What is Halal?
Halal, otherwise translated as 'permissible,' is a lawful action, object or thing according to Islamic Law (Sharî^ah) the opposite of which is Haram (not permissible). In the Muslim kitchen or Halal food industry, Halal refers not only to the ritual slaughtering of animals but rather to the delicate process which ensures that all actions conform to the Sharî^ah. For a product to be approved by the standards of the Sharî^ah as 'Halal', it must, if prepared using animal derived ingredients, must only come from animals whose consumption is allowed in the first place and then are slaughtered and prepared according to the Sharî^ah. This means:
- Using the Islamic method to slaughter, performed by an authorised person on permitted animals. Poultry and meat must be slaughtered under strict guidelines.
- Animals should be slaughtered within the religious parameters with as less pain as possible. Methods such as stunning, which may cause the death of the animal before it is slaughtered,
- Are not permitted and therefore haram.
- In broad terms, all animals may be eaten as long as they are not pigs, dogs, predators grabbing their preys with fangs and birds which catch theirs with their claws.
- Products cannot contain flesh, meat, bone, skin, hide or hair from pigs, dogs or any category aforementioned, or stunned animals.
- There are further details and a few differences of opinions on fish, amphibians, sea food, etc.
- During all stages of production, no alcohol or any intoxicating substances can be in contact with the product, not even if the actual alcohol has evaporated through cooking, for what it touches is considered as having become impure and impurities are haram.
- Cross contamination with these substances would prevent the product from being labelled as halal.
Surely all products without meat and alcohol are Halal, aren’t they?
Not all products without meat and alcohol are per definition Halal. There are ingredients which are overlooked which can make the process or food product haram. A few examples:
- E120, Carmine, Cochineal: is a natural red food colour isolated from the insects Dactylopius coccus, living on different species of succulents.
- E472(a-f), Esters of mono- and diglycerides: These fatty acids are mainly from plant origin, but also fats of animal origin may be used. The product is generally a mixture of different components, with a composition similar to partially digested natural fat esterified with other natural acids. They are used as emulsifiers and stabalisers.
- E920, L-Cysteine: used as a bread enhancer. Derived from proteins, including animal protein and hair. Can als be obtained from pork.
- E471, Mono- and di-glycerides of fatty acids: synthetic fats, produced from glycerol and natural fatty acids. The fatty acids can be derived from animal or vegetable origin. In practice it is mainly derived from plant origin but animal fat (inc. pig fat) may be used.
- Gelatin[e]: obtained from animal by-products, such as bones and hides. It can be produced from all species of animals. It is most commonly used in bakery and confectionary products as a thickening and gelling agent.
- E640, Glycin: is a natural amino acid used largely as a nutrient in bakery products. It is also used as a bread enhancer. Glycin is mainly produced from gelatin[e] which is derived from animal sources (incl. pig)
- Alcohol is used in many production processes. This is often the case in the production of sweet products where it is used as a flavouring or preservative agent. Many perceived Halal products do not clearly specify whether the product is an alcohol free recipe
What does Halal Mean to Marhaba:
At Marhaba Halal Food, all our products are carefully selected and contain exclusively Halal approved ingredients. We clearly and confidently label our food products as Halal and, where applicable, suitable for vegetarians.