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🍽️ Food & drink

Is Parmesan Cheese Halal?

Quick answer Scholars differ

Genuine Parmigiano Reggiano and Grana Padano must be made with calf rennet, so most scholars do not consider them halal unless the rennet is from Islamically slaughtered animals. The Hanafi school is more lenient on rennet. "Italian hard cheese" labelled vegetarian is a halal alternative.

Also asked as: “Is Parmigiano Reggiano halal?” · “Is Grana Padano halal?”

Why Parmesan is different

Unlike most cheese, true Parmesan has protected recipe rules that require animal rennet, so you will never find it labelled vegetarian.

Scholarly views

Many scholars treat rennet from non-halal animals as impermissible. Some, especially in the Hanafi school, regard rennet as pure regardless of slaughter, because it is transformed and taken from an animal part that does not need slaughter. See rennet.

Alternatives

Supermarkets sell "hard Italian-style cheese" made with vegetarian rennet — it tastes very similar.

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Written by the Halal Check Online editorial team. Last reviewed 2026-10-06. How we write these answers · Suggest a correction