What makes a product halal?
Halal is an Arabic word meaning ‘lawful’ or ‘permitted’. In Malaysia, there is a general misconception that anything that is pork-free is halal. In fact, there is more to the definition of halal as it encompasses the whole manufacturing process of a product.
According to the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, a product is considered halal if the raw materials used are halal and the manufacturing process is in accordance with the Islamic way. Important criteria for compliance with halal standards include the following:
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All raw materials and ingredients used must be halal. This means there is no inclusion of non-halal ingredients such as the meat of prohibited animals, reptiles or insects.
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Animals such as cattle, goats and poultry must be bred and slaughtered according to Islamic rites.
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The halal ingredients must not come into contact with non-halal materials during processing, packing, storage and transportation.
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