Buldak rice cakes usually use small amounts of ethyl alcohol as preservatives to keep their quality and to protect them from any contamination during transit.

In principle, it will be permissible to consume food items containing alcohol if the following conditions are met:

1. The alcohol is not derived from dates or grapes;
2. The product does not lead to intoxication;
3. The end product containing alcohol is consumed and not the alcohol itself;
4. The product is not a prevalent attribute of immoral and openly sinning people; and
5. The alcohol serves a valid purpose, such as a solvent, and it is not used as a direct ingredient.

Seeing as how the ethyl alcohol in Buldak rice cakes meet the above-mentioned conditions, it will be permissible to eat them. One may also cosult the various fatwas from the Darul Iftaa on alcohol content and its usage in various other food products.^[1]

Mf. Farhan ul Haq
Assistant Mufti, Darul Iftaa Chicago

Checked and Approved:

Mf. Abrar Mirza
Head Mufti, Darul Iftaa Chicago