Are Pringles Halal? A List of Halal Flavours

Crunchy, satisfying, and oh-so-addictive, Pringles have been a beloved snack for generations. But for those who follow halal dietary restrictions, a pressing question lingers: Are Pringles halal?

With the increasing awareness and demand for halal-certified products, this question has become more relevant than ever before.

As a snack that’s often enjoyed at gatherings and on-the-go, knowing whether Pringles are halal can have significant implications for those who adhere to halal dietary guidelines.

If you’re a Pringles fan or simply curious about the halal status of popular snacks, this blog post is a must-read. Let’s satisfy your cravings for knowledge and unveil the truth about Pringles and their halal status!

Are Pringles Halal?

Yes, Pringles are halal. The original flavor and lightly-salted flavor of Pringles are halal and contain no animal-derived ingredients. However, most of the other Pringles flavors contain questionable animal-derived ingredients like whey protein, cheese, and natural meat flavors.

The Ingredients: What Goes Into Pringles?

To determine the halal status of Pringles, we need to examine the ingredients used in their production.

Pringles come in various flavors, but the classic Original flavor is a good starting point.

The ingredients listed on a can of Original Pringles include dehydrated potatoes, vegetable oils (corn, cottonseed, soybean, and/or sunflower oil), rice flour, wheat starch, and maltodextrin.

Dehydrated potatoes, rice flour, and wheat starch are common ingredients in Pringles, and they are generally considered halal.

What Makes Some Pringles Flavors Questionable?

Although some Pringles flavors contain no animal ingredients, there is one questionable ingredient. As per our research, whey is what makes this chips questionable.

The reason for the problematic nature of whey is the rennet used to curdle the milk in order to produce the whey and cheese. 

If the rennet is halal (for instance from a halal animal, vegetable, or most microbial sources) then the whey and cheese is also halal, otherwise not.

Animal rennet or whey is an an enzyme the food industry uses to prepare cheese by curdling milk. Rennet is extracted by the stomach of a calf or any other animal.

According to IslamQA, the Islamic ruling concerning rennet is that if it is taken from an animal that has been slaughtered according to Shari’ah, then it is pure (tahir) and can be eaten. This is according to the Hanafis, Malikis, Shafi’is and Hanbalis.

As regards eating rennet taken from an animal that dies naturally, or that was not slaughtered in accordance with Shari’ah, according to the apparent meaning of the opinions reported from the majority of scholars among the Malikis, Shafi’is and Hanbalis, it is impure (najis) and should not be eaten.

They base this ruling on the verse (interpretation of the meaning):

“Forbidden to you for food) are: al-maytatah (dead animals – cattle-beasts not slaughtered).”

Surah al-Maidah 5:3

The rennet becomes impure by virtue of the animal’s death, and it is not possible to remove that impurity from it.

Imam al-Nawawi said in al-Majmu’ (9/68):

“The ummah has agreed that it is permissible to eat cheese so long as it is not mixed with anything impure, such as adding rennet from a source that is not halal because it was not slaughtered according to shari’ah. This ijma’ (scholarly consensus) is the evidence for its permissibility.”

The second view, which is that of Abu Hanifah and is one of two opinions narrated from Imam Ahmad, is that rennet from dead animals or animals that were not slaughtered according to Shari’ah is still tahir (pure).

Suggested reading: Is Nutmeg Haram? All You Need to Know

Are BBQ Pringles Halal?

BBQ Pringles are not considered halal as they contain one questionable ingredient, whey. The ingredients used in making BBQ Pringles are Sugar, Tomato Powder, Onion Powder, Spice, Garlic Powder, Malted Barley Flour, Paprika Extract Color, Whey. 

Are Pringles Sour Cream and Onion Halal?

Pringle sour cream and onion are not considered halal because they either contain animal rennet or whey.

Is Pringles Paprika Halal?

Yes, Pringles Paprika are halal friendly. These halal Pringles are generously sprinkled with their signature paprika powder.

Pringles Halal Flavors

Here’s a list of halal Pringles:

• Pringles Original
• Pringles Paprika
• Pringles Sriracha Asian Chili Sauce
• Pringles Wasabi & Soy Sauce
• Pringles Salsa de Chile Habanero
• Pringles Wavy Classic Salted
• Pringles Lightly Salted Original
• Pringles Kickin’ Chicken Taco and Pringles Bacon.

List of Pringle Flavors With Questionable Ingredient

While there are plenty of halal Pringles, flavors with questionable variants will still outnumber them.

Most Pringles flavors contain massive amounts of dairy, the most popular of which is milk-derived lactose, buttermilk, nonfat milk, and cheese cultures.

Here is the full list of the Pringles flavors:

• Pringles Memphis BBQ
• Pringles BBQ
• Pringles Texas BBQ Sauce
• Pringles Cheddar Cheese
• Pringles Cheddar and Sour Cream
• Pringles Sour Cream
• Pringles Honey Mustard
• Pringles Jalapeno
• Pringles Pizza
• Pringles Ranch
• Pringles Salt Vinegar
• Pringles Sour Cream Onion
• Pringles Screamin’ Dill Pickle
• Pringles Buffalo Ranch
• Pringles Roast Chicken and Herbs
• Pringles Extra Hot (contains whey)
• Pringles Wavy Applewood Smoked Cheddar 
• Pringles Rice Fusions

The table below notes the ingredients in Pringles that you should be aware of. Most varieties of Pringles contain dairy.

Flavor	Potential Non-halal Ingredients
BBQ	Whey
Cheddar Cheese	Whey, Cheese
Cheddar & Sour Cream	Whey, Cheese
Jalapeno	Whey
Pizza	Whey, Cheese
Sour Cream & Onion	Whey
Screamin’ Dill Pickle	Whey
Buffalo Ranch	Whey
Extra Hot	Whey
Ranch	Whey
Parmesan & Roasted Garlic	Whey, Cheese

As of the publication date of this blog post, Pringles does not have a global halal certification that covers all their flavors and production facilities.

Conclusion

The halal status of Pringles can be a complex and nuanced topic. While some of the ingredients used in Pringles are generally considered halal, such as dehydrated potatoes, rice flour, and wheat starch, there may be concerns about the use of whey or animal rennet.