A simple guide to Halaal shopping
Here are some tips to follow when shopping for a Halaal product:
Make sure that the products your buy have ingredients on their labels. If a product doesn’t have a label with ingredients, DON’T BUY IT!!!
Always check the ingredients. Some ingredients to look out for are E120 (Cochineal-red color from insects), E441 (Gelatin), E542 (Edible Bone Phosphate) & E904 (Shellac). Other Haraam/doubtful ingredients are Ester, L-Cycteine, Alcohol, animal fat, codeine, enzymes, glycerin, lard, pepsin, rennet, whey powder, shortening, tallow, lecithin, etc.
Note: The above ingredients are merely listed as a guide. Some of them are Haraam and some are doubtful (source needs to be clarified). For specific ingredients and E-number queries, please contact ZAMHA offices.
Be especially cautious in buying the following products: Cheese, cakes, cookies, French fries, candies, soups, sauce, margarine, crisps, yogurt etc. If you are not sure about a product, contact the Zamha offices.
Do not buy any meat products from outlets which are not supervised by a reputable certifying body. Remember, money hungry abattoir owners will not think twice before compromising Halaal standards. Many a times, a Muslim is employed merely to give the outlet a “Halaal mark”!! Therefore, avoid such doubtful sources of meat.
Food cooked in the hygienic and pleasant surrounding of the home definitely contains more blessings and nourishment as opposed to take-away food. Therefore, as far as possible, take-away food should be avoided. However the “eating-out” trend is something which has become a start reality in our community. Therefore, if one has to eat-out, then avoid non-Muslim owned restaurants & take-aways unless they are adequately supervised by a reputable Halaal Certifying body.
Avoid restaurants and take-aways which sell alcohol and other haraam items such as port, etc.
Remember the golden rule: “If in doubt, leave it out!”
– An article published in Halaal Gazette, Volume 1 Issue 4, June 2005
zamha@zamnet.zm