Representatives of the Halal Food and Non-Food Markets around the World- Halal Advisory Group

Steaks, burgers, gyros, and shawarma can come to mind when most people think of Halal. People’s thoughts on the subject are often confined to meat and slaughterhouse harvesting practices. The processing of Halal non-meat foods and Halal beverages is a lesser-known segment of the Halal food industry. Although this segment of the US and Canadian food and beverage industries have largely gone unnoticed for years, it has grown rapidly over the last two decades due to a variety of factors.

One such consideration is Muslim consumers’ growing understanding of the complexities of the ingredients in the foods they consume. Although nutrition labels can clearly warn customers about the ingredients in their food, they often pose more questions than they answer. Processed foods have long lists of ingredients with a variety of sources and processing processes that aren’t always obvious. For the typical Halal buyer, this causes uncertainty about whether the product is Halal and therefore suitable for consumption.

The lack of Halal certification for such goods is a barrier to manufacturers, as the Muslim market population is broad and increasingly growing. Halal certification of non-meat food and beverage products is an opportunity for producers to expand their brand among Muslim consumers, and some are already doing so. Halal problems do not end at the slaughterhouse’s shipping dock. They don’t even need the involvement of a slaughterhouse in the supply chain.

Whether people realize it or not, many of the non-meat foods they consume and many of the drinks we drink contain animal-derived ingredients or ingredients that were processed with animal-derived enzymes or processing aids. For Halal-conscious customers, any random beverage or highly processed non-meat food product is just as dangerous as a package of non-certified meat.

The global Halal food market has expanded steadily over the last decade and is now estimated to be worth $632 billion per year. Halal products have become ubiquitous in the marketplace, and many multinational corporations have responded by expanding their Halal-certified product lines. Halal foods are not only for Muslims; other customers are looking for them because of their outstanding reputation for nutritious and organic food items, as well as the humane treatment of animals. Halal food is prepared by a set of Islamic dietary laws and regulations that specify what is appropriate, lawful, and safe.

Halal Advisory Group is a global Halal certification organization that serves the needs of food and nutrition agencies as well as non-food agencies, especially in the FMCG field. Under the reverent coordination of a recognized Shariah Supervisory Board, the Halal Advisory Group certifies the goods. Highly trained food technologists, chemical engineers, and R&D practitioners determine certification eligibility using a research-based approach that explores ingredient sources.

As public understanding of food and nutrition increases, there will be a growing demand for such certifications. Halal Advisory Group is proud to represent the Halal food and non-food markets around the world. The ingredients used in the production of the goods are normally mentioned prominently on the packaging, but their origins are often left out. Customers should be aware of the products and a material used in the process because it is mandated by law and is their first right.