5 replies to this topic

[vukasin]

Does someone have experience with halal food in fast food industry? I'm thinking about fast food restaurants that sell both halal and non-halal food, or only some of their products are halal ("Halal Chicken Burgers" in McDonald's?).

Can this products be certified by halal certification body? Or just "only halal food" restaurants can be certified?

My main question is - Is there any applicable procedure for preventing haram cross-contamination in such restaurants?


According to Codex Alimentarius General Guidelines for the Use of Term Halal (CAC/GL 24-1997):

2.2.1 halal food can be prepared, processed or stored in different sections or lines within the same premises where
non-halal foods are produced, provided that necessary measures are taken to prevent any contact between
halal and non-halal foods;
2.2.2 halal food can be prepared, processed, transported or stored using facilities which have been previously used
for non-halal foods provided that proper cleaning procedures, according to Islamic requirements, have been
observed.

Thanks. :)

[Chief Inspector]

quick search found: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halal
Under the references, near the bottom, you'll find a link to : Al-Jamia, Shia text which contains all the details of halal things. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Jamia

Yes, Wikipedia is not 100% verifiable, but it will give you a great starting point.

[Chief Inspector]

And I just saw http://www.ifsqn.com...-certification/ below in the "Similar Topics". Sorry, I don't see a way to edit my previous post to include this.

[vukasin]

Thanks for your reply!

But you didn't answer my question. I don't need info about halal, I already know a bit about that.

Like I said, I've heard of fast food restaurants that sell both "halal" and "not-halal" foods (like "Halal Chicken Burgers" in McDonald's, where they also offer other, "not-halal", burgers). What I would like to know is can that be certified by halal certification body? Or is it just a statement from the company that those products are prepared to satisfy Muslim consumer? And how can that be proven?

I know that it differs in different counties, so I would like to hear your experience. (McDonald's I mentioned seems to be in Finland.)

I've found some interesting lines in US state laws (like the one in Illinois), where it's said that it is a Class B misdemeanor for any person to:

8.Sell, offer for sale, prepare, or serve in or from the same place of business
both unpackaged non-halal food and unpackaged food he or she represents
to be halal unless he or she posts a window sign at the entrance of his or
her establishment which states in block letters at least 4 inches in height:
“Halal and Non-Halal Foods Sold Here,” or “Halal and Non-Halal Foods
Served Here,” or a statement of similar import;

[Chief Inspector]

Vukasin,
You're going to have to go to your local halal 'authority having jurisdiction' directly over that matter. Islamic laws and enforcement are going to vary depending upon country, state, municipality, as well as muslim 'sect' controlling the area in which you are established. I'm not certain, but I imagine that if you were in a Sunni section of Iraq for instance, their certification procedures and standards may (and I stress may) vary, from say, a Shiite controlled section.

While I know that that still doesn't directly answer your question, I don't think there will be a definitive answer unless you check locally. Just as you quoted Illinois state law, every area will vary as standards are adopted individually by governing bodies.

[Zeeshan]

Does someone have experience with halal food in fast food industry? I'm thinking about fast food restaurants that sell both halal and non-halal food, or only some of their products are halal ("Halal Chicken Burgers" in McDonald's?).

Can this products be certified by halal certification body? Or just "only halal food" restaurants can be certified?

My main question is - Is there any applicable procedure for preventing haram cross-contamination in such restaurants?


According to Codex Alimentarius General Guidelines for the Use of Term Halal (CAC/GL 24-1997):


Thanks. :)

Hi vukasin!

Chief Inspector is right. Whether a product or product-category could alone be certified as Halal or only a complete restaurant could be certified as Halal depend on the local laws and regulations and also on the code of conducts of your Halal Certification Body.

Normally, as I have seen and heard, general code of practice is that although products are certified as Halal, CB's requires to have separate completely isolated production lines for Halal food production and handling. I do not think any CB allow to use single production line for Halal and non-Halal Food. Halal certificate specifies the Halal Certified products. It does not say that every product produced by a certain premisis would be halal. Out CB requires that whenever we add or delete a product from our product-line, we should inform our CB who update our certificate after a verification activity.

My cousin, worked around 1 year in Singapore said that McDonalds restaurants that offer Halal food are certified as Halal Restuarants. I think it is the requiredment of the coutary laws for restuarant to be cerfied as halal. He also told me that at cerfain locations where halal and non halal buffet was arranged, both the premesis were distinctly separate and rules for separations were so strict that a person who had taken non-halal food from non-halal food serving area was not permited to enter where halal-food was being served.

It would be good manufacturing practice for a restaurant offering both halal and non-halal food, to clearly mention this information (what is halal and what is not) at prominient locations [such as window sign at entrance, near sitting area, in the menu, in advertisement material etc.]

But again as we have said, all your practices would be authenticated under the govenmental and CB's rules and regulations.

Regards:
M.Zeeshan.