Arab News has this piece about how food items stamped halal, i.e., ‘permissible’, may not be quite as advertised. The article smacks of protectionism, to some extent, but does note that dodgy practices are to be found in Muslim countries as well. Like the ‘kosher’ label on foods certified to be ritually pure for consumption by Jews, there are political and economic motives to cut corners. How pork products end up with a halal label, though, beggars the imagination! The greatest assurance of compliance with the religious rules, of course, is to do it yourself, but that’s not terribly practical these days.
Point to ponder: How genuine is halal stamp?
Sarah Abdullah | Arab NewsJEDDAH: Exhibitors at the recent Halal Expo 2008 reportedly canceled more than SR41.2 million ($11 million) worth of deals over the course of the three-day event and successfully ushered in a number of international players into the region’s Halal market, which is already worth an estimated SR7.8 trillion.
Products being negotiated for potential import into the Kingdom and the GCC region include snacks, vegetable oils, dairy products, health foods, fruit juices and meat products stamped with the halal signature.
However, many international companies — in accordance with plans for global expansion and to stay financially afloat in the current financial crisis — are using the halal industry to get an edge on their competitors without using or even being correctly educated on methods of Islamic slaughter.
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January:03:2009 - 10:34
All halal certificates are not created equal; this much is well known in the Muslim community. When shopping for food, my wife and I have a definite pecking order. Here in Singapore, the Singapore and Malaysian halal certificates are at the top of the list. Below that is Thailand and Australia. Most of the remainder of the halal certifications one finds here are rarely seen: a Shanghai Muslim certification board and the occasional American certification. My wife and I would only trust these if we were in a pinch (and usually not at all). The generic halal certification (where someone has written “halal” in Arabic on the packaging with no authority) isn’t trusted at all; we suspect this is merely the company trying to proclaim itself halal without going through the certification process. BTW, there are occasional stories here and up in Malaysia of unscrupulous businesses who do try to label their pork products as halal. I don’t know of anyone who has fallen for their tricks.
January:03:2009 - 22:55
Like the ‘kosher’ label on foods certified to be ritually pure for consumption by Jews, there are political and economic motives to cut corners.
That depends on the kosher certification agency. The good ones know their stuff, and the Jewish consumer should pick from those he or she trusts.
Since some Muslims use or share Jewish facilities, I can confirm that some halal slaughterers do use recordings before their butcher slaughters his animal.
As I understand it, “Pork” products can be labeled halal when the company fibs about the ingredients – that is, the company labels the can “pork” yet the certifier knows for certain that it really contains some other, acceptable product. This sort of thing boggles the mind, but it does happen.
Although the rules are somewhat different, kosher certification agencies in the U.S. can cite parallel cases for Jews as well. The agencies won’t certify such products, but will point out, when asked, the nature of the situation.
January:04:2009 - 18:07
Among the most popular butchers in Tunis are the Jewish butchers. Their identity is clear as their shops have incised stone saying, in Hebrew, ‘Kosher’. At least some Tunisian Muslims are happy to partake of Kosher products instead of halal products!
January:04:2009 - 18:09
I did not mean to imply that Kosher labels were automatically suspect. I only meant that for those looking for a fast dollar, they can fudge the procedures and paperwork to make something forbidden seem acceptable. The various (competing?) organizations that certify that Kosher status of foods are generally above board, but sometimes human failings can creep in, too. I believe there was a case just a couple of weeks ago about a not-so-Kosher, Kosher meat processing facility in the US.