Halal Foods
For meat to be halal, the animals need to be cared for with compassion and consideration too. Muslims are actually commanded to eat food that is not just halal but Tayyib meaning pure and wholesome. Halal food is not a cuisine or a style of cooking in its own right. Therefore any cuisine or style (e.g. Italian, French, modern British, BBQ, etc.) can become halal provided it is cooked using halal ingredients and prepared in a halal manner.
Halal Drinks
Halal drinks cannot contain alcohol. Although a large variety of soft drinks and fruit juices are available, innovative drinks (especially premium quality) are sought after by Muslim consumers.
Consumption of alcohol and other intoxicants is prohibited according to the following guidance:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالْأَنصَابُ وَالْأَزْلَامُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ۞
''O ye who believe! Intoxicants and games of chance, and idols and divining arrows are an abomination of Satan’s handiwork. Leave it aside in order that ye may succeed.'' [Al-Maeda 5:9]
يَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ ۖ قُلْ فِيهِمَا إِثْمٌ كَبِيرٌ وَمَنَافِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَإِثْمُهُمَا أَكْبَرُ مِن نَّفْعِهِمَا ۗ وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ قُلِ الْعَفْوَ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَفَكَّرُونَ ۞
''They ask you about wine and gambling. Say: in both these there is great sin and also (some) profit for men; but their sin is greater than their profit.'' [Al-Baqara 2:219]
Between Halal and Haram is Mashbooh
Many consumers of halal foods believe that if prepared in the correct way, halal and tayyib (lawful and pure) foods can lead to health and well-being benefits too.
Most food and drinks are considered Halal unless they are stated clearly in the Qur’an (Holy book of Islam) and Hadith (Prophetic sayings) as forbidden or non-Halal. Whilst Halal and Haraam are clear, in between sometimes we find things that are unclear/doubtful/questionable, the Arabic word to describe this is ‘Mashbooh’ (مشبوه). Any food or drink for which one cannot be sure if it’s Halal or Haram due to insufficient information, unreliable evidence etc. is categorised as Mashbooh. One example of a Mashbooh product is Whey powder. Rennet is used in the manufacture of Whey Powder. Rennet can be derived from animal rennet as well as non-animal rennet. If rennet is produced from pigs or animals that are not slaughtered in strict accordance with the Islamic Shariah laws then such a product and any products; it will be classed as Haram. If the source of the rennet is not known then it will be classified as Mashbooh. According to the following Hadith, Muslims must not consume anything which is Mashbooh.
''Halal (Lawful) is clear and Haram (unlawful) is clear; in between the two are doubtful things, which people may not know whether they are Halal or Haram. One who avoids them in order to safeguard his religion and his honour is safe. Anyone who gets involved in these doubtful things may fall into the Haram (unlawful). This is similar to one who grazes his animals near a Hima*; it is quite likely that his animals will stray into it. Indeed, every King has a Hima and Hima for Allah is what He has prohibited'' (Al-Bukhari, Muslim)
*Hima – the grounds reserved for animals belonging to the King which are prohibited for other animals
Source: eat-halal