Vegan does not guarantee the products are halal, here’s why

Although the products are absent of animal-derivatives, vegan does not guarantee the goods are halal as they can still contain hints of alcohol or sourced, processed and extracted against Islamic teachings. 

Founder of EU HALAL, Tayeb Habib said even well-intentioned consumers often confuse vegan and halal, assuming that halal only concerns the ingredients in products although its scope spans many areas of a Muslim’s lifestyle. 

“A vegan product does not automatically mean halal, it simply means there are no animal-derived ingredients.

Habib founded EU Halal, a private Muslim-owned halal company that offers consultation regarding halal certification for national and international markets.

“Alchohol such as Ethanol can still be present if added directly into the product or used as a solvent to extract flavours and aromas.

“Labels like ‘flavours’ or ‘natural aromas’ often indicate extraction using alcohol, even in vegan products,” he elaborated on his LinkedIn post.

Habib added, processing pertaining to how the products are sourced, processed and extracted are also crucial in determining their halal status, which is applied to a broad range of goods such as toothpaste, mouthwash, cosmetics, supplements and medicine.

The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) is one of the most respected authorities in halal certification worldwide, considering its stringent regulations on halal recognition. (photo credit: Malaysiakini)

Instead, he suggested Muslims to seek better halal assurance in products that contain alcohol-free formulations, plant-based or synthetic glycerin, alcohol-free flavour extraction and ideally– halal certification from a recognised body.

 “Vegan is a lifestyle claim, while halal is a compliance system. Both can overlap, but one does not replace the other,” he concluded.

As of 3:03 p.m on 12th January 2026, his LinkedIn post has garnered 317 likes, 56 comments and 37 reposts among international users, prompting a healthy discussion among various parties towards the betterment of Muslim community globally.