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Doubtful — depends on source
Shortening is a solid fat for baking that can be made from vegetable oils (halal) or from animal fat including lard (haram) — so plain 'shortening' is treated as doubtful until the source is known.
Shortening is a fat that is solid at room temperature, used to give pastries, biscuits and cakes a tender, crumbly texture. It is most often made from hydrogenated or blended vegetable oils, but can also be animal-derived.
Vegetable shortening is produced from plant oils (often hydrogenated or interesterified). Animal shortening can include lard or beef tallow. The label may simply say 'shortening' or 'vegetable/animal fat'.
The ruling depends entirely on the fat source. Vegetable shortening is halal. Animal shortening is halal only if from a halal-slaughtered permissible animal; lard-based shortening is haram. Because 'shortening' alone does not state the source, and emulsifiers used within it (such as mono- and diglycerides) can also be animal-derived, the honest default is to verify.
It may be found in — this does not mean every product below contains it.
ShorteningVegetable shorteningVegetable fatAnimal fatIn Singapore, MUIS HalalSG-certified bakeries use halal fats. For uncertified or imported baked goods, verify that the shortening is vegetable-based (or halal-certified) rather than lard/animal-derived.
Check MUIS HalalSGSources: MUIS, FAO/WHO · Last reviewed: July 2026 · This guidance is not certification.
It depends on the source. Vegetable shortening is halal; animal or lard-based shortening is not (unless from a halal-slaughtered animal). Plain 'shortening' should be verified.
Yes — vegetable shortening is plant-based and halal. Still check any emulsifiers (e.g. E471 mono-/diglycerides) in the blend if you want full certainty.
The label should say 'vegetable' or 'animal' fat. If it only says 'shortening', ask the manufacturer or choose a halal-certified product.
Humble Halal methodology: we classify additives by their common origin, not by any specific product. A generally-halal ingredient does not make a finished product halal-certified. This page is general guidance, not certification or religious/legal advice — always verify the complete product. Last reviewed July 2026.