Is Lard Halal?
lard is considered haram (not permissible). Rendered pig fat.
Why this status?
Rendered pig fat. Haram in all forms.
Editorial summary
This summary is editorial and is general information, not a religious ruling. The status above is unchanged.
What it is
Lard is rendered pig fat, sold as a solid white cooking fat and also known as pork fat or, in Spanish, manteca. It is used for frying and in pastry, pie crusts, biscuits, tortillas, tamales, refried beans and some traditional breads and cakes, because it makes baked goods flaky and tender.
Why it is rated haram
Pork and products made from the pig are prohibited in Islam, and the Quran names pork among the foods that are forbidden. Lard comes directly from the pig, so it is haram in all forms, which is how this entry is rated. Unlike many ingredients on this site, there is no source question to ask: lard is always from pigs.
Where it hides
Lard is not always obvious. It can appear in shop-bought and bakery pastries, pie crusts, croissants and biscuits, in some refried beans and tortillas, in traditional Mexican and Latin American dishes. Restaurants may use it for frying or in dough without saying so on the menu. Shortening that is described only as animal fat or animal shortening may also contain lard.
Related ingredients
Fatty acids, glycerin and emulsifiers made from fat, such as mono- and diglycerides, stearic acid and polysorbates, can be derived from pork fat as well, which is why many of them are rated doubtful on this site. Gelatin is another common pork-derived ingredient. These are listed on labels under their own names, so lard on its own does not cover them.
Reading a label
On a label it may appear as lard, pork fat, pig fat, manteca or rendered pork fat. Look out for animal fat, animal shortening or a fat blend that does not name its source, and ask bakeries and restaurants what fat they use for pastry and frying. A recognized halal certificate on a product rules lard out.
In short
In short, lard is pig fat and is haram in all forms. It can hide in pastry, tortillas and fried foods, so read labels for lard, pork fat and unnamed animal fat, and ask when eating out.
Also listed on labels as
lard can appear on an ingredient list as pig fat, pork fat, manteca.
What to do when a product lists it
A product that lists this ingredient is not permissible for those who follow this rating, so look for an alternative made without it. Some ingredients have halal-certified or plant-based versions, and a recognized halal certificate is the way to confirm that a particular product uses one. Recipes change and differ between countries, so check the package in your hands.
Sources
Classification based on clinical nutrition assessment; no independent published study cited.
Reviewed by Habib Aman, Islamic Scholar, MBA — last reviewed September 27, 2026.
This is general guidance for everyday shopping, not a religious ruling. Formulations vary by manufacturer and country — confirm with the manufacturer or your local scholar when it matters.
Checking a whole product?
SafaScan is a halal scanner app that is coming soon. It will check lard and every other ingredient on a product. Sign up for launch updates. Learn about SafaScan.
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