Frequently Asked Questions

Halal Scanner is a comprehensive platform and mobile app that helps Muslims verify whether food ingredients and additives are halal, haram, or mushbooh. Our database covers 200+ ingredients and 100+ E-numbers with scholarly analysis.

Point your phone camera at any product barcode. The app checks ingredients against our database of millions of products, instantly showing the halal status of each ingredient.

Halal Scanner offers free scans to try. Unlimited scanning and full features are available through affordable subscription plans.

Currently Halal Scanner is available on iOS (iPhone). We are actively developing the Android version.

Halal (حلال) means 'permissible' in Arabic. In the context of food, it refers to items that are allowed under Islamic dietary law as defined in the Quran and Hadith.

Haram (حرام) means 'forbidden' in Arabic. Haram foods include pork, alcohol, blood, improperly slaughtered animals, and products derived from these sources.

Mushbooh (مشبوه) means 'doubtful' or 'questionable.' An ingredient is mushbooh when its halal status depends on the source — such as gelatin, which can be from halal or haram animals.

Zabiha (also spelled dhabiha) refers to the Islamic method of slaughtering animals. It requires invoking the name of Allah, using a sharp knife, and severing specific blood vessels for rapid blood drainage.

Gelatin is mushbooh — its status depends on the animal source. Pork gelatin is haram. Gelatin from halal-slaughtered cattle or fish is halal. Most unlabeled gelatin in Western products is pork-derived.

E471 (mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids) is one of the most questioned E-numbers. It can be from animal or plant fats, making it mushbooh. Always verify the source.

No. Carmine is derived from crushed cochineal insects and is considered haram by the majority of Islamic scholars.

No! Most E-numbers are halal. Many are derived from plants, minerals, or are synthetic. Only a few (like E120, E441, E542) have animal-derived concerns.