The Complete Guide to Finding Halal Baby Food in America
What Is Halal Baby Food?
A wide range of food is in line with Islamic food laws, and that is what halal baby food is. This means no animal proteins that can be obtained from pork and alcohol meat and ensuring that any other ingredients in baby food are sourced from animals that have been slaughtered in an Islamic manner. Baby food that is halal must also not include extra ingredients that are not halal and guarantees that all the ingredients used are clean and halal.
For parents whose children have a specific diet due to these beliefs, the next step is to search for baby food that has been certified halal. However, there are a plethora of brands on the market and customers might be confused on which ones are truly halal and which arenโt.
Tips on How to Look for Baby Food That is Halal
1. Check for Halal Certification On the Packaging
A quick solution to know if a baby food is halal or not is to look for the halal certification icon on the pack. Halal certified products are passed through Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA) or Halal Monitoring Authority (HMA) accredited certifying bodies. These bodies seek to make sure that there are no products containing any swine, alcohol, or other forbidden elements.
2. Ingredients List: Great Resource
In case a product does not contain halal certification, then the ingredients section has to be looked at with great priority. Look out for gelatin or any meat derivative which is a byproduct of pig or any unhalal sourced meat. Stay clear from any alcoholic products or any controversial enhancers. From my experience of reading the labels and the ingredients section I understood that it is quite tedious however it also assists in ensuring that the food is halal compliant.
3. Natural and Organic Ones
Organic baby food is the top choice for a lot of mothers because it has fewer preservatives and other additives which makes it a lot cleaner and safer for children. This of course makes it suitable since it is permissible under halal law although being organic does not make it halal. These brands are often organic or more respectable as they utilize cleaner ingredients thus allowing a mother to easily spot which one is halal friendly.
Most Known Halal Approved Baby Food Companies Available In The United States
In countries where Islam is the most practiced religion, finding halal certified items is easier than finding them in the US. There are several companies that understand the need for Muslim parents to have access to halal food culture. A Muslim brand looking to get its feet under the American market can consider the following options of halal baby food we have outlined for you below.
1. Happy Baby Organic
Happy Baby Organic is yet another company that provides a plethora of options for baby food that is organic. They provide cereals, snacks, and even purees. That being said not all of their products are halal but most of the time they do not include any alcohol along with preservatives. This brand is a great option for Muslim parents since it is organic and free from animal products. Happy Baby does allow customers to inquire about the ingredients and how they were sourced, which is key in determining whether the ingredient is halal or not.
2. Earthโs Best Organic
Earth’s Best Organic is a renowned manufacturer in the baby food category focusing on organic baby food. Although many do not contain halal specific certification, a larger percentage are formulated free from harmful substances like additives, preservatives, or non-halal ingredients. For parents in need of organic food with basic ingredients, Earthโs Best is a great option to consider.
3. Gerber (Halal Certified Products)
Gerber is one of the market leaders in baby food and offers some halal certified products in a few selected stores. Purees, cereals, and snacks that are halal certified are in compliance with Islam’s religious dietary laws. There are relatively many parents looking for halal baby food, and Gerber offers a great solution.
4. Haleem’s Kitchen
Haleem’s Kitchen is a specialized halal baby food manufacturer that specializes in nutritious ingredients to make halal purees and meals. Among them, meals, purees, and other baby foods are aimed to suit the observational principles of Muslims.