In a world increasingly focused on mindful consumption, Halal food offers a unique intersection of health, ethics, and spirituality. Rooted in Islamic dietary laws, “Halal” means “permissible” in Arabic, and it encompasses not just what is eaten, but how it’s prepared, sourced, and consumed. While the opposite of halal is “Haram” means “prohibited” in Arabic.
Halal Market in the World
Muslim population around the globe are about 2 billion or a quarter of the world population. As a consequence, the enormous world Halal market has interestingly attracted many countries, developed or developing alike, to focus on their new challenge, whether they are agricultural or industrial countries, exporters or non – exporters.
What Makes Food Halal?
Halal food adheres to guidelines outlined in the Qur’an and Hadith as the basis of Islamic Law. These include:
- Permissible Ingredients: Foods must not contain pork, alcohol, carrion, blood, or any by-products derived from them.
- Ethical Slaughter: Animals must be healthy at the time of slaughter, and the process must be swift and humane. The strangled, & the dead through beating, & the dead through falling from a height, & that which has been killed by (the goring of) horns, & the devoured of wild beasts are forbidden unless you have cleansed (by slaughtering) it in the proper, lawful way, while yet there is life in it. Stunning is not recommended.
- Clean Preparation: Utensils and surfaces must be free from contamination of non-Halal substances.
List of Halal Foods
- Land Animals: All land animals are halal as food (including animals from game hunting according to shariah law and grasshoppers) except the following: animals that are not slaughtered according to Shariah law, heavy impurities (najs al-mughallazah) animals, (such as: pigs, dogs and their descendants), animals with fangs or tusks (such as tigers, bears,elephants, cats, monkeys, etc), predator birds with claws (such as eagles, owls and etc.), pests and/or poisonous animals (such as rats, cockroaches, centipedes, scorpions, snakes, wasps and other similar animals), animals that are forbidden to be killed in Islam (such as frogs, bees & hoopoe (hud-hud bird), etc.), creatures that are considered repulsive (such as lice, flies, etc.); farmed halal animals which are intentionally and continually fed with filth (najs); and other animals forbidden to be eaten in accordance with Shariah law (such as: donkeys & mules.)
- Aquatic Animals: All aquatic animals are halal except those that are poisonous, intoxicating or hazardous to health. Aquatic animals which live in filth (najs) or intentionally and/or continually fed with najs are not halal. The products from hazardous aquatic animals or plants are halal when the toxin or poison has been eliminated during processing as permitted by Shariah law.
- Plants: All types of plants and plant products and their derivatives are halal except those that are poisonous, intoxicating or hazardous to health.
- Mushroom & micro-organisms: All types of mushroom and micro-organisms (Le. bacteria, algae and fungi) and their byproducts and/or derivatives are halal except those that are poisonous, intoxicating or hazardous to health.
- Natural minerals & chemicals: All natural minerals and chemicals are halal except those that are poisonous, intoxicating or hazardous to health.
- Drinks: All kinds of water and beverages are halal as drinks except those that are poisonous, intoxicating or hazardous to health.
- Genetically Modified Food (GMF): Food and drinks containing products and/or by-products of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) or ingredients made by the use of genetic material of animals that are non-halal by Shariah law are not halal.
Nutritional Benefits of Halal Choices
While Halal is primarily a religious guideline, it often aligns with health-conscious eating:
- High Hygiene Standards: Halal certification requires strict cleanliness, reducing risk of contamination.
- Lean Proteins: Halal meats are more lean, hygienic and safe to eat because the blood is drained during proper slaughtering. In terms of nutrition, halal meat such as chicken, lamb and beef have less cholesterol and saturated fats compared to pork.
- Fresh Products: Many Halal diets emphasize fresh products such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes which have various nutrients that are beneficial for our health.
Why Halal certification is crucial?
Halal is world-widely recognized as a crucial issue of safety focusing on spirituality for Muslims as well as a sign of food quality for non-Muslims. Rapid technological advancement has altered our lifestyles so that we are more dependent on eating processed foods & dietary supplements, and using branded cosmetics. As a result, it is becoming more challenging to be aware of the ingredients of the foods we eat and of the products we use in our everyday lives – for example, the presence of animal proteins/peptides in processed food, dietary supplements & cosmetic products (Zulkarnain, 2019). Therefore, Halal certifications are needed to give certainty about halal status of food, medicines, cosmetics and other products to reassure the consumer mind in consuming the product.
Halal Positive Materials
Halal positive materials are non-critical substances that are exempt from the mandatory halal certification process because they are inherently permissible (halal) according to Islamic law and not at risk of contamination from prohibited (haram) substances. According to halal regulation in Indonesia, the materials exempt from mandatory halal certification are:
- Ingredients derived from nature without any processing or physical processing and without the addition of auxiliary materials, additives, or other substances:
- From plants or crops, such as: fresh fruits, vegetables, tubers, cereals, seaweeds, desiccated coconuts, etc
- From non-slaughtered animals, such as: fresh milk, eggs, seafood and grasshoppers
- From microbial fermentation such as: tape, tempe, oncom, dadih
- From natural water, such as: ground water, injection water and ice cubes
- Processed Ingredients are not at risk of containing and/or being contaminated with non-halal Ingredients
- Materials other than natural materials and chemical materials and products mining products or inorganic and organic synthesis products, such as: cotton, cellulose and synthetic polymer
- Chemicals that are not classified as hazardous and do not contain non-halal substances
- Chemicals from Mining and/or Refining Processes from Natural Materials, such as: charcoal, clay, paraffin, bentonite, limestone, MgO, ZnO, Al2O3 , etc.
- Chemical Materials from Inorganic and Organic Synthesis, such as: aminophyline, allopurinole, ammonia, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, benzoic acid, carrageenan, chlorine, etc.
Choosing Halal with Confidence
Look for trusted Halal certification symbols on packaging, and when dining out, ask about sourcing and preparation. Apps and directories now make it easier than ever to find Halal options globally. You also can rely on halal positive materials if you can’t find any food products or restaurants with halal logos.
Halal Beyond Religion
Halal food is not just for Muslims. Its emphasis on ethical sourcing and clean preparation appeals to a growing number of consumers worldwide who seek transparency and integrity in their food choices. From Halal-certified organic farms to gourmet restaurants, the movement is expanding into mainstream wellness culture.
References:
Al Quran
Al Hadith
Keputusan Menteri Agama Republik Indonesia Nomor 1360 Tahun 2021 Tentang Bahan yang Dikecualikan dari Kewajiban Bersertifikat Halal.
Zulkarnain, MR. 2019. Halal. Standardization and Legislation. International University Liaison Indonesia.