Halal Foods in TEFAP Factsheet (791.77 KB)
When serving communities through TEFAP, it is important to consider a participant’s perspective on cultural and religious practices around food. Participants choosing to follow a halal diet may not be able to take all items available through TEFAP.
Halal Diets
Halal diets typically do not permit pork products, alcohol and products that contain alcohol, or products containing ingredients that use non-halal animal-derived products. For example, some cheese products use an ingredient called rennet that is derived from an animal, therefore the cheese would not be acceptable to halal-observant communities.
Halal Certified Foods
Some USDA Foods are certified halal, meaning that the product is not only acceptable but has been processed in a facility that maintains the integrity of the halal certification. These items are identified on the TEFAP foods available list with an “(H)” next to the item name.
Non-Certified Acceptable Foods
Other products on the TEFAP foods available list may be acceptable to halal-observant communities without a halal certification, such as fresh produce, certain types of fish, and shell eggs. It is important to work with leaders in your community to identify what non-certified items will be acceptable to your participants, as levels of observance may vary between communities.
Halal Foods in TEFAP
Use the dropdowns below to see items available through TEFAP that may be acceptable to halal-observant communities. The six digit number included with each food is the material code used in Web Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM).
- Fruits
May be Acceptable without Certification Applesauce, Unsweetened, Canned (K) - 100207 Apple Slices, Unsweetened, Frozen (IQF) - 110470 Pears, Extra Light Syrup, Canned (K) - 100223 Apples, Braeburn, Fresh - 100523 Apples, Empire, Fresh - 100517 Apples, Fuji, Fresh - 100522 Apples, Gala, Fresh - 100521 Apples, Granny Smith, Fresh - 110543 Apples, Red Delicious, Fresh - 100514 Apples, Fresh - 110561 Blueberries, Highbush, Unsweetened, Frozen - 110623 Oranges, Fresh - 100283 Peaches, Freestone, Slices, Frozen - 100238 Pears, Bartlett, Fresh - 111424 Pears, Bosc, Fresh - 111423 Pears, D’Anjou, Fresh - 111422 Pears, Fresh - 110560 Pears, Extra Light Syrup, Canned (K) – 100223 Strawberries, Whole, Unsweetened, Frozen - 111680 - Vegetables
Halal Certified May be Acceptable without Certification Tomato Sauce, Low Sodium, Canned (K)(H) - 110610 Beans, Green, Low Sodium, Canned (K) - 100306 Beans, Green, No Salt Added, Frozen - 111054 Carrots, Diced, No Salt Added, Frozen - 111052 Corn, Whole Kernel, No Salt Added, Canned (K) - 100311 Corn, Whole Kernel, No Salt Added, Frozen - 111053 Mixed Produce Box, Fresh - 111427 Peas, Green, No Salt Added, Frozen - 110763 Potatoes, Round, Fresh - 101019 Potatoes, Russet, Fresh - 101017 Sweet Potatoes, Fresh - 111058 - Legumes
May be Acceptable without Certification Beans, Garbanzo, Canned (K) - 111060 Beans, Black-eyed Pea, Dry - 100374 Beans, Great Northern, Dry - 100380 Beans, Kidney, Light Red, Dry - 100385 Beans, Lima, Baby, Dry - 100378 Beans, Pinto, Dry - 100382 Lentils, Dry - 100388 Peas, Green Split, Dry - 111055 - Protein Foods
May be Acceptable without Certification Almonds, Natural, Whole, Shelled - 100907 Atlantic Haddock, Fillet, Frozen – 111292 Atlantic Ocean Perch, Fillet, Frozen – 111293 Atlantic Pollock, Fillet, Frozen - 111291 Catfish, Fillets, Farm-Raised, Frozen –110390* Catfish, Fillets, Wild-Caught, Frozen – 111800* Eggs, Fresh - 100936 Peanut Butter, Smooth (K) - 111170 Salmon, Pink, Canned (K) - 110580 Walnut, Pieces – 100908 * Please work with experts in your community, as there is a small sector of halal-observant communities who will not consume catfish.
- Grains
May be Acceptable without Certification Bakery Mix, Lowfat, (K) - 110902 Cornmeal, Yellow – 100471 Flour, All Purpose, Enriched, Bleached - 100400 Flour, White Whole Wheat - 110857 Grits, Corn, White - 111082 Grits, Corn, yellow - 111072 Oats, Rolled, Quick Cooking - 111074 Pasta, Macaroni, Enriched - 110511 Pasta, Macaroni, Whole Grain - 101023 Pasta, Rotini, Whole Grain - 110777 Pasta, Spaghetti, Enriched - 110450 Pasta, Spaghetti, Whole Grain - 101035 Rice, Medium Grain - 100487, 100488 Rice, Long Grain - 100491, 100492 - Dairy
May be Acceptable without Certification Yogurt, High-Protein, Blueberry, Chilled (K) - 110400 Yogurt, High-Protein, Strawberry, Chilled (K) - 110401 Yogurt, High-Protein, Vanilla, Chilled (K) - 111750 Yogurt, High-Protein, Vanilla, Chilled (K) - 110402 - Oils
May be Acceptable without Certification Oil, Vegetable - 100441
Additional Resources
For more information and resources, please visit the TEFAP website. If you need additional information about participating in TEFAP in your area, please reach out to your state agency.
Storage and Distribution Strategies for Halal Foods in TEFAP presents strategies to better serve halal-observant households.
Webinars hosted by FNS regarding Halal foods in TEFAP:
- Supporting Kosher and Halal-Observant Communities Through TEFAP
- Procurement and Storage Strategies for Kosher Observant TEFAP Participants
For specific Halal information the following organizations may be helpful: