Halal Vinegar Technology

[Hasan Bin Abul Mubashir]

Regarding HALAL ruling for different types of vinegars, there is a conflict among various schools of thoughts.

It is because they never knew that vinegar can be produced by not following the primary anaerobic fermentation.

Aerobic fermentation from the first day will never validate the FERMENT to be consumed as WINE, as it will be dangerous having Acetaldehydes.

 

When vinegar will be made by the following principals, all doubts will come to an end & every one will agree that Halal Vinegar production is nothing but :

1. Using wild yeasts & avoiding brewer's yeast
2. Fermenting aerobically from the first day, so that the wine is not aged & alcohol is immediately oxidized

By oxidizing the brew aerobically for at least 90 days, it is confirmed that all by-products (either alcohol, acetaldehyde or acetates) of fermentation will be converted to Acetic Acid.

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Some opinions about Halal status of vinegars ..........................

 

If the vinegar was made by adopting certain processes such as by mixing salt with it or aerating wine and exposing it to Acetobacter bacteria, (which alters the wine completely and changes it to vinegar) such vinegar is also permissible (halal) according to the Hanafi doctors of law. However, according to some other jurists, this conversion into vinegar is unlawful (haram) (Bahar 8:219).

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When wine turns to vinegar by itself, without any deliberate treatment needed for it to be changed, it is permissible to eat, drink and handle it, according to the consensus of the scholars. But if the wine has become vinegar because of deliberate treatment, by adding vinegar, onions, salt etc., or by any other process, in this case the scholars (may Allaah have mercy on them) differ as to whether it is permissible.

The Shafi'is, Hanbalis and some of the Maalikis say that it is not permissible to deliberately change wine to vinegar because then it is not pure. The evidence (daleel) for this is the hadeeth of Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: “The Messenger of Allaah  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked whether wine could be changed to be used as vinegar. He said, ‘No.'” (Reported by Muslim).

Abu Talhah (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked about some orphans who had inherited some wine. He said, “Pour it away.” He was asked, “Could they not make it into vinegar?” He said, “No.” (Reported by Muslim).

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Halal Status of vinegar by Muslimconsumergroup:

There is a difference of opinion among Hanafi and Shafi fiqa schools regarding vinegar.
There is also difference of opinion among Islamic Scholars regarding wine vinegar. Since there is possibility of wine being not 100% converted to acetic acid and water. There is left over wine in the wine vinegar, we consider wine vinegar not a Halal vinegar. We recommend distilled white vinegar because it is made from dilute alcohol. Please consult your sheik or Imam on this topic.