Halal scanner app for Germany
To check if food is halal in a German supermarket, scan the barcode or photograph the Zutaten (ingredients) with an app that reads German labels, such as Halal Food Scanner (in German and Arabic) or TagHalal. The words to watch are Gelatine, anything with Schwein, Lab, Molke, Aroma, Alkohol, Emulgator E471 and Karmin (E120).
Apps that read German labels
| App | In German | How it checks | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halal Food Scanner (ours) | Yes, and Arabic | Barcode via Open Food Facts or a photo of the Zutaten; reason for every flagged line | Free, no ads; 30 free ingredients scans a week, supporter plan from €1.99 a month |
| TagHalal ("Halal Scanner | Haram Prüfer" on the German App Store) | Yes | Its own product database, ingredient OCR when a product is missing | Ads; Premium for unlimited scans |
| Halal Check | Says 35+ languages | AI photo of the label, E-number search, prayer times | Ads; Pro removes them |
| Tayyib (thetayyib.de, Android) | Yes | Barcode via Open Food Facts, then on-device reading of the ingredient list | Free with ads, Play 500+ installs |
Store details read on 2 November 2026. More apps compared in best halal food scanner apps.
German label words and what the app answers
German labels list ingredients under Zutaten. These are the words that decide most halal checks. The verdict column is the same answer the app gives.
| On the label | Answer | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Schweinegelatine | Haram | Pork |
| Gelatine | Uncertain | Can be animal-derived |
| Rindergelatine | Uncertain | Depends on slaughter |
| Fischgelatine | Halal | |
| Schweineschmalz | Haram | Pork |
| Schwarte | Haram | Pork |
| Speck | Haram | Pork |
| Schinken | Haram | Pork |
| Lab | Uncertain | Can be animal-derived |
| Mikrobielles Lab | Halal | |
| Molke, Molkenpulver | Uncertain | Can be animal-derived |
| Aroma, natürliches Aroma | Uncertain | Uncertain under the Strict standard. Under the app’s default (major halal authorities), plain Aroma passes unless it names alcohol, a drink, meat or cheese. |
| Alkohol, Ethanol | Haram | Alcohol |
| Wein | Haram | Alcohol |
| Rum | Haram | Alcohol |
| Weinessig | Halal | |
| Mono- und Diglyceride von Speisefettsäuren (E471) | Uncertain | Can be animal-derived |
| Karmin, echtes Karmin (E120) | Haram | Insect-derived |
| Schellack (E904) | Uncertain | Insect-derived |
| L-Cystein (E920) | Uncertain | Can be animal-derived |
| Glycerin (E422) | Uncertain | Can be animal-derived |
| Talg | Uncertain | Depends on slaughter |
| Sojalecithin (E322) | Halal |
How German labels name additives
EU labels name an additive by its job and then either its E-number or its name. So Emulgator: E471 and Emulgator: Mono- und Diglyceride von Speisefettsäuren are the same thing, and so are Farbstoff: E120 and Farbstoff: echtes Karmin. A bare Emulgator with nothing after it tells you nothing; look for the code or name next to it.
A flavouring (Aroma) can be carried in alcohol without the alcohol appearing in the list. That is why it gets its own setting in the app.
What flags most often on products scanned in Germany
From 948 scans by 89 people with phones set to Germany between 3 September and 2 November 2026: the ingredients the app flagged most often.
| Ingredient | Answer | Flagged |
|---|---|---|
| Aroma | Uncertain | 168 times. Uncertain under the Strict standard. Under the app’s default (major halal authorities), plain Aroma passes unless it names alcohol, a drink, meat or cheese. |
| Molke | Uncertain | 65 times |
| Natürliches Aroma | Uncertain | 54 times |
| Milchsäure (E270) | Uncertain | 53 times |
| Molkenpulver | Uncertain | 49 times |
| Käse | Uncertain | 49 times |
| Kurkumin (E100) | Uncertain | 45 times |
| Mono- und Diglyceride (E471) | Uncertain | 43 times |
| Glycerin | Uncertain | 41 times |
| Calciumlactat (E327) | Uncertain | 33 times |
| Mononatriumglutamat (E621) | Uncertain | 32 times |
Whey (Molke) and cheese come up because German sweets, crisps and baked goods use them a lot, and the label doesn’t say which rennet made them. See whey and rennet.
Tips for shopping in Germany
- Sausages (Wurst), meat and chicken: the label can’t tell you how the animal was slaughtered. Look for a halal certificate; a scanner can’t replace it.
- Vegan products avoid gelatine, Lab and Molke, but a flavouring can still be carried in alcohol.
- Products from Turkish or Arab shops often have a foreign barcode that no database knows. Use the ingredients scan.
- No phone signal in the shop? Both scans need the internet, so check before you go with the free online halal checker.
Common questions
Is there a halal scanner app for Germany?
Yes. Halal Food Scanner reads German labels and works in German and Arabic. TagHalal is also available in German as "Halal Scanner | Haram Prüfer". Both scan barcodes and can read the ingredient list.
What does "Lab" mean on a German label?
Lab is rennet, used to make cheese. Traditional rennet comes from calves, so cheese made with it is a halal question. "Mikrobielles Lab" is microbial rennet. See rennet.
Is Gelatine in Germany halal?
Gelatine alone doesn’t say its source. "Schweinegelatine" is pork gelatine. "Rindergelatine" (beef) depends on slaughter. See gelatine.
Is E471 halal?
E471 can be made from plant or animal fat and German labels almost never say which. See E471.
Best-effort guidance compiled from sourced references — not a religious ruling and not a certification. Schools of thought differ, and manufacturers change formulations without notice. Please verify with the producer or your local authority when it matters. How we decide a verdict.