Is Papa John’s Halal? (Pizza, Pepperoni, Cheese and Chicken)

Is Papa John’s Halal? Papa John’s is a well-known pizza chain with numerous locations worldwide, serving up delicious pies with a variety of toppings.

However, for those who follow halal dietary restrictions, the question of whether Papa John’s offers halal options may arise. 

In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at whether Papa John’s is halal and provide you with the facts you need to know.

Is Papa John’s Halal?

No, Papa John’s is not halal certified in the USA, UK, and Australia. Unlike some other fast-food chains that have clear halal-certified menus, Papa John’s does not have a company-wide halal certification. There is no mention of halal on either their website or social media.

In Muslim countries such as Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, Papa John’s menu is 100% halal!

Is Papa John’s Halal in UK?

Papa John’s UK claims to have halal chicken topping and chicken poppers on its menu. It says,

“There are currently two items on our menu that are classed as Halal; our char-grilled chicken topping and the chicken poppers side.”

However, this is a tweet from 2015. In 2020, under the same tweet, a comment from Papa John’s UK was added:

“Unfortunately we’re unable to guarantee any of our products to be Halal, apologies for any disappointment caused by this.”

That said, it’s best to ask each branch individual.

There has been a circulating myth that Papa John’s is a halal-friendly pizza chain. However, after thorough research, it has been confirmed that Papa John’s does not offer halal-certified food at any of its locations.

This means that the ingredients and preparation methods used by Papa John’s do not meet the strict requirements of halal food, as certified by reputable halal certification organizations.

As such, if you are specifically looking for halal food, Papa John’s may not be the best option for you.

Can Muslims Eat From Papa John’s?

First of all, Muslims can eat any type of veg food or any type of non-meat food that is not harmful.

Muslims can eat vegetables, sweets, pudding, cakes that do not have animal derivatives in them. You’re allowed to eat whether they were prepared by Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, or Muslims.

It doesn’t matter whether it was cooked by atheists or people doing it for their own gods and idols, then bringing it to you. There’s no problem. 

The food itself is halal. As Muslims, the only thing that we care about is the meat. Was it halal meat, meaning that the animal is permitted for us to eat the meat and flesh of that animal?

Secondly, it has to be slaughtered, and the person slaughtering has to be either a Muslim, a Jew, or a Christian. 

These are the only three people or three denominations that we are allowed to eat from their slaughtering if they slaughter halal meat such as cows, sheep, camels, birds in general. So, their slaughtering is permissible.

According to fatwa from IslamQA, if restaurants are in a country where the slaughter of meat is taken care of by Muslims or People of the Book (i.e., Jews and Christians), or the restaurant owners take care of the slaughter themselves and they are Muslims or people of the Book,

then it is permissible to eat there, even if we do not know whether they mentioned the name of Allaah over the slaughter or not, because the basic principle is that their meat is allowed.

Al-Bukhaari (2057) narrated from ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) that some people said,

“O Messenger of Allaah, some people bring meat to us and we do not know whether they mentioned the name of Allaah over it or not.” The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Say the name of Allaah over it and eat it.”

Al-Bukhaari 2057

But if the slaughter of meat is taken care of by people other than Muslims or people of the Book, such as atheists and Hindus, then it is not permissible to eat it.

It should be noted that meat slaughtered by a Muslim or a Jew or Christian is permissible if it was slaughtered in the manner prescribed in sharee’ah or if we do not know how it was slaughtered.

But if we know that it was slaughtered in a way other than that prescribed in sharee’ah, such as by strangling, electric shock, etc, then it is maytah or dead meat and it is haraam to eat it regardless of whether the one who killed it was a Muslim or a kaafir, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Forbidden to you (for food) are: Al‑Maitah (the dead animals — cattle — beast not slaughtered), blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which Allaah’s Name has not been mentioned while slaughtering (that which has been slaughtered as a sacrifice for others than Allaah, or has been slaughtered for idols) and that which has been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a headlong fall, or by the goring of horns — and that which has been (partly) eaten by a wild animal — unless you are able to slaughter it (before its death)”

Surah al-Maa’idah 5:3

Shaykh Ibn Baaz in Fataawa Islamiyyah, 3/414

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

One of the following three scenarios must apply to this meat:

1. We know that it has been slaughtered in the proper manner. This meat is halaal.

2. We know that it has not been slaughtered in the proper manner. This meat is haraam.

3. We are not sure; we do not know whether it has been slaughtered in the proper manner or not. 

The ruling in this case is that the meat is halaal, and we do not have to ask about how it was killed, or whether the name of Allaah was mentioned over it or not.

Rather it seems from the Sunnah that it is better not to ask or try to find out.

There’s a high chance of cross-contamination at Papa John’s, the question is ‘Is it halal to eat at a restaurant that has high chance of cross-contamination?’

According to fatwa from fiqh.islamonline.net, If you know that the meat or any other food that is originally halal for Muslims is cooked with fats or oils extracted from pigs, then it is haram (prohibited) to eat this food. 

Similarly, if the food is cooked where pork was cooked, e.g. in the same pot or pan, it becomes haram to eat it, because the impurity and defilement of the pork will then be transferred to the food.

So, it is better for you to eat other kinds of food that are far from being cooked this way, such as roasted fish, vegetables or the like, if you have to go to these restaurants.

As a Muslim, you must strive to avoid what is obviously haraam, and be cautious of doubtful things, and be keen to keep your religious commitment safe and to protect your body from haraam foods.

There are many other restaurants that are owned by Muslims and provide halal food and you should go to such restaurants instead.

Related Posts

• Is Dominos Halal?
• Is Chipotle Halal In US, Canada And Uk?
• Is Popeyes Halal In USA And Canada?
• Is Five Guys Halal?
• Is Subway Halal? All You Need to Know

Is Papa John’s Pizza Halal?

No, Papa John’s menu doesn’t include any halal pizza. However, they offer a variety of vegetable toppings that are vegan-friendly. However, some of their meat toppings, such as pepperoni and sausage, are not halal.

If you have specific dietary requirements, it’s always best to check with the restaurant directly to see what options are available.

Is Papa Johns Chicken Halal?

No, not all Papa John’s locations offer Halal chicken, so it’s best to check with your local restaurant to see if it’s available.

Is Papa Johns Chicken Wings Halal?

No, not all Papa John’s locations offer Halal chicken wings, so it’s best to check with your local restaurant to see if it’s available.

Is Papa John’s Pepperoni Halal?

No, Papa John’s Pepperoni is not halal. It is made with pork and beef and is therefore not suitable for those following a halal diet.

However, Papa John’s does offer a variety of vegetable toppings that are halal-friendly, such as green peppers, onions, mushrooms, and black olives.

Is Papa John’s Cheese halal?

No, Papa John’s Cheese is not considered halal in the US. They do have a vegan cheese option in the UK, though. It’s called Sheese and is made from coconut oil.

Papa John’s Vegetarian and Vegan Options

If you’re looking for vegetarian or vegan options at Papa John’s, you’re in luck. Papa John’s offers a variety of vegetarian and vegan options, including:

Vegan Toppings

Sadly, Papa John’s hasn’t introduced any halal meat options in the US yet. Papa John’s offers a selection of fresh veggies to include on your cheese-less pizza, including:

• Onions
• Jalapeno peppers
• Banana peppers
• Green peppers
• Mushrooms
• Roma tomatoes
• Pineapple
• Spinach
• Green olives
• Black olives

Note that there’s a high chance of cross-contamination at Subway, so if you decide to eat there, ask the workers to change their gloves.

It’s important to note that while Papa John’s does not offer halal options, they do have a wide range of other pizza toppings and menu items that may still suit your dietary preferences or restrictions. 

When it comes to halal food, it’s crucial to rely on reputable halal certification organizations to ensure that the food meets the necessary criteria.

These organizations have specific guidelines and standards in place for halal food production, which include the sourcing of ingredients, processing methods, and facility inspections.

Some well-known halal certification organizations include the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA), the Halal Food Authority (HFA), and the Halal Development Council (HDC), among others.

Checking for halal certification from such organizations can provide assurance that the food you’re consuming aligns with your dietary preferences or restrictions.

Conclusion

While Papa John’s is a popular pizza chain known for its tasty offerings, it does not offer halal-certified food. It’s important to be aware of this fact if you are specifically looking for halal options.

Since halal food is a must for you, there are other pizza chains and restaurants that do offer halal options, and it’s always a good practice to inquire about the food’s certification status before making a decision.