Is Doritos Halal? A comprehensive Guide

Doritos is a processed snack food that is much liked by people worldwide. However, Muslims living in European countries often get confused about the status of these triangle-shaped chips. And they want to know is Doritos halal or haram.

           With  197 different flavors of Doritos, Some are potentially halal as they contain no animal ingredients. However, the halal status of Doritos products is questionable as the company itself accepted a lack of halal certification. 

Let’s get to the root of this topic and investigate which ingredient is halal or which is haram used in these chips. This will help us to know which flavor is suitable for a person who is following the halal diet.

If you are a Doritos lover and also worried about its halal status. Following are some Halal products. They contain no doubtful ingredients or animal products like cheese and whey.

Muslims should avoid the following famous  Doritos products especially if you are living in non-Muslim countries. All of these flavors contain cheese from unknown sources.

Any Islamic certification organizations do not approve of these chips. Australians should avoid cheesy Doritos. They may contain animal by-products. 

UAE is a Muslim country and highly committed to halal products. So, you can buy chips confidently. The  Doritos Spicy Sweet Chilli flavor sold here is 100% halal as there is no animal rennet This is claimed by PepsiCo. spokesperson.

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority ensured that everything sold in this holy land is halal. This authority has banned the import of forbidden products. So there is no chance of haram products in this kingdom. Many Muslims also find peace and clarity by reciting the Surah Yaseen, especially when making conscious, faith-based choices.

No,  it is not halal in these two regions. Unlike Muslim countries, the US and Canada don’t follow strict Halal guidelines. They may use enzymes from animals that are haram for Muslims.

Muslims in the UK should read ingredients carefully and choose only those flavors that lack animal by-products.

PepsiCo Pakistan is a distributor of Doritos in Pakistan. All companies here. strictly follow halal guidelines as advised by PNAC. But, if you are still confused, select halal flavors from the list given above in this post.

 The only halal flavor of Doritos in Turkey is DORITOS Risk Baharatli offered by Basil Grocery.

PepsiCo India manufactures Doritos in Kolkata west Bengal. And Doritos products are not halal certified here.

Some products are halal and some are not. Avoid chips if animal by-products are enlisted on the back of a Doritos bag.

According to SANHA (The South African National Halal Authority), Doritos made in South Africa are certified Halal

Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia is the federal agency in Malaysia that gives halal certification in Malaysia. From their perspective, Doritos products like  Nacho Cheese, Mild Salsa, Hot Salsa, and Medium Tomato Salsa contain white wine vinegar and spirit vinegar. These products being sold in Malaysia also lack halal certification. These items are not Halal for Muslims. Not all Doritos products are halal here. Halal options are only two:

Doritos chips are made by the American food company Frito-Lay a subsidiary of PepsiCo. All Ingredients with their status of halal or haram is as follows:

1 . Monosodium glutamate

It is a sodium salt of glutamic acid written as E621 on the packaging.it is also known as China salt in some countries. It enhances the flavor and gives a salty taste to chips. This ingredient of Doritos is halal.

        Despite the halal status of this taste enhancer, it is banned in many countries. It is a harmful chemical that causes many physical and mental illnesses.

Note: MSG E621 was banned in Pakistan by the Supreme Court in January 2018.

2. Maltodextrin:

   It is a refined white powder used to increase the volume of processed foods. Making maltodextrin involves rice, corn, potato scratch, or wheat. These all are derived from plants, so this ingredient of Doritos is also Halal.

3. Onion powder:

It is made from dried onions and gives an umami (meaty) taste to taste buds. It is certified halal. 

4. Salt:

All salts from natural sources are halal.

5. Buttermilk:

As the name suggests, it is made by the fermentation of milk. 99% of products made by milk are halal. But, it is better to check the country where you live. For example, an Australian brand “Pauls” in Brisbane offers a variety of dairy products. But, their buttermilk is not halal-certified.

6. Dextrose :

This ingredient of Doritos is like glucose and is made up of corn or wheat. It gives a sweet taste to food and balances a spicy touch. Being a plant-derivative ingredient, it is also halal.

7. Spices:

Spices are dried ingredients used for flavoring and aroma in snack foods. They are obtained from different parts of plants. being plant-based, spices are also halal.

8. Whey:

It is obtained from milk when making cheese and gives a light milky flavor to chips. For making cheese, rennet is used. Rennet is a mixture of enzymes taken from the stomach lining of ruminant animals like goats, sheep, and cows. It separates the solid part (curd) from the liquid part (whey). 

One problem lies here, whey and cheese are considered halal only,  if rennet used in the process is taken from Halal animals and they are slaughtered in an Islamic way. As the cheese and whey source is not mentioned and there is no halal certification, Muslims should not buy cheese-flavored chips.

9. Corn:

Corn is a type of fruit and yes, this ingredient is halal.

10. Lactose 

It is also known as “ milk sugar’’ which is found in the milk of mammals. it acts as a sweetening agent. Lactose is extracted from whey. It is halal if microbial enzymes are used in extraction. And it is doubtful if enzymes from animals are used. 

11. Vegetable oil:

Vegetable oils like sunflower oil, canola, and corn oil are used to enhance the taste and composition of food. These are plant-based and all are halal.

12. Citric acid:

 It is a food additive that is used for sour flavor and perseverance of food.it is obtained from citrus fruits and is considered halal.

To summarize, Doritos flavors having plant-based ingredients are halal. While flavors with animal by-products are not halal in non-Islamic countries.

 The main ingredients are discussed above in this article with their halal or haram status. Always check ingredients before eating. If you are still doubtful, remember this Hadith of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

“Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt.”