Are Takis Halal? A Definitive Guide For Muslims

Takis  is a Mexican brand recognized for its rolled corn tortilla  chips. These chips are famous worldwide for their  intense flavour and spiciness. People of all ages, from children to adults, are in love with Takis’ various flavoured chips.

In recent years, these chips have gained immense popularity due to  their unique taste. However, production of Takis in Non Muslim countries raised a question “Are Takis Halal or Haram?”

 Answering  this question is quite complicated. Because Takis does not hold Halal certification. Without this certification the specific company or product does not undergo rigorous testing to meet Islamic halal standards. However, Takis Ingredients lack any questionable items such as pork or alcohol. Therefore, some plant based flavours may be potentially halal. Let’s investigate the topic thoroughly and determine  which flavours are halal and which are not.  

Barcel is a famous Mexican snack food company founded in the 1970s. This company specialises in making corn chips. It reached its peak popularity after introducing Takis chips in 1999.

Barcel is a unit of the  parent company Grupo Bimbo. They make   hollow rolls of corn  with various flavours sprinkled on them.  These chips gained international recognition, and Barcel successfully  introduced Takis in the US in 2004 and Canada in 2015.

As you savor the unique flavours of Takis, you can now bring your love of deliciousness into your everyday life. Imagine having Custom Keyrings inspired by ‘Takis’ classic taco chips that not only become a stylish accessory for your bag or keyring but also evoke that tantalizing taste memory every time you touch them. 

Whether you choose a vibrant colour to represent the iconic flavour or a compact design in the shape of a potato chip, these custom keyrings are a personalized expression of your favourite brand.

Common ingredients of Takis with their halal, haram or mushbooh status are as follows:

Corn Masa Flour

Corn Masa Flour is made of corn and water and  processed with lime. It forms the base of chips giving them  a  crunchy taste. This ingredient is halal. 

Oils

Three different types of oil are used for frying the Takis chips. These oils soyabean oil, palm oil and canola are derived from plants. So, these plant based oils are also halal.

Iodized Salt

Iodized Salt is a regular salt with additional iodine in it to provide enough nutrients.  This salt is halal.

Sugar

Sugar is a necessary element in chips to balance the spice and provide a sweet taste. It is halal.

Natural And Artificial Flavors

Natural And Artificial Flavors are responsible for the  variations in the taste of Takis chips. These are  either plant based flavors or synthesised in laboratories. They are also halal.

Citric Acid

Citric Acid is obtained naturally  from citrus foods like lemon orange etc. being a plant based product, this ingredient is Halal.

Soy Protein

Soy Protein is derived from soybeans. It enhances the texture of chips and is a halal ingredient.

Yeast

Yeast is a microscopic fungus that improves the texture of Takis chips. It is also halal as there is no linkage with animals here.

 Monosodium Glutamate is a salt commonly known as Ajino moto. It gives umami taste to chips. It is halal but is banned in many countries due to its health Hazard effects. 

Maltodextrin

Maltodextrin is made of corn, starch and potato.it thickens the texture of chips and gives them their crunch. It is also a plant based product, so is a halal.

Sodium Diacetate is a combination of acetic acid  and  sodium acetate . It preserves the chips for a long time and gives it a tangy flavor. This is generally considered halal.

Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil

Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil is Halal suitable as it is  derived from plants.

Artificial Colours

Two main colours are used in Takis chips:

1.Red 40 Lake

Red 40 Lake is made of petroleum. Its usage is allowed by the Food and Drug administration (FDA ) in the US. It gives the chips a fiery red colour that appeals to everyone. Being a non animal product, this colour dye is halal suitable.

2.Yellow 6 lake

Yellow 6 lake is yellow orange pigment, insoluble in water. It is also known as Tartrazine. It is made synthetically from petroleum derivatives. It is halal due to its source 

Note: These food dyes possess some health issues and are reported to trigger allergies in children. 

Onion Powder

Onion Powder is made of dehydrated, dried onions. And this ingredient is definitely a halal thing.

Hot Chilli Pepper

Hot Chilli Pepper (CHILE) is a key element of Takis’ spiciness. It is also halal.

Sodium Bicarbonate

Sodium Bicarbonate having code E500 is a form of salt. It is commonly known as baking soda. It acts as a leavening agent and makes chips more crispier. It is considered halal.

Sodium Guanylate

Sodium Guanylate with the food code E627 enhances flavour of chips. This flavour enhancer is an animal based product. It is usually derived from small fishes or seaweeds or yeast. However it can also be made synthetically or through fermentation, using microorganisms.

Vegan Takis

Vegan Takis options may be  considered halal, but Non vegan options  would  likely make  sodium guanylate mushbooh due to lack of Halal certification. Although Takis official website have claimed that they don’t use pork, lard, pepsin, pork gelatin, alcohol or alcohol-derived ingredients, cochineal, or carmine in the making process. 

Disodium Inosinate

Disodium Inosinate is another flavour enhancer used  in chips.it is prepared by bacterial fermentation of sugars, a halal method. However, it can also be derived from meat or fish, which raises questions about its halal status. Since, specific source is not mentioned on packaging, non vegan options of Takis would likely be considered mushbooh.

Silicon Dioxide

Silicon Dioxide with food number E551 is a synthesised chemical.it ensures that chips remain crispy. It is Halal.

There are many flavours of Takis chips in the market. The company frequently launches new products. Some famous flavours with their Halal or Haram status are listed below. For those seeking spiritual clarity alongside halal choices, reciting the Surah Yaseen can be a comforting way to stay connected with their faith.

Takis Fuego

Takis Fuego is the most famous and   hottest flavour launched by Barcel to date. It is in purple packaging and commonly referred to as  purple Takis. This flavour is generally considered Halal. It contains no animal product. 

Takis Nitro

Takis Nitro, a habanero chilli flavour, is in black and red packaging. The chips are intensely red and have a citrusy taste. It is a must-try for citrus lovers. As a vegetarian option, this flavour is considered as halal.

Takis Crunchy Fajitas

Takis Crunchy Fajitas have a unique flavour with less spice. This flavour comes in green packaging. It is not vegan.  The Inclusion of animal products makes this flavour Mushbooh in Halal terms. 

Takis Dragon Sweet Chili

Takis Dragon Sweet Chili is similar to sweet chilli Doritos. This flavour is a blend of sweet, sour, salt and spicy tastes. These black Takis are Halal. This flavour does not contain any ingredients that need to be proven halal or haram.

Takis Intense Nacho

Takis Intense Nacho is a cheesy flavour with a satisfying crunch. This is a good option for those who prefer mild spices but still want to enjoy Takis. These orange coloured Takis are Mashbooh  as the source of animal derived ingredients is not mentioned on the packaging of chips.

Takis Kettlez Jalapeno Typhoon

Takis Kettlez Jalapeno Typhoon are jalapeno flavored Takis with less spice. They come in green packaging. They are not vegan friendly. They may contain animal derived ingredients, the source of which is uncertain. The Halal Status of green Takis is Mushbooh. 

Takis Guacamole

Takis Guacamole is the least popular flavor and comes in white packaging. Animal- derived ingredients are used in production of this flavour. Its  Halal Status is suspicious. 

Takis Waves Dragon Sweet

Takis Waves Dragon Sweet Chili are wavy-shaped chips. This flavor is a mix of honey and chilli peppers resulting in a sweet and sour taste simultaneously. These purple chips are considered halal.

Takis Blue Heat

Takis Blue Heat is a hot chili pepper flavor. It also comes in a wavy chip shape. The blue Takis in blue packaging even turn your tongue blue. Being vegan-friendly, it is considered a halal option.

Takis Kettlez

Takis Kettlez Fuego is the spiciest flavour with burning red chips shown on Packaging. They are very hot and intense and may not be tolerated by everyone. This is also Halal option.

Although Takis don’t contain haram ingredients, they lack Halal certification. The ingredients in Takis aren’t required to be proven halal or haram, as they are simple plant-based ingredients. All ingredients are individually recognized  as halal by relevant authorities.

However, there’s a chance of Cross contamination due to snacks production in Non Muslim countries. Avoid Takis as multiple snacks are available in the Market. But if you still desire  these chips, opt for vegan friendly options like Fuego flavour or purchase them from a country with mandatory Halal certification such as Saudi Arabia.