Oleh : Intan Khazaimah
Have you ever experienced a moment where you were eating a very scrumptious foods, but suddenly someone stopped you and said “Wait, are you sure that is halal?” Have you ever realized what we have taken will be our blood and flesh and if what you eat is good, then you body, your soul as well as your attitudes will also be good, and the same thing goes otherwise around. Philosopher said that you are what you eat. In addition, our pray and ‘doa’ also will not be accepted by Allah. But, how to differentiate halal food as there are too many foods in the market today? Authentic halal foods can be recognized by looking at the ‘halal logo’ on the packaging. We also can do scanning through the contents and ingredients and checking itthrough technologies.
First and foremost thing to do is look at its
‘halal logo’. Make sure that the ‘halal logo’ is the one that approved by
Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM). Some of the ‘halal logo’ had been
banned because there are many doubts in terms of Islamic law and no recognition
from JAKIM. According to Halal Food Malaysia (2011), firstly, look at its
words, there must be “ﺡﻝﺁﻝ” and
MALAYSIA words written on the logo, the color is normally black but other than
that is accepted due to its suitability to cover and add an aesthetic value to
the product, there is an eight-point star in the middle of the circle, two
five-pointed star is placed to separate the Roman character and the Arabic word
which is in the center of the stars and all that in one circle (refer to
appendix). For your information, JAKIM will only approved the products that
have follow all the law listed such as, the product must not consist of or contain
any animal parts from which Muslims are banned by Islamic law to eat or not slaughtered
according to Islamic Law, it’s does not contain any substance declared as filth
according to Islamic law, it is not prepared, processed or manufactured using
any device that is not free from unclean things such as pork’s blood, etc.
Sometimes the food is not in the preparation, processing or storing in contact
or close to any food that does not meet the requirements listed previously or
any substance declared as filth according to Islamic Law.
Next, if there is no ‘halal logo’ stated, you
can try to scan the ingredients and the
contents. The contents may come from animals and plants and both of them may be
halal and non-halal sources, depends on the situation. The products that
produced based on animals are Gelatin, glycerin and animal fat and protein.
Firstly, gelatin, it can be halal if it from slaughtered animal made by Muslim
and followed the ‘syarak’ way and halal to eat. The requirements needed to be
followed when slaughtering, firstly, the slaughter must verbally say (bismillah
Allahu akbar), slaughtering must be carried out on the neck from the front
cutting the esophagus, trachea, jugular veins and carotid arteries without
cutting the spinal cord, with the sharp knife a swift sweep, blood must be
drained out thoroughly. To be repremended, appropriate desensitizing or
restraining method can be used to control the animal provided the animal is not
dead before actual bleeding according to ‘dhabha’ standards. If the animal dies
as a result of the desensitizing method, the animal carcass becomes prohibited
for Muslim (Riaz & Chaundry, 2003, p.67). According to Riaz and Chaundry
(2003), the source of gelatin are not required to be identifies by the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA). So, to be on the safe side, avoid the products from
gelatin. Secondly, the glycerin is avoided by Muslims because it could be from
animal sources and we do not know if the animals is slaughtered properly or
not. Thirdly, animal fat and protein is where animal fat is purified and
converted into animal shortening, emulsifier as well as other functional food
ingredients. Feathers and hair which can be an amino acids from halal animal
are halal and all precautions steps are taken to eliminate cross-contamination
(Riaz & Chaundry, 2003).
The products that produced based on plants are enzymes, alcohol
and flavors and flavorings. The products from enzymes are widely used in many
food processes. The most common are the ones used in the cheese and the starch
industries. But in the juice industry, enzymes are used to clarify juices and
extract essential oils from aroma, and improve the texture of fruit pieces such
as fruit-flavored yogurt. Next, is the alcohol. Muslims are prohibited from
consuming alcoholic beverages, even in small quantities. Alcohol is so
ubiquitous in biological system. But, there is no ambiguity consumption of
alcoholic drinks must be avoided and totally prohibited!
Based on Al-Quran, “Oh ye who believe! Draw not near unto
prayer when ye are drunk, till ye know which ye utter, nor then ye are
polluted save when journeying upon the road, till ye have bathed. And if
ye be ill, or on journey, or one of ye cometh from the closet, or y have
touched women, and ye find not water, then go to high clean soil and rub
your faces and your bands (therewith). Lo! Allah is benign, Forgiving” (chapter IV, verse 43, as cited in
Riaz & Chaundry, 2003).
Lastly, the flavors and flavorings. The flavors and flavorings can
be as simple as single spice such as black pepper or as complex as cola flavor
with thousands of flavoring added into it. For formulating halal food products,
the manufacturer has to make sure that any flavors, mixes, or secret formulas
are halal and free from doubtful materials (Riaz & Chaundry, 2003). But,
there are also a few ingredients that come from both sources of plants and
animals respectively. One of it is emulsifier, such as monoglycerin and other
similar chemicals are another commonly used group of ingredients that can come
from halal and halal source. Emulsifiers from vegetables sources and
halal-slaughtered animal sources are halal (Riaz & Chaundry, 2003).
But if the product has no ‘halal logo’ and the ingredient is seems
like it can be accepted as halal after scanning it, maybe you can make it sure
by checking it through technologies because maybe the halal certificate is
still under the process of JAKIM. Firstly, in “Semakan status halal,”
(2012), you may send a Short Message Service (SMS) by type,
HALAL<>STATUS<>application Number, for an example: HALAL STATUS
20091231101010 and send it to 15888. Secondly, you may also check the halal
certificate holders. Just type, HALAL<>SEMAK<>REG NUM OF COMPANY
(ROC), example: HALAL SEMAK 12345X and send to 15888. Other than that, the
newspapers also play their roles as the agents to spread news. According to “Pengesahan
halal JAKIM,” (2010), JAKIM
will update their information about this issue anytime. Lastly, you may direct
call or go to JAKIMs’ building (refer to appendix). But, to clarify a few
things, not all the product which doesn’t has the ‘halal logo’ is not halal.
Some companies still using the old packaging to reduce the production and
material cost. So, to be at the safe side, better finalize the status on the
JAKIM’s website.
In conclusion, there are many ways to recognize the ‘Halal logo’
in Malaysia basically as such, scanning through the contents and ingredients
and checking it through technologies are a few examples that can be taken by
anytime and anywhere to recognize authentic halal food in Malaysia. As Al-Quran
is strictly says in chapter II, verse 172, “O ye who believe! Eat of the
good things where with We have provided you,
and render thanks to Allah, if it is (indeed) He whom ye worship’’. (Al-Quran, as cited in Riaz &
Chaundry, 2003).
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