Asalamualaikum
I get so many doubts about the ingredients of food and drink.
If I want to buy it or it has already been bought, then I immediately check the ingredients. However, a lot of these foods and drinks have so much ingredients, that it stresses me out.
I’ve had to avoid food that had already been purchased because I was doubtful.
At this rate, I feel like I won’t be eating or drinking much, due to my worries.
In the past, all I really did was check if the product was suitable for vegetarians. However, now I also have to check alcohol content, but because so many ingredients are foreign to me, I’m afraid they could be alcohol, so I google.
Then I still cannot rest because I have to google/email the company to see if cross contamination takes place.
This has brought me immense stress.
Answer
Wa’alaykum as Salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,
Based on all the previous questions that you sent, it seems that you do get alot of Waswasa (wisperings of the devil). In your specific case, we will advise that you follow the ‘Urf (social practises) of the religious people of your community. Hence, if any product is not obviously Haram and from the ingredients which you are aware of, there is nothing prohibited in Islam, and you see other religious people eating that product, then you should not unnecessarily worry about alcohol or cross contamination. There is no reason to have doubts if everything seems fine and Muslims are consuming that product.
And Allaah Ta’aala knows best
Wassalaam,
Ismail Moosa (Mufti)