Frequently asked questions
What do "Halal," "Haram," "Mashbooh," and "Unknown" mean?
"Halal" means every recognized ingredient is permissible. "Haram" means at least one ingredient is not permissible (like pork or alcohol). "Mashbooh" means an ingredient is doubtful — its source or process isn't clear (like unspecified gelatin). "Unknown" means we couldn't confidently classify one or more ingredients, so we deliberately don't call it "Halal."
Is ZabihaScan a religious certification or fatwa?
No. It's an automated tool built on OCR and a curated ingredient list, not a scholarly ruling or certification body. Treat it as a helpful first check, not a final answer — especially for Mashbooh or Unknown results.
Where does the ingredient data come from?
Two places: community members who photograph a product's packaging and ingredients label, and OpenFoodFacts, an open database of food products, when it already has a published ingredients list for a barcode we don't.
Why does a product show "Unknown" instead of "Halal"?
If any ingredient on the label isn't recognized in our dataset, we show "Unknown" rather than guessing. We'd rather ask you to double-check than falsely tell you something is Halal.
How can I add a product that's missing?
Scan its barcode — if we don't have it, you'll see a "Help add it" button that takes you to the Contribute page, where you photograph the front, back, and ingredients label.
Why do you need three separate photos to contribute?
The front and back help identify the product, and the ingredients photo is what actually gets read by OCR to determine the verdict. We also reject photos that are too blurry or low-resolution before they're processed, so the reading stays reliable.
Do you sell or share my data?
No. See our Privacy Policy for exactly what we collect and why.
What if I disagree with a verdict or find a mistake?
Please contact us — the ingredient dataset is actively maintained and corrections are welcome.