Food guide

Is Baby Formula Halal? What to Check

Quick answer

Most infant formula is made from cow's or goat's milk with vegetable oils, vitamins and minerals, so the ingredients are usually halal. The questions are fish or algal oil for DHA, emulsifiers such as E471 and the source of vitamin D3. Several UK brands publish halal approval for specific products.

Ingredients to watch in baby formula

Omega-3 (fish or algae)Halal Algal oilHalal E471Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids E472cCitric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol)Halal LactoseHalal Milk proteinHalal

Tips

Check the pack and the brand website for halal approval, which can differ by size and factory.
Ready-to-feed bottles sometimes contain emulsifiers that powders do not.
Ask your health visitor before changing formula.

7 baby formula products checked

0 no issues6 doubtful1 haram

1 First Baby Milk Formula From Birth Doubtful

Nutricia Aptamil 1Nutricia Haram

Aptamil رقم 3Aptamil Doubtful

Aptamil Follow on milkAptamil Doubtful

Kendamil organic first infantmilk Doubtful

Nestlé NanNestlé Doubtful

Alpro Oat-HaverAlpro Doubtful

Ingredient data from Open Food Facts (ODbL), retrieved 2026-10-15. Product photos by Open Food Facts contributors, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0. Recipes change — always check the pack. This is an ingredient check, not a halal certification.

Check a whole product

Scan a barcode, snap the label or paste the ingredients.

Scan Paste

Is baby formula halal? The short answer

Most infant formula sold in the UK is made from cow's or goat's milk, vegetable oils, lactose, vitamins and minerals, so its ingredients are usually halal. What differs is certification: some brands publish halal approval for particular products, and approval can depend on the pack size and the factory that made it.

What to check on the label

Ingredient	Usually from	Note
Milk, whey, lactose	Cow's or goat's milk	Halal
Vegetable oils	Palm, rapeseed, sunflower, coconut	Halal
DHA (omega-3)	Fish oil or algal oil	Both halal; see omega-3
E471 / E472c emulsifiers	Plant or animal fat	More common in ready-to-feed bottles
Vitamin D3	Lanolin from sheep's wool	Accepted by most scholars
Probiotics and prebiotics (GOS, FOS)	Milk sugars and plant fibre	Halal

UK brands and halal approval

Halal status is set by each manufacturer and can change, so always check the current pack or the brand's website.

Brand	What is published
Kendamil	UK retailers list several Kendamil infant milks as approved by the Halal Food Authority (HFA)
Aptamil	Aptamil lists halal approval for specific products; a UK fatwa service noted in its review that one ready-to-feed bottle was not approved because it contained mono- and diglycerides
Cow & Gate	Halal approval listed for specific products; some specialist and hospital formulas are not approved
SMA and others	Check the pack and the brand's customer service

The same brand can make products in different factories, which is why one size may be halal-approved and another not.

Powder or ready-to-feed?

Ready-to-feed liquid formula often contains emulsifiers to keep it mixed, such as mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids. Powders usually do not. If you want to avoid doubtful emulsifiers, the powder version of the same formula is often the simpler choice.

Medical and specialist formulas

For babies who need a specialist formula, such as hydrolysed or hospital formulas, the medical need comes first. Scholars allow what is necessary for health when no halal alternative exists. Talk to your GP or health visitor before changing any formula.

Frequently asked questions

Is Aptamil halal?

Aptamil lists halal approval for specific products and pack sizes, which can differ by factory. Check the current pack or Aptamil's website for the product you buy.

Is Kendamil halal?

UK retailers list several Kendamil infant milks as approved by the Halal Food Authority (HFA). Check the pack for the halal mark.

Is the DHA in baby formula halal?

DHA in formula comes from fish oil or algal oil, and both are halal.

Why is one size of formula halal and another not?

Different sizes can be made in different factories, and halal approval is given factory by factory. Some ready-to-feed bottles also contain extra emulsifiers.

Is there non-halal baby formula?

Yes. Formula is not halal if it contains pork-derived ingredients, and it is doubtful if it lists animal fats, emulsifiers or vitamins without a stated source. Most mainstream UK formulas are made from cow's milk with plant oils, and several brands have halal approval for some products. Check the halal statement for the exact product and size, as explained above.

Can I give my baby non-halal-certified formula?

Formula whose ingredients are all halal is permissible even without certification, according to most scholars. For specialist formulas, health needs come first; ask your health visitor and a scholar you trust.