Monday, February 22, 2010

SPOTLIGHT: Shellac (Beetlejuice, E904, Lac Resin)

SPOTLIGHT HALAL Magazine provides North American Muslims with practical information about food choices. Please ChipIn your support -->>>. Shukran.



HAWWAM (Insect)

Shellac, used as a coating on aspirin and candies alike, is made from crushed insect cocoons.



WHAT IS IT?
Shellac is a resinous compound secreted by the female lac bug (also known as: kerria lacca, laccifer lacca, carteria lacca and tachardia lacca) to form its cocoon. Shellac is used as a coating on medicines and candies.

Shellac ranges in color from very light blond to very dark brown, with all shades of brown and yellow and orange and red in between. The color is influenced by the sap of the tree the lac bug is living on, as well as the time of harvest.

Because it is contains crushed insects, another name for shellac is beetlejuice. However, because of the negative connotation associated with these names, on drug and nutritional supplement (vitamin) product labeling, shellac may be generically referred to as either enteric coating, pharmaceutical glaze, confectioner's glaze, resinous glaze, pure food glaze or natural glaze. In the European Union, shellac is known by the E Number E904.

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HOW IS IT MADE?
Shellac is scraped from the bark of the trees where the female lac bug deposits it to provide a sticky hold on the trunk. In the process of harvesting shellac, the insect may be crushed into the shellac resin.

Raw shellac, which contains bark shavings and lac bug parts, is heated over a fire causing it to liquify. The thick sticky shellac is then dried into flat sheets, broken up into flakes, bagged and sold. Flakes are dissolved in denaturedalcohol to make liquid shellac.

It takes about 100,000 lac bugs to make 1 lb. of shellac flakes.

-- Try my recipe for Winning Syrian Tabouleh. --

IN WHAT PRODUCTS IS SHELLAC FOUND?
Although commonly thought of as a wood stain and protectant, shellac is also used as a glazing agent on pills and candies.  Glazing agents are food additives that provide a shiny appearance and protective coating to foods guarding against unwanted changes to color, smell, or appearance. 
Shellac can be found in Skittles,* Altoids and even some varieties of Godiva chocolate bars. Shellac is sometimes used to replace the natural wax on apples which is removed during the cleaning process. In the pharmaceutical industry, shellac is used as an enteric coating on time-release medications, allowing the medicine to be absorbed in the intestinal tract, instead of in the stomach. It is used on safety coated aspirin products to prevent stomach irritation.
WARNING LEVEL: HIGH
Many of us don’t give it a second thought when we buy medicine for ourselves or for our children. A recent trip to the pharmacy drove home what a minefield the pharmacy is for the Muslim consumer. While shopping for supplements, we found that out of 30 products we found only ONE that neither contained alcohol (ethanol, ethyl alcohol), shellac nor gelatin.

SPOTLIGHT RECOMMENDS
Read the Inactive Ingredients panel on drug and nutritional supplement product packaging, where the FDA requires shellac, alcohol and gelatin to be listed. Instead, choose medications and vitamin supplements made with the following vegetarian ingredients:
  • Carnauba Wax, a natural wax coating derived from the leaves of the carnauba palm tree of Brazil.
  • Cellulose-derived pharmaceutical coatings such as ethyl cellulose (E462), hypromellose (INN), and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC, E464), all derived from the cell walls of green plants.
  • Vegetarian pharmaceutical thickeners and binders such as: methyl cellulose (or methylcellulose); hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC, E463);carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC, E466); cellulose acetate; microcrystalline cellulose (E460i), and powdered cellulose (E460ii).








WHAT DOES HAWWAM MEAN?
SPOTLIGHT HALAL rates shellac as HAWWAM (هوام). Hawwam is an Arabic word collectively referring to vermin — insects, rodent, reptiles, snails, frogs, worms, spiders and other crawling, slithering animals — the consumption of which Islamic Law forbids. Mold, fungus, bacteria and yeast are not considered hawwam.

At SPOTLIGHT HALAL, our Guiding Principle is to provide the diverse Muslim communities living in Western countries with practical information about the wide range of food choices they face on a daily basis, but from an Islamic perspective. We don’t say a food is haram or halal; we say: "This food is made with alcohol and pork," or, "That food normally contains chicken." Whether or not you observe zabihah, our flexible and informative approach allows you to make informed decisions on what to buy and eat.

NOTES:
** [Found on Skittles® sold in the U.K. Those in the U.S. do not contain shellac, but do contain gelatin. In both countries, certain flavors contain the red food coloring cochineal (carmine, E120), derived from the crushed shells of the insect of the same name.]

SPOTLIGHT RECIPE: Winning Syrian Taboule

This recipe won first place in competition. Refrigerated, it can keep for 2 days. Make sure to thoroughly rinse the parsley, removing any insect life and all sandy grit. Allow enough time to thoroughly soak the bulgur wheat – 4 hours, or overnight.

Taboule shouldn't be too green or too white. Make sure to chop all vegetables finely.


You'll need...

1 large mixing bowl and one large serving bowl
a wooden spoon
a salad spinner or a large strainer

2 ½ - 3 cups medium grain bulgur wheat
1 – 1 ½ c. lemon juice
2 big bunches of fresh flat leaf parsley
2-3 large, ripe, juicy tomatoes, washed
1 package of baby cucumbers (4-5 cukes), or one long skinny English cucumber, washed
1 bunch scallions, trimmed and washed (do not substitute onions)
1 T sumac (at Middle East groceries)
1 T dried, crumbled Turkish or Egyptian mint
1/8 t. citric acid (optional)
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
coarse kosher salt or sea salt
black pepper

Several hours before serving…
1. POUR bulgur wheat into large mixing bowl.
2. ADD to it 1/2 cup of lemon juice and enough cool water to cover the bulgur with an inch of liquid.
3. SOAK until bulgur absorbs all of the water. Optimally, at least four hours.

After the bulgur has absorbed the liquid…
4. SOAK parsley in a large bowl filled with cold water to loosen any sand or mud, shaking it under water. Cut bare stems from parsley (set these aside) and place leaves in a strainer or salad spinner. Shake / spin to dry. Taking a ½ bunch of parsley leaves at a time, start chopping the parsley until it’s a fine mound and has lost its fluffiness. Scrape each mound into the serving bowl.
5. HALVE, slice and chop two of the tomatoes, adding them to the parsley.
6. CUT ends off cucumber. Slice in half, lengthwise, then slice each half lengthwise again into four long slices. Lining up the eight slices, chop them horizontally into small, thin pieces.
7. SLICE scallions into thin rounds. Chop any that are too chunky. Add these to parsley and tomatoes.
8. ADD bulgur to the veggies, squeezing out any excess liquid before doing so. Mix together. The mixture should be a little more green and red than white – around 60:40. Add another tomato or chopped parsley stems if needed.
9. ADD sumac, Turkish or Egyptian mint, remainder of lemon juice (or to taste), olive oil, 1/8 cup coarse kosher salt (do NOT use this much if using regular table salt!) and 10-20 shakes of black pepper.
10. STIR again and taste. Adjust seasonings according to taste.
11. MIX thoroughly, cover and let sit in the fridge for at least half an hour so flavors blend.

Monday, February 1, 2010

SPOTLIGHT HALAL: Doritos, Cheetos & Other Frito-Lay Brand Snacks

-- A READER REQUESTED ISSUE --
SPOTLIGHT HALAL Magazine provides North American Muslims with practical information about food choices. Please ChipIn your support. Shukran.

PORK (?)
Some Frito-Lay® brand seasoned snack chips use pig enzymes to develop 'unique flavors.' View our halal recipe for Tex-Mex Chicken Quesadillas with Habichuelas Rosadas

WHAT ARE THEY?
Frito-Lay, a Pepsi-Co company, manufactures the most popular brands of snack chips in the United States. Some seasoned snack use pig enzymes to develop 'unique flavors.' Frito-Lay makes DORITOS® Tortilla Chips, CHEETOS® Flavored Snacks, LAY’S® Potato Chips, FRITOS® Corn Chips, TOSTITOS® Tortilla Chips, SUNCHIPS® Multigrain Snacks and others.

SPOTLIGHT HALAL has received many requests to research Doritos and Cheetos. This issue reviews 21 Frito-Lay snack brands and their flavor varieties.

-- In the mood for something spicy, cheesy and crispy? Try our halal recipe for Tex-Mex Chicken Quesadillas! --
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HOW ARE THEY MADE?
The basic ingredients in most Frito-Lay snack chips are vegetable oil (corn, sunflower), potatos or corn, and salt. Seasoned products—those that are coated in a flavoring—may contain pork enzymes in addition to herbs, cheese and other seasonings.
Frito-Lay's web site[1] states that they use enzymes from pigs (porcine enzymes) in some of their seasoned snack chip products to develop 'unique flavors'.

-- Scroll down to see SPOTLIGHT HALAL's review of Doritos, Cheetos, Sun Chips and other Frito-Lay brand snack chips!! --

WHAT ARE ENZYMES? 
Enzymes are proteins that catalyze—increase the rates of—bio-chemical reactions in living organisms, whether animal or plant. Though enzymes facilitate chemical reactions on molecules, they themselves are not chemically altered (changed) by these reactions. Nor are they consumed (used up) by the reactions.[2]

Recipe: Tex-Mex Quesadillas con Habichuelas Rosadas!

Different enzymes perform different functions. Digestive enzymes break down large molecules (such as starch) into smaller ones (such as glucose) that can be absorbed by the body and then used for fuel.[3]

WHAT FRITO-LAY SNACKS HAVE PIG ENZYMES?
Below is our comprehensive listing of Frito-Lay snack brands and flavor varieties, and SPOTLIGHT HALAL's rating on each.

Our methodology (how we decided on our ratings) and an explanation of ratings icons both follow the product rating table, below.

Baked!® Snacks

BRAND
FLAVOR
U.S.
Canada

BAKED!
BAKED! CHEETOS® Crunchy Cheese Flavored Snacks
BAKED! CHEETOS® FLAMIN' HOT® Cheese Flavored Snacks
BAKED! DORITOS® NACHO CHEESE® Flavored Tortilla Chips
BAKED! LAY'S® Barbecue Flavored Potato Chips
BAKED! LAY'S® Southwestern Ranch Flavored Potato Chips
BAKED! LAY'S® Sour Cream & Onion Flavored Potato Crisps
BAKED! RUFFLES® Cheddar & Sour Cream Flavored Potato Crisps
BAKED! RUFFLES® Original Potato Crisps
BAKED! TOSTITOS SCOOPS!® Tortilla Chips (OU)
This list was compiled & published by SPOTLIGHT HALAL
CHEETOS® Brand Flavored Snacks

BRAND
FLAVOR
U.S.
Canada





CHEETOS®
CHEETOS® Asteroids Mini Bites Cheese Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® Chile Limon Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® Crunchy Cheese Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® Crunchy Cheesy Cheddar BBQ Cheese Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® Crunchy Cheddar Jalapeno Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® Crunchy Mozzarella Cheese Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® Crunchy Wild White Cheddar Cheese Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® Crunchy Salsa Roja Cheese Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® FANTASTIX! Chili Cheese Flavored Baked Corn & Potato Snacks
CHEETOS® FANTASTIX! Flamin' Hot Flavored Baked Corn & Potato Snacks
CHEETOS® FLAMIN' HOT® Cheese Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® FLAMIN' HOT® Limon Cheese Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® Giant Puffs Cheese Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® Giant Puffs Flamin' Hot Cheese Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® Jumbo Puffs Cheese Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® Jumbo Puffs Flamin' Hot Cheese Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® Natural White Cheddar Puffs Cheese Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® Puffs Cheese Flavored Snacks
CHEETOS® Twisted Cheese Flavored Snacks
This list was compiled & published by SPOTLIGHT HALAL

DORITOS® Brand Tortilla Chips

BRAND
FLAVOR
U.S.
Canada





DORITOS®
DORITOS® Blazin' Buffalo & Ranch Flavored Tortilla Chips
DORITOS® Bold BBQ Flavoured Tortilla Chips
DORITOS® Collisions Hot Wings and Blue Cheese Flavored Tortilla Chips
DORITOS® Collisions Pizza Cravers & Ranch Flavored Tortilla Chips
DORITOS® Collisions Zesty Taco and Chipotle Ranch Flavored Tortilla Chips
DORITOS® COOL RANCH® Flavored Tortilla Chips
DORITOS® Diablo Flavored Tortilla Chips
DORITOS® Jalapeno Cheese! on Golden Toast Flavored Crackers
DORITOS® Last Call Jalapeno Popper Flavored Tortilla Chips
DORITOS® NACHO CHEESE® Flavored Tortilla Chips
DORITOS® Salsa Verde Flavored Tortilla Chips
DORITOS® Spicy Nacho Flavored Tortilla Chips
DORITOS® Spicy Sweet Chili Flavored Tortilla Chips
DORITOS® Sweet Chili Heat! Flavoured Tortilla Chips
DORITOS® Taco Flavored Tortilla Chips
DORITOS® Tacos at Midnight Flavored Tortilla Chips
DORITOS® Toro Habanero Flavored Tortilla Chips
DORITOS® Toasted Corn Tortilla Chips (Tri-K)
This list was compiled & published by SPOTLIGHT HALAL

Flat Earth® Brand Veggie Crisps

BRAND
FLAVOR
U.S.
Canada
Flat Earth
Brand Crisps
FLAT EARTH® Tangy Tomato Ranch Flavored Baked Veggie Crisps
FLAT EARTH® Farmland Cheddar Flavored Baked Veggie Crisps
FLAT EARTH® GARLIC & HERB FIELD Flavored Baked Veggie Crisps
FLAT EARTH® Spicy Salsa Flavored Baked Veggie Crisps
This list was compiled & published by SPOTLIGHT HALAL

Frito Lay® Seeds, Nuts & Dips

BRAND
FLAVOR
U.S.
Canada





Frito-Lay Seed
& Nut Snacks
and Dips
FRITO LAY® BBQ Sunflower Seeds (OU)
FRITO LAY® Cashews (OU)
FRITO LAY® Dry Roasted Peanuts (OU)
FRITO LAY® Flamin' Hot Sunflower Seeds
FRITO LAY® French Onion Dip
FRITO LAY® Honey Roasted Cashews (OU)
FRITO LAY® Honey Roasted Peanuts (OU)
FRITO LAY® Hot Peanuts (OU)
FRITO LAY® Hot Sunflower Seeds (OU)
FRITO LAY® In-Shell Peanuts (OU)
FRITO LAY® In-shell Pistachios (OU)
FRITO LAY® In-Shell Sunflower Seeds-Ranch (OU)
FRITO LAY® Jumbo Salted Peanuts (OU)
FRITO LAY® Mixed/Premium Mixed Nuts (OU)
FRITO LAY® Praline Pecans (OU)
FRITO LAY® Pumpkin Seeds (OU)
FRITO LAY® Roasted Sunflower Kernels (OU)
FRITO LAY® Sabritas Japanese Peanuts (OU)
FRITO LAY® Sabritas Limon Peanuts (OU)
FRITO LAY® Sabritas Picante Peanuts (OU)
FRITO LAY® Salted Peanuts (OU)
FRITO LAY® Smoked Almonds (OU)
FRITO LAY® Sunflower Seed Kernels (OU)
FRITO LAY® Sunflower Seeds (OU)
FRITO LAY® Trail Mix Traditional (OU)
This list was compiled & published by SPOTLIGHT HALAL

FRITOS® Brand Corn Chips & Dips

BRAND
FLAVOR
U.S.
Canada





Fritos Brand
Corn Chips
& Dips
FRITOS® Bar-B-Q Flavored Corn Chips (Tri-K)
FRITOS® Bean Dip (Can)
FRITOS® Chili Cheese Dip (Jar)
FRITOS® Chili Cheese Flavored Corn Chips
FRITOS® FLAMIN' HOT® Flavored Corn Chips
FRITOS® Flavor Twists Honey BBQ Flavored Corn Chips
FRITOS® Hot Bean Dip with Jalapeno Peppers (Can)
FRITOS® Jalapeno Cheddar Cheese Dip (Can)
FRITOS® Mild Cheddar Flavor Cheese Dip (Can)
FRITOS® Original Corn Chips (Tri-K)
FRITOS® Scoops!® Corn Chips (Tri-K)
FRITOS® Spicy Jalapeno Flavored Corn Chips
This list was compiled & published by SPOTLIGHT HALAL

Lay's® Brand Potato Chips, Crackers & Dips

BRAND
FLAVOR
U.S.
Canada





Lay's Brand
Potato Chips
Crackers &
Dips
LAY'S® BBQ Potato Chips (Tri-K)
LAY'S® Cheddar & Sour Cream Flavored Potato Chips
LAY'S® Chile Limon Potato Chips
LAY'S® Classic Potato Chips (OU)
LAY'S® Cracker Crisps Smooth Cheddar Flavored Baked Snack Crackers
LAY'S® Cracker Crisps Zesty Herb & Parmesan Flavored Baked Snack Crackers
LAY'S® Deli Style Original Potato Chips (OU)
LAY'S® Dill Pickle Flavored Potato Chips (Tri-K)
LAY'S® Flamin' Hot Flavor Potato Chips
LAY'S® French Onion Flavored Dip
LAY'S® Fries & Gravy Flavoured Potato Chips
LAY'S® Hot & Spicy Barbecue Flavored Potato Chips
LAY'S® Ketchup Flavoured Potato Chips
LAY'S® Kettle Cooked Jalapeno Potato Chips
LAY'S® Kettle Cooked Maui Onion Potato Chips
LAY'S® Kettle Cooked Mesquite BBQ Potato Chips
LAY'S® Kettle Cooked Original Potato Chips (OU)
LAY'S® Kettle Cooked Reduced Fat Original Flavored Potato Chips (OU)
LAY'S® Kettle Cooked Sea Salt & Vinegar Potato Chips (OU)
LAY'S® Kettle Cooked Sweet Chili & Sour Cream Flavored Potato Chips
LAY'S® Light Original Potato Chips (OU)
LAY'S® Lightly Salted Potato Chips (OU)
LAY'S® Limon Flavored Potato Chips
LAY'S® Natural Country BBQ Thick Cut Potato Chips
LAY'S® Natural Original Thick Cut Potato Chips (OU)
LAY'S® Natural Sea Salt Flavored Thick Cut Potato Chips (OU)
LAY'S® Old Fashioned BBQ Flavoured Potato Chips
LAY'S® Creamy Ranch Flavored Dip
LAY'S® Roast Chicken Flavoured Potato Chips
LAY'S® Salt & Vinegar Flavored Potato Chips (Tri-K)
LAY'S® Sea Salt & Pepper Flavoured Potato Chips
LAY'S® Smokey Bacon Flavoured Potato Chips (artificial bacon flavor. no pork.)
LAY'S® Sour Cream & Onion Flavored Potato Chips (Tri-K)
LAY'S® Spicy Curry Flavoured Potato Chips
LAY’S® STAX® BBQ Flavoured Potato Crisps
LAY'S® STAX® Cheddar Flavoured Potato Crisps
LAY'S® STAX® Hot'n Spicy Barbecue Flavored Potato Crisps
LAY'S® STAX® Mesquite Barbecue Flavored Potato Crisps
LAY'S® STAX® Original Potato Crisps
LAY'S® STAX® Ranch Flavored Potato Crisps
LAY’S® STAX® Salt & Vinegar Flavoured Potato Crisps
LAY’S® STAX® Sour Cream & Onion Flavoured Potato Crisps
LAY'S® Wavy Au Gratin Flavored Potato Chips
LAY'S® Wavy Hickory BBQ Flavored Potato Chips
LAY'S® Wavy Old Fashioned BBQ Flavoured Potato Chips
LAY'S® Wavy Original Potato Chips (OU)
LAY'S® Wavy Ranch Flavored Potato Chips
This list was compiled & published by SPOTLIGHT HALAL

MAUI STYLE® Brand Potato Chips

BRAND
FLAVOR
U.S.
Canada
Maui Style
Potato Chips
MAUI Style Onion Flavored Potato Chips
MAUI Style Salt & Vinegar Flavored Potato Chips
MAUI STYLE® Regular Potato Chips (OU)
MAUI STYLE® Shrimp Chips

Miss Vickie's® Brand 

BRAND
FLAVOR
U.S.
Canada
Miss Vickie's
Brand Potato
Chips
MISS VICKIE'S® Country Onion with 3 Cheeses Kettle Cooked Potato Chips
MISS VICKIE'S® Creamy Buttermilk Ranch Kettle Cooked Flavored Potato Chips
MISS VICKIE'S® Hand Picked Jalapeno Kettle Cooked Flavored Potato Chips
MISS VICKIE'S® Salty Sweet Kettle Corn
MISS VICKIE'S® Sea Salt & Vinegar Kettle Cooked Flavored Potato Chips
MISS VICKIE'S® Smokehouse BBQ Kettle Cooked Flavored Potato Chips
MISS VICKIE'S® Simply Sea Salt Kettle Cooked Potato Chips (OU)

Rold Gold® Brand pretzels

BRAND
FLAVOR
U.S.
Canada





Rold Gold
Brand Pretzels
ROLD GOLD® Butter Flavored Checkers Pretzels
ROLD GOLD® Cheddar Cheese Tiny Twists Pretzels
ROLD GOLD® Chocolate Dipped Twists (OU)
ROLD GOLD® Cinnamon Braided Twists
ROLD GOLD® Classic Style Braids (OU)
ROLD GOLD® Classic Style Pretzel Thins (OU)
ROLD GOLD® Classic Style Rods (OU)
ROLD GOLD® Classic Style Sticks (OU)
ROLD GOLD® Classic Style Tiny Twists Pretzels (OU)
ROLD GOLD® Fat Free Tiny Twists Pretzels (OU)
ROLD GOLD® Garlic Braided Twists
ROLD GOLD® Hard Sourdough Pretzels (OU)
ROLD GOLD® Holiday O's (OU)
ROLD GOLD® Holiday Shapes (OU)
ROLD GOLD® Honey Mustard Tiny Twist Pretzels
ROLD GOLD® Honey Wheat Braided Twists (OU)
ROLD GOLD® Pretzel Waves Cheddar Blend Flavored Pretzel Snacks
ROLD GOLD® Pretzel Waves Parmesan Garlic Flavored Pretzel Snacks

Ruffles® Brand potato chips

BRAND
FLAVOR
U.S.
Canada






Ruffles Brand
Potato Chips
& Dips
RUFFLES® All Dressed Flavoured Potato Chips
RUFFLES® Authentic Barbecue Flavored Potato Chips
RUFFLES® BBQ Flavoured Potato Chips
RUFFLES® Cheddar & Sour Cream Flavored Potato Chips
RUFFLES® Light Original Potato Chips (OU)
RUFFLES® Natural Reduced Fat Sea Salted Potato Chips (OU)
RUFFLES® Original Potato Chips (OU)
RUFFLES® Reduced Fat Potato Chips (OU)
RUFFLES® Rich & Creamy Smoky Bacon & Cheddar Dip (Jar)
RUFFLES® Rich & Creamy Sour Cream & Chive Dip (Jar)
RUFFLES® Sour Cream & Bacon Flavoured Potato Chips (artificial bacon flavor. no pork.)
RUFFLES® Sour Cream & Onion Flavored Potato Chips (Tri-K)

Sabritas, Sabritones & Santitas® Brand Potato Chips

BRAND
FLAVOR
U.S.
Canada

Sabritas & Santitas
Sabritones Brand
Chips & Snacks
SABRITAS® Chile Piquin Flavored Potato Chips
SABRITAS® Habanero Limon Flavored Potato Chips
SABRITAS® Picante Peanuts
SABRITAS® Salt & Lime Peanuts
SABRITONES® Chile & Lime Puffed Wheat Snacks
SABRITONES® Flamin' Hot Flavored Puffed Wheat Snacks
SANTITAS® White Corn Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips (Tri-k)
SANTITAS® Yellow Corn Tortilla Chips (Tri-K)

Smartfood Popcorn Snacks

BRAND
FLAVOR
U.S.
Canada

Smartfood
SMARTFOOD® Chocolate Cookie Caramel Pecan Popcorn Clusters (OU)
SMARTFOOD® Cranberry Almond Popcorn Clusters (OU)
SMARTFOOD® Honey Multigrain Popcorn Clusters (OU)
SMARTFOOD® White Cheddar Cheese Flavored Popcorn
This list was compiled & published by SPOTLIGHT HALAL

Sunchips Brand Snacks

BRAND
FLAVOR
U.S.
Canada

Sunchips
Brand Snacks
SUNCHIPS® French Onion Flavor Multigrain Snacks
SUNCHIPS® Garden Salsa Flavour Multi-Grain Snacks
SUNCHIPS® Harvest Cheddar Flavored Multigrain Snacks
SUNCHIPS® Original Flavored Multigrain Snacks (Tri-k)
SUNCHIPS® Peppercorn Ranch Flavored Multigrain Snacks
SUNCHIPS® Spicy Chipotle Flavor Multigrain Snacks
This list was compiled & published by SPOTLIGHT HALAL

Tostitos Brand Snacks

BRAND
FLAVOR
U.S.
Canada



Tostitos Brand
Tortilla Chips
TOSTITOS® All Natural Hot Chunky Salsa (Jar)
TOSTITOS® All Natural Medium Black Bean & Corn Salsa
TOSTITOS® All Natural Medium Chunky Salsa (Jar)
TOSTITOS® All Natural Medium Picante Sauce (Jar)
TOSTITOS® All Natural Medium Pineapple & Peach Salsa
TOSTITOS® All Natural Mild Chunky Salsa (Jar)
TOSTITOS® All Natural Mild Picante Sauce (Jar)
TOSTITOS® Bite Size Gold Tortilla Chips (OU)
TOSTITOS® Bite Size Rounds Tortilla Chips (Tri-K)
TOSTITOS® Bite Size Tortilla Chips (Tri-K)
TOSTITOS® Cheese Cup (Single Serve Cup)
TOSTITOS® Creamy Salsa (Jar)
TOSTITOS® Creamy Southwestern Ranch Dip (Jar)
TOSTITOS® Creamy Spinach Flavored Dip (Jar)
TOSTITOS® Crispy Rounds Tortilla Chips (Tri-K)
TOSTITOS® Flour Tortilla Chips (OU)
TOSTITOS® Medium Nacho Cheese Dip (Single Serve Cup)
TOSTITOS® Monterey Jack Queso Dip (Jar)
TOSTITOS® Multigrain Tortilla Chips (Tri-K)
TOSTITOS® Natural Blue Corn Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips (OU)
TOSTITOS® Natural Yellow Corn Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips (OU)
TOSTITOS® Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips (Tri-k)
TOSTITOS® Restaurant Style with a Hint of Lime Tortilla Chips
TOSTITOS® Salsa Con Queso (Jar)
TOSTITOS® SCOOPS!® Hint of Jalapeño Flavored Tortilla Chips
TOSTITOS® SCOOPS!® Tortilla Chips (OU)
TOSTITOS® Spicy Nacho Dip
TOSTITOS® Spinach Flavoured Dip
This list was compiled & published by SPOTLIGHT HALAL

Other Frito-Lay® Snacks

BRAND
FLAVOR
U.S.
Canada
Baken-Ets Fried
Pork Skins
BAKEN-ETS® Hot 'N Spicy Flavored Fried Pork Cracklins
BAKEN-ETS® Hot 'N Spicy Flavored Fried Pork Skins
BAKEN-ETS® Sweet & Tangy BBQ Flavored Fried Pork Skins
BAKEN-ETS® Traditional Fried Pork Skins
Chester's
Snacks
CHESTER'S® Butter Artificially Flavored Puffcorn Snacks
CHESTER'S® Cheddar Cheese Flavored Popcorn
CHESTER'S® Cheese Flavored Puffcorn Snacks
CHESTER'S® FLAMIN' HOT® Flavored Fries
Cracker Jack
CRACKER JACK® Original Caramel Coated Popcorn & Peanuts (OU)
El ISLEÑO
Plantain Chips
EL ISLEÑO® Plantains
Funyuns Onion
Flavored Rings
FUNYUNS® Flamin Hot
FUNYUNS® Onion Flavored Rings
Munchos Brand
Potato Crisps
MUNCHOS® Regular Potato Crisps (Tri-k)

HOW WE DID IT:

Our goal was to compile as thorough a list of Frito-Lay brand snacks as possible, identifying which snacks are made with pork or pig enzymes. Frito-Lay devotes a section of their web site to inform customers with 'special diets' about their products.

Frito-Lay does not specifically identify which of their products contain pork enzymes; they identify which ones do not. We found four lists that interested us:
  1. Seasoned Products Made Without Porcine Enzymes; 4
  2. Frito Lay Canada Seasoned Products Made Without Porcine Enzymes;5
  3. Products Certified Kosher – Triangle K;6
  4. Products Certified Kosher – Orthodox Union7
We compiled a list of all certified kosher products and those that Frito-Lay identifies as not containing pork. We then compared our list to Frito-Lay's complete list of snack brands and flavor varieties. Whatever flavor varieties are not on our list, we identify with the PORK(?) ICON meaning that given the information provided by Frito-Lay, they most likely contain pork enzymes.


WHAT DOES PORK(?) MEAN?

PORK(?) is the rating that SPOTLIGHT HALAL give to any food that likely contains pork or a pig-derived product.
PORK is the rating that we give to any food that always contains pork or a pig-derived product.
HALAL(?) is the rating that we give to food that commonly contains meat from a halal animal that may not have been zabiha-slaughtered. Also, to food containing cheese possibly made with animal rennet.
HALAL is the rating that we give to food that is always halal.



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prompts you to take a second look at foods that you otherwise may not have suspected.  Ask informed questions of your waiter when dining out.  Take a closer look at the Ingredients list on food packaging.  SPOTLIGHT HALAL rates some Frito-Lay brand snack products as PORK(?) because pork enzymes are used to develop 'unique flavors.'

At SPOTLIGHT HALAL, our Guiding Principle is to provide the diverse Muslim communities living in Western countries with practical information about the wide range of food choices they face on a daily basis, but from an Islamic perspective.  We don’t say a food is haram or halal; we say: "This food is made with alcohol and pork," or, "That food normally contains chicken."

References:

[1] "Seasoned Products Made Without Porcine Enzymes," FritoLay.com. Updated March 26, 2009. (Retrieved April 16, 2009). http://www.fritolay.com/your-health/seasoned-products-made-without-porcine-enzymes.html
[2] Wikipedia: Enzymes. (Retrieved April 16, 2009). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzyme
[3] Wikipedia: Enzymes: Biological Function. (Retrieved April 16, 2009). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzyme#Biological_function
[4] reference footnote 1
[5] "Frito Lay Canada Seasoned Products Made Without Porcine Enzymes," FritoLay.com. Updated September 12, 2008. (Retrieved April 16, 2009). http://www.fritolay.com/your-health/frito-lay-canada-seasoned-products-made-without-porcine-enzymes.html
[6] "Products Certified Kosher – Triangle K," FritoLay.com. Triangle K certification effective from August 1, 2008 through August, 2009. (Retrieved April 9, 2009). http://www.fritolay.com/your-health/products-certified-kosher-triangle-k.html
[7] "Products Certified Kosher – Orthodox Union," FritoLay.com. OU certification valid through December 31, 2009.


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