Food and Drink

Consuming soda drinks

Q: I just found out that most sodas contain some alcohol. The company for Canada Dry said "the amounts are very slight, but still present." Now these sodas with the same brand are being sold in Muslim countries so I'm assuming 0.0071% alcohol (the amount in a Fanta orange soda) in a drink is permissible. But just to be sure, is it really halal or is that a matter of debate?

Rennet

Q: Recently, I found out that it is likely that most cheeses in fritolay snacks contain rennet from animals slaughtered in a haram manner. Does that make the cheese haram too? I'm confused about this because I used to get those snacks in the masjid when I was younger.

Eating at haraam outlets

Q: I study in China and I have a lot of difficulties in eating food and deciding between Halal and Haraam. I want to ask you to please clarify me somethings.

1. Can we eat chicken or beef at International Brands like KFC, McDonalds etc.? 

2. Are the flavored crisps like Lays BBQ flavor halal or haraam? Please help me in this regard.

Leaving out things that one is unclear of

Q: Some one sends through WhatsApp messages saying chicken (in a Muslim country ) is not halal by forwarding some videos where we can actually see chicken getting processed by a machine. The authorities in the Muslim country are acknowledging that they are seeing it to that the things for the public are halal and not importing the haram chikcen and meat etc. One of my friends stopped eating chicken after seeing the WhatsApp.

My question is whom to believe? Do we have to believe the WhatsApp video or the authorities who are taking responsibility of halal produsts. If we believe WhatsApp then tomorrow other videos will declare meat as haram, please advise.

Covering food items and dishes at night

Q:

1. What is the correct Islamic ruling regarding washing and covering of dishes at night?

2. Should all the dishes be essentially washed before sleeping? Or Is it sufficient to cover the unwashed dishes? Or can they be left uncovered?

3. Should the washed dishes be covered too?

4. Should the fruits/vegetables be covered?

5. Do the food items like boiled milk inside shelves having net door need to covered?