Lard

Lard, rendered from hog fat, is a by-product of the meat industry. It was once a common ingredient in cooking and baking in North America, Great Britain, Spain, and other countries around the world. The highest grade lard, called leaf lard, surrounds the kidneys and abdomen of the animal. Other grades of lard include hard fat from the back; soft fat from around muscle tissue; and caul fat from around the stomach and intestines. Because it is a pork-based product, lard is not kosher (permitted under Jewish dietary laws) or halal (permitted under Islamic dietary laws).