McDonald’s is the world’s most beloved fast-food chain and serves 1% of global population daily, which includes Muslims as part of this population. Naturally, many wonder whether or not this means they serve halal meat and products such as the Filet-O-Fish and Caramel Iced Frappe, both which contain alcohol which violate Islamic law and should therefore not be sold there.

Answers to whether McDonald’s coffee is halal depend on which country you reside in; McDonald’s food safety standards differ depending on which market they’re operating in. In countries like Bahrain, for instance, all raw ingredients, cooking utensils and meals conform to strict halal requirements through rigorous inspection by government agencies or independent bodies.

But this is not always the case in other locations around the world, such as the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia, where only certain McDonald’s locations are certified halal with valid certification. Of these restaurants that do serve halal products such as Chicken McNuggets and beef patties according to Muslim guidelines.

McDonald’s menu items in non-halal regions pose a problem due to being cooked using oil that has been used for non-halal meat products, making them prohibited under Islamic law and therefore Muslims should avoid McDonald’s when traveling outside countries with certified halal certifications.

McDonald’s has verified that their Apple Pies do not contain any animal-derived ingredients; however, they are fried in the same oil used to fry other animal-derived products such as chicken and fish, which could render them forbidden based on Islamic law. If any confusion remains, seek additional clarification as soon as possible to avoid making any decisions based solely on intuition.

McDonald’s McFlurry desserts contain no alcohol or non-vegetarian fats; however, the Smarties McFlurry may raise some controversy as it’s not halal-certified and may contain trace amounts of animal rennet in its whey powder. Although McDonald’s have confirmed they are vegetarian friendly, it would still be wise to seek further confirmation if any concerns exist.

As for McDonald’s fries, they are cooked using non-animal-derived sunflower and rapeseed oils, making them suitable for Muslims but be aware that cross-contamination could occur between some restaurants that serve these fries and those using non-halal oil sources.