Question:
Salaams, is prebiotic soft drinks halal? It could have trace amounts of alcohol due to natural fermentation.
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The presence of trace amounts of alcohol, due to natural fermentation in such drinks will not render them Haraam.
Such very small naturally occurring amounts of alcohol doesn’t intoxicate even if such products are consumed in large amounts. In this product, the alcohol wasn’t placed in the drink, nor is the drink produced or consumed for intoxication.
Note some similar drinks may contain higher percentages of alcohol. If the alcohol is in a larger quantity (more than 0.5%), it will not be permissible to consume such beverages, as in the case with some kombucha teas.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Arshad Ali
Darul Iftaa, Jaamia Madinatul Uloom (Trinidad)
