Prominent conservative social media users called for a boycott of Tillamook cheese over the halal certification label on its packaging.
Some people online have said they would not buy Tillamook products because of the halal label, but it is unclear how large the movement is. We have reached out to the company to ask whether its sales have been affected and if so, how.
In September 2026, a rumor spread that there was a U.S. conservative movement to boycott Tillamook cheese over its halal certification label.
In one Instagram video, a man said, “MAGA is having a meltdown over cheese,” referring to people who adhere to U.S. President Donald Trump’s movement, Make America Great Again (archived):
“Tillamook added halal labeling so more people can know whether its cheese fits their dietary needs. That is it. Nothing was taken from anyone. But apparently inclusion is too spicy for some people,” said the poster in a comment.
Other posts on Instagram, X and Facebook made the claim that people were boycotting Tillamook products due to its halal label. A report by Qatar-based news organization Al Jazeera also relayed the rumor.
It is true that some prominent conservative social media accounts have said they would stop buying Tillamook products due to a halal certification label and urged others to do the same.
It is also true that some Tillamook products bear the halal certification seal. It is unclear how long Tillamook has been labeling its products with this label. We reached out to the company to ask about this, as well as to inquire if it has seen any drop in sales following calls for a boycott. We await a reply.
Tillamook product boycott?
Searches on various social media platforms revealed that some prominent conservative social media users said they would no longer buy Tillamook products, pointing to the halal certification label. This included posts on X, Instagram and Facebook.
For example on Instagram, Jack Hibbs, a pastor at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in California and host of the show Real Life
Hibbs said that “until today,” he and his wife bought Tillamook products, suggesting they no longer would. We reached out seeking confirmation.
At a grocery store in Brooklyn, New York, Snopes confirmed that Tillamook packaging for Sharp Cheddar, Extra Sharp Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses bore a halal certification label, as seen in the feature image.
On its website, Tillamook explained the halal certification on some of the company’s products. “The majority of our cheeses are halal certified, and you can check the packaging for a Halal Certification symbol to know whether they are certified or not,” the website read, adding that the ice cream, butter, yogurt, sour cream and cream cheese were not halal-certified despite being vegetarian-friendly.
Contrary to some claims, a halal certification does not mean that buying a product contributes to funding terrorism. Instead, it means that these products meet Islam’s dietary laws and Muslims can eat them without fear of breaking the rules.
In the U.S., the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America delivers halal certifications. The process of receiving it is complex and requires a thorough investigation of the supply chain. In the case of dairy, the producers must demonstrate that they respected animal welfare. Often to simplify the process, producers follow organic practices. We reached out to IFANCA for more details on what it takes to certify cheese and will update this story should we receive a response.
Snopes covered several rumors regarding Islamic dietary rules, including the claim that Starbucks changed its rule on pets to make its shops halal.
