[xochex]

Assalamu alaikum,

I'm just wondering, is it permissible to order cheese or vegetarian pizza from a place that makes haram meat pizzas? Isn't there a chance of contamination? I know quite a few Muslims who order cheese/vegetarian pizza from places like Pizza Hut, Pizza 73, Dominoes, etc., and yet they don't seem to realize the possibility that the person making their pizza could have been handling meat previously. I also used to order pizza occasionally but now I'm unsure. What do you guys think?

[qQVXpYM6]

The safest route is to order from Muslim restaurants. If you have to order from a non-Muslim store, do it in person (not over the phone), tell them to not cut the pizza at all, and make sure that they are wearing new disposable gloves throughout the process. You can request all these things in person and usually the server won't mind. You can do the same thing at Subway.

But beware of some pizzas because even their cheese may contain questionable ingredients. This is especially alarming for those that consider animal rennet to be impermissible (usually non-Hanafis). http://www.central-mosque.com/fiqh/cheese.htm