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mercredi 21 février 2018

Why Halal Certified Food Is Important To Muslims

By Sarah Hamilton


Devout Muslims lead strictly controlled lives. Islamic Law regulates just about every facet of the daily life of a Muslim. This is particularly true of the food that Muslims may consume. Muslims see foodstuffs as much more important than mere nourishment. The foodstuff that one eats or drink also have a very important influence on the spiritual and moral character of the individual. It is for this reason that Muslims will not purchase any product that is not Halal certified food.

Halaal certification is not easily granted. It is a lengthy process during which the Halaal Council judge whether the applicant strictly adheres to all the rules applicable to halaal foodstuffs. Halaal Councils can be found in every country where sizeable numbers of Muslims reside. Once certification is granted it has to be renewed every year. Certification can also be withdrawn if the rules are broken.

Some types of foodstuff are simply forbidden for all Muslims. All pork products are to be shunned. Muslims may also not consume alcohol in any form, even in the form of medication that contains alcohol. Muslims must also only use extracts and derivatives that were obtained at a abattoir that is halaal approved. This is because the processes in such abattoirs are very strictly monitored at all times.

It is not only the foodstuffs and ingredients that are scrutinized before certification is approved. The entire process through which the product or meal goes before it is offered to consumers is also evaluated. Halaal products may under no circumstance come into contact with other foodstuffs. It must be produced by using separate cookware, utensils and equipment that are never used for any other purpose. Even the cleaning and storing of this equipment must be done separately.

Halaal certification does not require that products and meals are prepared or produced by Muslims. Any business or individual can apply for certification. The applicant is not required to restrict his products to halaal foodstuffs exclusively but cross contamination is not allowed. The Halaal Council strongly recommend that a minimum of two Muslims are part of the process, but this is not a very strict requirement.

It is interesting to note that halaal products are also extremely popular with numerous people that are not Muslims. They buy halaal foodstuffs because they know that the entire process by which it was manufactured or produced has been monitored strictly and that the highest standards of hygiene have been maintained. One the very best quality ingredients are used. This definitely cannot be said of other, non halaal products.

The market for halaal products and meals is lucrative. It is only to be expected, therefore, that some unscrupulous businesses try to attract Muslim customers even though their products are not officially approved by the Halaal Council. They sidestep this problem by describing their products as halaal friendly or other terms that may create the impression that the business in question has certification. Real halaal products always display the official halaal logo.

For most devout Muslims Islam Law, and particularly those laws pertaining to what they eat, is not a burden. They rather see it as a virtue. A strict halaal diet is, in fact, an integral part of the Muslim religion.




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