since their slaughter method mirrors that of proper shar’i rulings, which includes the tasmiyyah. Some have misunderstood this statement to mean that any and all food of the people of the book is permissible to consume, however, it would be non-sensical to conclude this since some of those foods are swine, and alcohol. The Quran clarifies itself and its verses are taken holistically in order to derive a proper understanding. "

The referenced statement goes on to add that 6 conditions must be met in order for a slaughter to be deemed permissible, and its meat consumable. It states:

The conditions of the Islamic method of slaughter are as follows:

1. Slaughterer must be a Muslim, Jew or Christian
2. Intention must be present for the specific slaughtering tool
3. Animal must be alive
4. The tasmiyyah (Slaughtering in the name of Allah) must be mentioned
5. Severing at least 2 of the 4 ventricles (Trachea and Oesophagus)
6. If the slaughterer is a Jew or a Christian, all conditions including mentioning the tasmiyyah apply

Doubt plagues the food industry, especially in the United States. As a consequence, no one can state carte blanch that a "Christian country" equates to all non-Muslim abattoirs following the above conditions. Even to conclude that the United States is a Christian country is in and of itself a mistake at best. For one to conclude that all animals slaughtered in the U.S. are performed by practicing Christians who perform the tasmiyyah, along with the full conditions required for zabih (proper slaughter) would be ignorant and asinine.

Our Prophet SAWS described to us a scenario whereby a hunter sends out a dog to catch some game. When he arrives at the prey, he finds not only his dog, but another dog as well that was not intended, and not sent by him. This scenario of doubt caused the Prophet SAWS to react as stated below:

If I find along with my dog another dog, and do not know which of (the dogs) has caught (the game). then (what should I do)? Thereupon he ('Allah's Messenger) said: Then don't eat that, for you recited the name of Allah on your dog and not on the other one. -Reference : Sahih Muslim 1929c

If the doubt of 1 dog is a sufficient cause for abstention and prohibition, consider the doubt involved with a burger from Mcdonalds, where no confidence exists as to the person of slaughter, the intent, nor the method. What can any of us say about an entire industry with thousands of slaughtering's happening per hour with so many unknowns? In reality, every single one of the above conditions are doubtful, unless the source is known to have been vetted by a competent third party organization that specializes in halal/haram determinations.

Regarding additional hadith (narrations) of Prophet Muhammad SAWS, he highlights the importance of avoiding contaminated food. This hadith is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari (Book 67, Hadith 70):

"Abu Huraira reported God’s messenger as saying, "When a mouse falls into clarified butter which, is solid throw the mouse and what is around it away; but if it is in a liquid state do not go near it." - Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it, and Darimi transmitted it on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas.'" - Mishkat al-Masabih 4123, 4124

This hadith underscores the importance of ensuring that food remains pure and untainted by impure substances, especially in the case of oil, which is liquified fat. All of it becomes contaminated in the presence of najaasa.

Conclusion

The use of non-halal beef tallow in the frying oil renders the food haram (forbidden) for Muslims, as it contaminates the otherwise halal-sourced chicken. Consequently, the final product is impure and not suitable for Muslims and halal-conscious consumers.

It is crucial for Muslims and halal-conscious consumers to be aware of the ingredients and preparation methods used in the food they consume. Popeyes is absolutely not permissible for this demographic due to the use of beef tallow-based shortening in their frying process, which contaminates even halal-sourced chicken. To ensure compliance with Islamic dietary laws, it is essential to seek out restaurants and food establishments that prioritize halal preparation, procurement, and cooking methods. Contact our halal certification department for inquiries, claims, or complaints at 1-877-425-2599.