Fermented foods
| Fatwa #2405 | Category: Food & Drink | Country: Zambia | Date: 7th August 2026 |
| Fatwa #2405 | Date: 7th August 2026 |
| Category: Food & Drink | |
| Country: Zambia | |
Question
Aslm
Please advise if the following fermented foods are halal suitable as alcohol is produced in some of them during the fermentation process:
Sourdough bread
Sauerkraut
Kimchi
Kefir
Kombucha
Jzklh
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
First and foremost, it must be understood that not all types of alcohols are automatically impermissible and Haram to consume. Rather, it depends on the nature and source of alcohol as well as the final product that is being consumed.
Secondly, fermentation by nature is bound to produce some form of ethanol. This does not mean it is automatically Haram. For example, nabeedh (raisins or dates mixed in water) is allowed to ferment a little and is consumed before it becomes a strong intoxicant. This was consumed by Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam as well as the sahabah.
Lastly, provided the alcohol in question is not produced from dates and grapes, nor is it actively being sought as the final product (as is the case with lite beers), then the product containing such types of alcohol is permissible for consumption.
Accordingly,
Sourdough bread uses a yeast and bacteria culture to naturally ferment the flour. It is permissible provided the yeast is not from wine sources. See the link below on the types of yeast.
https://askimam.org/public/question_detail/34907
Sauerkraut is finely shredded raw cabbage that is preserved and soured through a natural fermentation process using salt and lactic acid bacteria. This is permissible.
Kimchi is a traditional Korean side dish consisting of salted and fermented vegetables, most often napa cabbage or Korean radish. A wide selection of seasonings are usually used. This too is permissible.
Kefir and Kombucha are fermented drinks that are created using different grains, milk, tea etc. It is also permissible provided the final product is not one that easily intoxicates the drinker. For additional rulings on Kefir and Kombucha, you may refer to the link below.
https://www.askimam.org/public/question_detail/44108
In all the above products, the fermentation should not be allowed to become so strong such that consuming a bit of the product may cause intoxication.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Bilal Pandor
Concurred by
Mufti Muhammad Patel
Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah
Lusaka, Zambia