Current Issues on

Halal Food
PRESENT BY: SHAHRUL AFFENDY BIN ABD AZIZ

ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE IN BUSINESS

Introduction
Halal is a Quranic term meaning permitted, allowed or lawful.
Halal when used in relation to food and other consumer goods,
means permissible for consumption and used by Muslims
Haram is the opposite of halal.

Shubhah or Mashbooh, means doubtful or suspected

Halal and haram are serious matters in Islam
Increasing awareness of Muslim consumers on their religious
obligations creates greater demand for halal food and other
consumer goods

 Ensuring food and other consumer products authentically halal

is obligatory for every Muslims
Hence, certification and verification of every item for halal
compliance by competent Islamic Authorities, such as JAKIM, is
extremely important

Al-Quran Surah Al Baqarah, Verse 168

O ye people! Eat of what is on earth, halal and thaiyiban (wholesome),

and do not follow the footsteps of the Evil One, for he is to you an avowed
enemy

Basic concept
Muslims eat food that are
1.

Halal Shariah (religious, faith, spiritual, personal

choice)

2. Thoyyiban Wholesome (safety, cleanliness,

nutritious, quality, authentic)

Halal Food
Food permitted under the Shariah law and fulfills the following
conditions:
a) does not contain any parts or products of animals that are
non-halal to Muslims or products of animals which are not
slaughtered according to Shariah law;
b) does not contain any ingredients that are najs according to
Shariah law;
c) is safe and not harmful;
d) is not prepared, processed or manufactured using equipment
that is contaminated with things that are najs according to
Shariah law;

e) the food or its ingredients do not contain any human

parts or its derivatives that are not permitted by Shariah
law; and
f) during its preparation, processing, packaging, storage or
transportation, the food is physically separated from
any other food that does not meet the requirements
stated in items a), b), c) d) or e) or any other things that
have been decreed as najs by Shariah law.

Haram Food / drink

Pig

Carrion

Alcohol

Unslaughter

National Issues
Malaysia World Halal Hub
JAKIM Centre of Halal Certification and Reference

Halal Food Control

Accreditation System
Human Resource
Control (Law)
Food Hygiene and Sanitary
Future Planning

Halal Food Control

In Malaysia, the government controls halal food through multiagency approach lead by JAKIM.
JAKIM is the authority for Halal Food
MOH is responsible for food safety
MOA is responsible for animal health and abattoirs and
KPDN is responsible for halal label under the Trade Description
Act
Chemistry Department is responsible for food analysis

Issues and Challenges

Halal Food Laws
Halal Food Industry is still Small

Insufficient raw ingredients

Biotechnology in food product development is new
Halal food is sensitive and serious matter to Muslim
With many fraudulent issues around, more stringent monitoring should be
established by the Islamic Authorities.
Authentication and verification for halal has become one of a major challenges
in analysis of processed food

At present, very limited analytical methods

available for halal food verification

Rapid and reliable methods are urgently needed

for detection of non-halal components (e.g
porcine origin) in food products

Understanding and awareness level of Halal Food

manufacturers

Voluntary application of Halal Certification

Exploitation on the Halal Logo

Competition from Other Non-Muslim Countries

Issues in Halal Food Production

Raw materials animal or plant origin/imported

Slaughtering according to Shariah/stunning

Processing operations/equipment x-contamination

Packaging/Storage/Transportation (containers and vessels)

Food ingredients and additives

Pig and its by-products (e.g. pork, lard, gelatin)

Enzymes (e.g rennet)

Emulsifiers (e.g. E471 or mono- & diglycerides)

Alcohol (ethanol)

Biotechnology and GMOs (genetically modified organisms)

Safety and quality aspects (aspect of Thoyyiba)

Muslim Consumer Perspective

Muslims eat to live and not live to eat
Eating is a matter of worship and begins in the name of Allah
Muslims are not to be misled by their appetites unchecked by
knowledge (6:119)
Eat less you will be healthier (Hadis)

Role of the Government

Food Legislation and Enforcement
Advice for Industry/Trade
Consumer Education

Information Gathering and Research

Provision of Health Related Services

Role of Industry
/ The Private Sector
Halal and Good Practices by Primary Producers and
Distributors
Quality Assurance and Halal Control of processed Food
Appropriate Processes and Technology
Trained Managers and Food Handlers
Informative Labelling and Consumer Education

Role of Consumer
@..Educated and Knowledgeable
@..Discriminating and Selective
@..Safe Food Practices in the Home
@..Community Participation
@..Active Consumer Groups

Issues and Challenges

1..No specific provision of a comprehensive Halal food
laws
2..Halal food industries in Malaysia are still small
3..Lack of local halal resources
4..Progress in biotechnology food production

Recent Issues of Processed

Halal Food Fraud in Malaysia
Non-halal (pork) moon cakes with halal logo
Pigs and chicken stored together
Issue on bread using lard

Brushes using pigs bristle (fur) in cake and bread

preparation
Minced pork with halal label
Sausages with non-halal casing,
certificate and old halal logo

expired

halal

Conclusion
Halal and haram are sensitive and serious matters to every
Muslim
Properly processed and certified halal food is pertinent to
capture the lucrative halal food market
Adulteration and contamination of non-halal components are
major concern in food processing and production

Development on methods of detection adulteration are urgently needed for

halal food verification and certification

New analytical methods of analysis developed by our research group is

simple, rapid and reliable for detection of pork and lard in food and other
consumer products

These analytical methods have potential to be utilised by halal food

authorities responsible for authentication of halal food such as JAKIM