Support
Halal Foods & Scanner
We're here to help. Below you'll find answers to common questions. If you need further assistance, don't hesitate to reach out.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Halal Foods & Scanner?
Halal Foods & Scanner is a reference app for looking up the halal status of everyday foods. Search for a food or browse by verdict to see whether it is halal, doubtful, or haram, each with a plain-language explanation. You can set your school (madhhab), see when a food contains alcohol, build a grocery list, and use an optional camera scan to check packaged products.
What do the three verdicts mean?
Every food carries one of three verdicts:
- Halal: permitted in its basic, unprocessed form (for example, plain fruits, vegetables, grains, milk, and eggs).
- Doubtful (Mashbooh): it depends on the source, the slaughter, or the certification, so check the halal mark (for example, uncertified meat, gelatin, or cheese made with rennet).
- Haram: forbidden in all forms, and no certification can change that (for example, pork and its derivatives, or intoxicating drinks).
Why does the app ask for my school (madhhab)?
Halal rulings can differ between schools, especially for seafood. When you first open the app you choose your school (Hanafi, Shafi'i, Shia, Maliki, or Hanbali), and you can change it later in the More tab. Where rulings differ, the app adjusts the verdict and explanation for your school and shows a "School differs" note.
What does the alcohol tag mean?
Because alcohol matters for many foods, a food that contains or may contain alcohol carries a separate tag on its detail screen and in scan results, in addition to its verdict.
How does the camera scan work?
Point your camera at a packaged product, and the app reads the label and any certification mark, then reports a halal verdict with an explanation, an alcohol tag when relevant, and any questionable additives it notices (such as gelatin or certain emulsifiers). The scanner is aware of your school. Your first 3 scans are free; after that, unlimited scanning requires a subscription. The scanner reports the verdict and certification; it does not replace reading the halal mark on the package.
What does the subscription include, and how much is it?
The entire food list, search, browsing, the glossary, and the grocery list are free, along with your first 3 camera scans. Unlimited scans are available for $29.99 per year. You can restore purchases or manage your subscription from the More tab.
How do I use the grocery list?
Tap "Add to Grocery List" on a food to save it for shopping, then check items off as you go. Your list is saved on your device between sessions and is managed from the Grocery tab.
Where do the classifications come from?
Classifications follow a mainstream majority baseline and flag where schools differ. You can see the halal authorities the app draws on, including IFANCA, JAKIM, MUI, HMC, HFA, and HFSAA, by tapping "View references" on a food's detail screen.
Is my privacy protected?
Yes. The app does not require an account and does not collect personal information such as your name or email. The camera scan uses an anonymous session; scan photos are stored on your device, and during a scan the photo is sent to a third-party AI service to generate your result. You can erase your scan history at any time with "Delete My Data" in the More tab. See our Privacy Policy for details.
Is this a substitute for an imam or a certification authority?
No. Halal Foods & Scanner is an educational reference that flags where schools differ rather than deciding for you. It is not a substitute for a knowledgeable scholar or your imam, or for a halal-certification authority. For any packaged product, the final word is the halal mark on the package. When a question genuinely matters, ask your imam.
I found a bug or have a feature request
We'd love to hear from you. You can email us directly using the contact information below.
Contact Us
If you can't find what you're looking for, reach out directly:
We typically respond within 1–2 business days.