Fatwa #4455218 April 2020Pakistan
Is Sodium Caseinate Halal?
Question
Is Sodium Caseinate Halal? It is found in a lot of dairy and even in the non-dairy options, ironically. Is it okay to drink a tea/product which may be cross-contaminated (due to the usage of same utensils) with Sodium Caseinate and not actually contain it?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Sodium Caseinate or casein is generally derived from skim milk by one of two methods, either precipitation by acid or coagulation by enzyme.
To determine the halaal status of Sodium Caseinate, one has to identify and scrutinise the process used to derive this ingredient. If the acid process is used, the product would be Halaal suitable. If, however, the enzyme coagulation process was used, then one would have to determine whether the enzymes used is from animal source or microbial source. If a microbial source is used, it would be Halaal. If however an animal enzyme from non-halaal or non-zabeehah source was used, then the caseinate will not be halaal.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Usaamah Dadipatel
Student Darul Iftaa
Eshowe, KZN, South Africa.
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.