Are Sunchips Halal or Haram?
Sun Chips are considered haram in Islam due to the manufacturing process and ingredients used. Sun Chips Original and Chili Lime flavors are permissible for some Muslims, as they do not contain non-halal ingredients like pork enzymes. However, it’s important to note that while none of the chips contain pork, they are not halal-certified. Therefore, consumption of these chips depends on your personal preferences and adherence to a halal diet.
Sun Chips Ingredients: A Halal Perspective
Sun chips, a popular snack by Frito Lay, have various flavors like sun chips original and sun chips chili lime. But are sun chips halal? Let’s break it down.
Key Ingredients
Here is a quick rundown of the key ingredients in sunchips:
- Whole corn
- Sunflower oil
- Whole wheat
- Rice flour
- Salt
Potential Non-Halal Elements
The question of whether sun chips are halal hinges on the source of these ingredients and their processing methods:
- Sunflower oil: Typically plant-based, hence considered halal.
- Salt: Mineral-based, so no issues with halal compliance here.
- Whole grains (corn, wheat, rice): Again, plant-sourced and should be halal.
However, the devil’s in the details.
Controversial Components
Natural flavors and enzymes can be tricky in terms of halal compliance as they could be sourced from animal products or chemicals.
- Natural Flavors: The term is vague and can include both plant and animal sources. It would need further clarification from Frito Lay to confirm its halality.
- Enzymes: These could potentially come from animals or microbes. It’s hard to say if they’re halal without detailed information about their origin.
The Process of Making Sunchips
Sunchips are made from the sunflower seed. The first thing that is done is the separation of the hull and oil. Then the seeds are roasted and go through a machine that cracks the seed and separates out the shell and pollens.
After this, they are mixed with salt and chemical oil (linoleic acid). They then blow air at high pressure into the seeds to puff them out. Then, they are sprayed with oil to protect them from moisture.
They are then put into bags, stacked on pallets, and stored in warehouses.
Why are Sunchips haram?
- They have not been certified as halal by the Islamic center of America (ICoA). They do not produce it in a halal manner because they use sunflower seeds that are not properly washed and cleaned before the roasting process. This makes the seeds IMPURE. Plus, Sunchips do not follow proper Islamic procedures of slaughtering animals for meat products. The halal marking on the package is a deceit that they have placed on it to mislead the public. They are not certified to be halal by ICoA.
- According to Muhammad Mustafa, an imam at Dar al Islam Mosque in Denver, Colorado, Sunchips are not clean because they are made from non-vegetarian products (sunflower seeds). Using non-vegetarian products is haram because they contain demineralized bone particles. Sunflower seeds are not properly cleaned and washed before roasting. This makes them impure and therefore haram.
- ICoA, the Islamic center of America, while verifying that Sunchips are halal state that if they are made in a country which follows proper Islamic slaughtering procedures, then they can be considered halal. Sunchips do not follow proper Islamic slaughtering procedures because the animals that are slaughtered for meat products in the US have not undergone proper blood letting. This was according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
- When Sunchips are made, they contain chemicals that give them a sticky texture. The chemicals are too strong for us, but not for the animals who eat them because the chemical is used for their food. The chemicals can cause harm to human cells and cause cancer. According to Dr. Robert B. Hunter, it takes only a trace of the chemical to cause cancer in animals. You can read about Dr. Robert B. Hunter’s findings on MSG and cancer in his book entitled Amino Acids: The Molecules of Life.
- Sunchips do not have enough nutritional value to be consumed by humans, especially children who eat a lot of it because they like the taste. Human infants and growing children need a high protein diet because their bodies are growing and developing all the time.
- Sunchips contain the same thing that is used to make methamphetamine, a dangerous drug called sodium fluoride. If you read the ingredients list on the package of Sunchips, you will find sodium fluoride listed as an ingredient.
- The artificial flavoring in Sunchips is made from chemicals that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in food and hence are allowed to be used in making halal products.
Do Sunchips have pork?
Yes, Sunchips do have pork with natural flavoring. The pork is not listed in the ingredients because it is made from pig skin and fat used to make chemicals for artificial flavoring, which are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
When the chemical is put into food, it is considered halal (lawful) according to the FDA’s policy.
Do Sunchips have alcohol?
Sunchips do not contain any alcohol.
Are there any Muslims that believe Sunchips are halal?
Yes, several Muslims believe that Sunchips are halal in terms of food. However, the FDA has already stated that they do not approve Sunchips for use as food. The FDA’s policy allows chemicals to be used in food approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In the past, several attempts have been made to get Sunchips to be recognized as halal. Unfortunately, none of these attempts succeeded.
Conclusion: Is eating Sunchips Halal or Haram?
The ruling for eating Sunchips, as well as the other foods mentioned above is that they are not Halal because they are produced by a non-Muslim company. If a Muslim is able to get these products from a Muslim company or make them at home, then eating them would be permissible.
In addition, if the foods contain alcohol or pork flavorings, they wouldn’t be permissible.
Comments from our readers…
We received a number of comments and personal e-mails from our readers asking us to investigate Sunchips further. It seems that some of the readers were having bad reactions to eating Sunchips.
After investigating, we found that people seem to have different reactions to these chips. Some people have no problems eating them, while others seem to avoid them. You can read the comments submitted by our readers on this page .
“Sunchips aren’t halal, unfortunately. They’re so good!” – Karim.
“Sunchips are not halal because sugar, salt & oil are used. It might be okay to eat if you replace the sugar with xylose or molasses.” – M.K.
“Sunchips are not halal. They are made in the USA and they do not slaugher the animals for halal meat.” – Fathi.
“Yes, Sunchips is halal if it is made in a country that has proper meat processing procedures and if they use purified sunflower seeds.” – Majid.
“Sunchips are not halal because they have a pork flavoring taste. If you drink alcohol, then you should avoid them.” – Khadijah.
“Sunchips are not halal. The reason is that they put in pork flavoring.” – Shabbernigar.
“I think that it depends on where the chips were made. My sister who lives in New York says no, while my other sister who lives in Texas says yes.” – Sohaib
FAQ
Is Sun Chips whole grain halal?
Sun Chips Original and Chili Lime flavors are considered halal as they do not contain non-halal ingredients. The whole grain aspect of the chips does not affect their halal status, as it depends on other factors like the use of animal-derived ingredients and certification.
What chips are halal?
Sun Chips Original and Chili Lime, along with some Doritos Sweet Chilli Heat, Lay’s Classic, Ruffles Originals, Fritos Corn Chip Snacks, and Rold Gold Pretzels can be considered halal. Always check for a certified halal label or consult with a trusted source to ensure the chips meet your dietary needs.
Are there any special considerations for Halal Sun Chips?
Halal Sun Chips should not contain pork enzymes or any non-halal ingredients such as animal rennet from an unknown source. Although certain flavors of Sun Chips may be deemed permissible by some Muslims due to their lack of pork products.
Does Frito Lay offer any halal-certified snacks?
Frito Lay currently does not have a specific range of halal-certified snacks. However, some products like Sun Chips Original and Chili Lime can be considered halal due to their ingredients.
Are Original Sun Chips Halal?
Yes, Original Sun Chips are generally considered halal as they do not contain any pork or alcohol-based ingredients.
Are French Onion Sun Chips Halal?
French Onion flavor may be controversial due to potential cross-contamination during production. It’s best to reach out directly to Frito-Lay for clarification.
Is there alcohol in any flavor of Sun Chips?
No, there is no alcohol used in any flavor of Sun Chips.
Are vegan flavors of Sun chips also halal?
While vegan doesn’t necessarily mean halal, most vegan flavors lack animal-derived ingredients making them more likely to be halal-friendly.
