Wednesday, March 20, 2019

The Strict Rules Applicable To Halal Certified Meals

By Brian King


The daily lives of Muslims are strictly regulated by the many laws and rules contained in the Islamic Law. Every aspect of life is affected. There are also very strict rules regarding the packaging, manufacturing and preparations of food. For Muslims, these rules are important because to them, food is not just fuel for the body. It also has a profound effect on the morals and spirit of the individual. This is the main reason why Muslims make sure that they only consume Halal certified meals.

Halaal certification is handled by Halaal Councils. They do not grant certification easily and go to great lengths to make sure that applicants comply with all the requirements applicable to Halaal food. Certification is a lengthy process and certification is only granted for one year at a time. Infringements of any rule will certainly lead to the immediate cancellation of the Halaal certification.

Some foods are utterly forbidden to Muslims. They may not consume alcohol in any form. This is even the case with medication that contains alcohol. Extracts used during the preparation of food must be sourced from specially licensed abattoirs where permanently on site Muslim inspectors make sure that the entire process is conducted according to the rules of the Islamic Law. Pork is also completely forbidden.

It is not only the ingredients used in preparing Halaal food that is controlled by Islamic Law. They way in which it is packaged and prepared are also subjected to strict rules. Utensils and tools that have been used for the reparation of non Halaal food may never be used. Containers and utensils used for Halaal food must even be cleaned and stored separately. No cross contamination of food or utensils is allowed.

Surprisingly, applicants for Halaal certification do not have to be Muslims, nor do they have to employ Muslims. As long as they are able and equipped to adhere to the strict rules contained in the Islamic Law, they can qualify for certification. They are not restricted to the preparation or manufacturing of Halaal food only, but they must have measure in place to make sure that no cross contamination occurs.

The fact that only ingredients of the highest quality is used in the preparation of Halaal food and the fact that all the processes related to the food are conducted under extremely high hygienic standards have attracted a lot of non Muslims to Halaal food. Apart from the high standards maintained, non Muslims also like the fact that this food is generally healthier and tastier.

Any lucrative market will attract dishonest operators and Halaal food is no exception. Many manufacturers, food outlets and restaurants proclaim themselves as Halaal friendly, trying to create the impression that they are certified. It is best to check the official Halaal website to make sure that an outlet or restaurant has indeed been awarded certification. Packaging should also feature the official logo of the Halaal Council.

There is no downside to the consumption of Halaal food. It is healthy and the standards maintained during preparation and manufacturing are extremely high. For Muslims, adherence to the rules related to food is an integral and important part of their spiritual lives.




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