Reading food labels in Japan: Japanese words for pork and alcohol

Most food in Japanese convenience stores and supermarkets is labeled only in Japanese. Learning a few words will help you avoid pork and alcohol. This guide does not replace a halal certificate: when you want to be sure, choose products or restaurants that are halal certified.

Where to look

Turn the package over and find the box headed 原材料名 (genzairyō-mei, "ingredients"). Ingredients are listed from the largest amount to the smallest.

Words that mean pork

• 豚 / 豚肉 (buta / butaniku): pork
• ポーク (pōku): pork
• ラード / 豚脂 (rādo / tonshi): lard, pork fat
• ポークエキス / 豚骨 (pōku ekisu / tonkotsu): pork extract / pork bone (common in ramen soup)
• ハム、ベーコン、ソーセージ、チャーシュー: ham, bacon, sausage, roast pork
• ゼラチン (zerachin): gelatin, often made from pork or beef

Words that mean alcohol

• 酒 / 日本酒 (sake / nihonshu): rice wine
• みりん / 本みりん (mirin / hon-mirin): sweet rice wine for cooking. It contains alcohol and is used in many sauces, teriyaki and simmered dishes.
• 料理酒 (ryōri-shu): cooking sake
• 洋酒、ワイン、ラム酒、ブランデー: liquor, wine, rum, brandy (often in cakes and sweets)
• アルコール / 酒精 (arukōru / shusei): alcohol. Sometimes added in small amounts to keep food fresh.

Words to check carefully

These can come from animals or plants. The label usually does not say which.

• 乳化剤 (nyūka-zai): emulsifier
• ショートニング (shōtoningu): shortening
• 動物性油脂 (dōbutsusei yushi): animal fat
• 牛肉、チキンエキス (gyūniku, chikin ekisu): beef, chicken extract. The meat is not halal unless the product is certified.

About the allergen box

Japanese packages often show an allergen list (アレルギー表示). Pork (豚肉) and gelatin (ゼラチン) are on the list of items that companies are encouraged, but not required, to show. So if pork is not in the allergen box, the product may still contain it. Always read the full ingredients list.

Easy choices when you are unsure

• Look for a halal certification mark on the package.
• Plain rice balls (onigiri) with salmon, tuna-mayo or kelp are often a safer choice, but still check for みりん, 酒 and エキス.
• Fresh fruit, plain bread, nuts and seaweed snacks are usually simple products. Check the label anyway.

For phrases to ask staff, see Useful Japanese phrases for Muslim travelers.