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The information in News section could be either for Food or Non Food items and other news items which are important for Muslim consumers.
Oleoresin of Spices
Oleoresin of spices are concentrated liquid form of spices and they are used for flavoring in food products.
There are three solvents commonly used in the extraction of spices and they are all Halal chemicals:
Hexane
Acetone
Methanol
After extraction all Oleoresins or spice extracts are standardized to achieve proper concentration and consistency by adding the following ingredients which are considered as the processing aid or hidden ingredients:
Mono and Diglycerides
Vegetable Oil
Silicon Dioxide
Since Mono & Diglycerides are fat based emulsifiers so it requires protection from pork fat for Muslim consumers. Halal or Kosher symbol on the food packages containing spice extract indicates that Mono & Diglycerides are from soy fat if Mono & Diglycerides is used as a processing aid or hidden ingredient in spice extract to standardized it.
Muslim Consumers could not find oleoresin of spices under ingredients statement of a food product if it was used in it. For example oleoresin of black pepper if used in a food product then it will be labeled as "Natural Flavor" or Spice Extract. No alcohol is used in the manufacture of Oleoresin of Black Pepper.
Majority of food companies never tell the Muslim consumers if Oleoresin of Black Pepper is used since they labeled it as "Natural Flavor" but Muslim consumer do not need to know about Oleoresin of spices. They should concentrate on finding if alcohol is used in natural flavor and if the food product has a Halal or Kosher symbol on it.
Posted on: 02-05-12 00:00 AM
Muslim Consumer Group For Food Products USA/Canada is participating at First International Conference on Halal Food Control and Exhibition on February 12-15 2012 at Intercontinental Hotel Riyadh - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Br. Syed Rasheeduddin Ahmed of MCG will be speaker at the conference. He is going to present a research paper on "Processing Aid or Hidden Ingredients in Food Products and their Halal Status" .
Muslim Consumer Group For Food Products USA/Canada is also having a booth at the exhibition to show about our efforts in educating Muslim Ummah about Food Products and Food Ingredients and their Halal status. MCG is also explaining about our strict Halal certification without alcohol. For more information about the conference, please go to www.halalfood.sa
Posted on: 01-11-12 00:00 AM
MAJOR TYPE OF FERMENTED MILK PRODUCTS:
Type Nature of Fermentation
Kefir Acid and Alcohol Not Halal
Koumiss Acid and Alcohol Not Halal
Yogurt Medium Acid If Halal or Kosher Certified with OUD only No KD, No alcohol in flavor, No Kosher Gelatin
Cultured Buttermilk Low Acid If Halal or Kosher Certified
Cultured Cream Low Acid If Halal or Kosher Certified
Leben & Dahi Medium Acid Halal
Cheese Acid, Diacetyle, Propionic Acid & CO2 If Halal or Kosher Certified
Pickles from cucumber and sauerkraut from cabbage are made by salting (brining). No alcohol is produced during the processing of these products. However, when flavors are added, those flavors may or may not contain alcohol as a carrier.
Posted on: 01-02-12 00:00 AM
Rose Water
Rose water is obtained from rose sepals and petals. It is the by- product of rose oil which is used in perfumes.
The rose oil is obtained through steam distillation. Attar is a rose perfume made from rose oil. Rose oil is a mixture of volatile essential oil. Rose water is used in Iranian, Indian and Pakistani sweet desserts. Many Muslims think alcohol may be used but it is not. Rose water is available in Indian and Pakistani food stores in USA and Canada.
By using Gas chromatography, the following compounds are obtained from rose water: citronellol, nonadecane, geraniol, phenyl ethyl alcohol, henicosane, 9-nonadecen, eicosane, linalool, citronellyl acetate, methyleugenol, heptadecane, pentadecane, docosane, nerol, disiloxane, octadecane, and pentacosane.
The chemical formula for phenylethyl alcohol is C6H5CH2CH2OH with a phenol group attached to OH group where as the chemical formula for ethyl alcohol is C2H5OH without any phenol group. So the phenylethyl alcohol is not the same alcohol and do not cause any intoxication.
Phenylethyl alcohol is provide a good floral odor. This is the reason the rose water is used in many Indian Pakistani sweets such as Gulab Jamun.
Rose water is a Halal ingredient.
Posted on: 12-10-11 00:00 AM
The following Amino Acids, Mineral and Vitamins from Solgar brand are Halal at Vitamin Shoppe stores in USA and Canada. There are many vitamins products from solgar with or without kosher symbol Kuf K available at Vitamin Shoppe stores but they do not meet the Halal requirements so they are not Halal. Only following vitamins/minerals products from Solgar brand are Halal with kosher symbol Kuf K which meet the Halal requirements:
Posted on: 12-04-11 00:00 AM
Assalam O Alaikum
Muslim Consumer Group wishes you a happy Eid.
Posted on: 11-06-11 00:00 AM
A Canadian Muslim consumers has sent us the e-mail from General Food regarding no alcohol is used in flavors in the following Betty Crocker's cake mixes:
Carrot Cake Mix
White Angel Food Cake Mix
Super Moist Cake Mix Cherry Chip 510 g, UPC: 006563304296
Super Moist Cake Mix Lemon 510 g, UPC: 006563304294
Posted on: 06-01-11 00:00 AM
Pepto Bismol is free from animal derived ingredients
According Proctor & Gamble no animal derived ingredients are used in Pepto Bismol.
Posted on: 05-13-11 00:00 AM
The following medicine products from Pfizer are made without any animal derived ingredients:
1. Robax Platinum
2. Thermacare
3. Horlick (no alcohol)
4. Sensodyne Toothpaste (no alcohol)
Benadryl:
Allergy Alexia Syrup for Adult (No glycerin, no animal derived ingredients)
Rolaid:
1. All Products ( No animal derived ingredients are used)
Maalox:
1. Extra Strength Tablet ( No animal derived ingredients are used)
2. Extra Strength (No animal derived ingredients are used)
Posted on: 05-13-11 00:00 AM
List of Halal Cheeses in Toronto supermarkets
The following are the brands names who manufacture Halal cheeses under following supermarkets:
Name of the cheese Brand Supermarket
Parmesan Cheese Grande Costco
Ricotta Cheese Saputo Costco & other supermarkets
Cottage Cheese Selection Food Basic
Cream Cheese Regular Selection Food Basic
Marble Cheddar Cheese w/KD Symbol Tre Stelle FreshCo/Price Chopper
Provolone Cheese w/KD Symbol Tre Stelle/Silani FreshCo/Price Chopper
Mozzarella Cheese w/KD Symbol Cremourne Food Basic
Baby Parmesan w/KD Symbol Silani Food Basic
American Soy Cheese Slices Tofutti FreshCo/Price Chopper
Posted on: 04-19-11 00:00 AM
GC INSTRUMENT DID NOT DETECT ALCOHOL IN COCA-COLA, PEPSI & 7 UP
Muslim Consumer Group is the first Muslim consumer organization who spent money to conduct alcohol analysis of soft drinks in the USA.
Muslim Consumer Group asked Northland Laboratories (Northbrook, IL), one of the top food analysis laboratories in USA, to buy Coca-Cola, Pepsi and 7 up from the supermarket to analyze alcohol content by using the official method of AOAC (Association of Official Analytical Chemists) number 973.23 Modified on the Gas Chromatography instrument.
Northland Lab did not find any alcohol peak on the chromatograph and reported the following results.
Name of Analyte: Alcohol by Gas Chromatography Instrument
Unit: Percent By Volume
Sample Description Result
Coca-Cola 2 Liter
Code:May0911RXC16452 Less Than <0.05%
Pepsi 2 Liter Less Than <0.05%
Code: May23111410G022612
7 UP 2 Liter Less Than <0.05%
Code:12441A.05B10949NL7
METHOD DETECTION LIMIT OF GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY INSTRUMENT IS 0.05%
In layman terms, the results indicate zero alcohol in all three soft drinks.
MCG has consulted with one of our Islamic Scholars, Mufti Mohsin Muki of Chicago Muslim Sunni Society Chicago, IL about the lab results. He recommended and MCG agreed that Muslims can drink Coca-Cola and Pepsi based on the analytical results of zero alcohol. Both Coca-Cola and Pepsi refused to answer the question of whether alcohol is used in natural flavors because of proprietary information.
MCG and our Islamic Scholar consider Coca-Cola and Pepsi as Halal soft drinks.
But on other hand, 7 UP informed us in an e-mail that most of the flavors in their products are designed with a carrier that is usually ethanol (Alcohol). Therefore, MCG and our Islamic Scholar agreed that although there is no alcohol in 7 UP according to the GC instrumentation, we still consider 7 UP as not Halal based on ethanol carrier in natural flavors.
We leave the decision of consuming 7 UP to Muslims. If any Muslims ask our opinion, we will not recommend the 7 UP because of information in the e-mail.
Posted on: 03-23-11 00:00 AM
NOT ALL ALCOHOL ARE HARAM (ETHYL ALCOHOL)
Ethyl alcohol is Haram because of its intoxication quality. But not all alcohol are ethyl alcohol although word alcohol is written with their name. Here are some examples:
1. Sugar alcohols do not contain ethyl alcohol but they called sugar alcohol because of their chemical formula. Sugar Alcohols or Polyols are carbohydrate. All the sugar alcohols are Halal except Erythritol(made through alcoholic fermentation) and if Lactittol is made from non Halal whey then it is not Halal. But if Lactitol is made from sucrose then it is Halal.
2. isopropyl alcohol is also used in many processes as well as in home cleaning products and skin lotions and it is also known as "Rubbing alcohol". This is a Halal alcohol because it does not cause intoxication.
3. Methyl alcohol or methanol or wood alcohol is also a Halal alcohol but it is a toxic alcohol . It is used in denatured ethanol or alcohol to denatured ethyl alcohol.
4. Benzyl Alcohol is a organic compound and used as solvent in ink, paint, resin coating. It is a Halal alcohol.
5. Specially Denatured Alcohol and Completely Denatured alcohol are ethyl alcohols to which denaturing materials are added to denature ethyl alcohol for purpose of not intended for consumption. They are used in cosmetic, pharmaceuticals products. They are allowed for skin application by many ulema.
6. Butyl alcohol is not ethyl alcohol and used as solvent in paints
7. Cetyl alcohol is also not ethyl alcohol but a fatty alcohol or wax and it is Halal only if it is obtained from vegetable fat and it is a Haram ingredient if it is obtained from pork fat. It is used in cosmetic products. The manufacturer of cosmetic is the only one who know the source of cetyl alcohol. So you have to call the manufacturer.
8. Stearyl Alcohol is manufactured from fat based stearic acid and it is not ethyl alcohol. It is also used in cosmetic products. it is Halal only if it is obtained from vegetable fat based stearic acid and it is a Haram ingredient if it is obtained from pork fat. It is used in cosmetic products. The manufacturer of cosmetic is the only one who know the source of stearyl alcohol. So you have to call the manufacturer
Posted on: 03-09-11 00:00 AM
HOW TO ENJOY EATING HALAL YOGURT WITH FRUITS
As you know most yogurts with fruits are not Halal due to presence of kosher gelatin which is made from pork or non zabiha beef or natural or artificial flavor containing alcohol as a solvent. But there is a way to enjoy Halal yogurt with fruits by mixing Halal plain yogurt with Halal Jams or Halal Jellies or canned or fresh fruits. This is the only way because there is no Halal yogurts with fruits in supermarkets.
Posted on: 03-09-11 00:00 AM
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Mono & Diglycerides:
Mono & Diglycerides are fat based emulsifier and are made by reacting glycerol (fat based) with fats and oils. Monoglycerides can be made from beef or pork or soybean fat. Only soybean and zabiha slaughtered cow fat based Mono & Diglyceries are Halal. A Halal or Kosher symbol (which meet the Islamic dietary requirements) on a food package containing Mono & Diglycerides indicates that it is obtained from soybean fat.
2. Is Whey a Halal ingredient?
Muslims think that whey is milk based ingredient, it has to be Halal but answer is no. There are two kinds of whey, one is sweet or rennet whey and other is acid whey. Acid whey is obtained during the making of acid type of cheese such as cottage cheese. Sweet or rennet whey is used more in food products then acid whey. Sweet whey or rennet whey is a by-product of rennet cheese making such as cheddar cheese or Mozzarella cheese.
Whey is portion of milk remaining after coagulation and removal of curd. Whey is Halal only if the Halal starter culture bacteria, Halal medium on which starter culture grown (Starter culture bacteria are Halal if they obtained from milk source not meat source and media on which these starter culture bacteria grown has to be made from Halal ingredients such milk). These requirements can only obtained if the cheese and whey are Halal or Kosher certified (which meet the Islamic dietary requirements). A Halal or Kosher symbol (which meet the Islamic dietary requirements) appears on a food package containing whey indicates that it is manufactured under Halal or Kosher supervision.
3. FD&C yellow No. 5 or FD&C red No. 40 colors:
FD&C yellow No. 5 or FD&C red No. 40 are chemical dyes and they are Halal if use as pure granular or powder form but if the FD&C colors are required to make in liquid form then a solvent is needed to make FD&C colors in liquid form. Liquid FD&C colors are used in liquid foods such as soft drinks. Vegetable oil or glycerin is used to make liquid artificial colors. Liquid FD&C colors are Halal only if vegetable oil or soy fat based glycerin is used. If glycerin is obtained from pork fat then liquid FD&C colors will be Haram. A Halal or Kosher symbol (which meet the Islamic dietary requirements) appears on a food package containing these colors indicates that no pork or beef fat glycerin was used as a solvent.
4. Halal status of L-Cysteine:
L-Cysteine is a essential amino acid and it is used as dough conditioner in bagels, pizza, bread, hard rolls. If L-Cysteine is manufactured from human hair then it will be Haram. If it is obtained from non zabiha or dead chicken/duck feathers then it will not be Halal. Halal L-Cysteine is made from synthetic sources and Halal fermented process MCG considered it Halal if it is made from either synthetic or fermentation sources.
5. Are all apple juice brands Halal?
No, only those apple juice brands which bear a Kosher symbol on the container are considered Halal because it indicates no pork gelatin is used as filtering material for a clear apple juice. There are some apple juice manufacturer who still used pork or beef gelatin in apple juice processing.
6. Are all natural or artificial flavors Halal?
No, in order for a natural or artificial flavor to be Halal, it has to be made from Halal flavoring material and a Halal solvent such vegetable oil or propylene glycol l is used. If ethyl alcohol is used a solvent then MCG will not considered it Halal according MCG ulema. If a Kosher symbol (which meet the Islamic dietary requirements) appears on a food package containing natural or artificial flavor indicates that it is manufactured from Halal flavoring material but ethyl alcohol may or may not use as a solvent. It requires further investigation from food manufacturer to confirm that no alcohol is used as a solvent.
7. Halal Status of chocolate Liquor:
Chocolate Liquor is manufactured from grinding the cocoa nibs from cocoa bean. It is a Halal ingredient and do not contain any liquor or alcohol.
8. Is Vanilla Extract a Halal ingredient?
No, Vanilla Extract is used as a flavor and it is made from vanilla bean extract. It contains minimum of 35% ethyl alcohol otherwise it will not call as vanilla extract according FDA regulation.
9. Halal status of Yeast Extract or autolyzed Yeast:
If the yeast extract or autolyzed yeast is made from baker’s yeast then it is a Halal ingredient. But if it is made from brewer’s yeast as a by-product of beer making then it is not considered as Halal because beer can penetrate in the yeast cells and never convert to any other things. Autolyzed Yeast Extract or Yeast Extract from beer is use mostly in cheese and crackers to provide bitterness according to food industry experts. Autolyzed Yeast Extract from baker yeast is used in food products such as soups and other products to give meaty taste without adding meat.
10. Which Vinegar is considered as Halal?
Distilled white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, malt vinegar, corn (Maize) sugar vinegar are considered Halal. Wine Vinegar and Balsamic vinegar are not considered Halal because of left over of wine in wine vinegar and high content sugar containing grape in Italy which in turn provide more alcohol is available to convert it to vinegar.
11. Processing Aid Ingredients or Hidden ingredients in food products and food ingredients:
FDA will allow up to 2% of processing aid ingredients or hidden ingredients in a food product or in a food ingredient without reporting in the ingredients statement. Only Halal or Kosher certified food products which meet the Islamic dietary requirements protect Muslim consumers from Haram processing aid ingredients or hidden ingredients. Example of Hidden ingredients are use of pork gelatin in apple juice processing, gelatin in Beta carotene, Polysorbate 80 (a fat based emulsifier) in vitamins mix for milk fortification.
12a.What are ingredients of Halal Soy Sauce?
All purpose soy sauce or non naturally brewed soy sauce is a Halal soy sauce made from water, salt, hydrolyzed soy protein, corn syrup and sodium benzoate.
12b. What are ingredients of Haram Soy Sauce?
The Naturally Brewed Soy is the Haram soy sauce. It is made just like wine containing 2-3% alcohol. The ingredients list contains Wheat, Soy and other ingredients. Food companies do not mentioned Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce name under the ingredients statement, they just mentioned soy sauce but within parenthesis they write Wheat and Soy. This is the only way to find out Haram Soy Sauce.
13. What is Torula Yeast, is it Halal?
Torula Yeast has capacity to utilize pentose sugars. It is not use in making bread or beer or wine. It is grown on a refined sugar feed stocks such as cane sugar, corn syrup, glucose, or alcohol. Torula yeast is grown on alcohol to manufacture Nucleotides for infant formula and this is the reason Nucleotide is not a Halal ingredients.
14. Vanilla Bean Specks
Vanilla bean specks are made mostly from vanilla bean seeds which are obtained after alcohol extraction of Vanilla Beans for vanilla flavors. The seeds leftover after alcohol extraction are dried and grind to make vanilla bean specks. This is called exhausted Vanilla bean specks in food industry. Vanilla beans specks without alcohol extraction are very expensive so many ice cream manufacturer do not use this type of vanilla bean specks. Our ulema consider vanilla bean specks as not Halal if it is obtain after alcohol extraction because alcohol is used on vanilla beans to get vanilla flavor and it is contaminated the Halal vanilla bean seeds.
15. Fat based E-Numbers such as E-Number 471, 472, 472e
E-numbers 471-472 are mushbooh because they can be made with pork fat and soybean fat. They are Halal if made with soybean fat only manufacturer know the source. But if a claim " Suitable For Vegetarian" appears on a food product package in Europe the it means these E-Numbers are obtained from soybean or vegetable fat.
16. Gelatin
Gelatin is Halal only if it is a fish gelatin or if gelatin is made from zabiha slaughtered cow.
17. Kosher Gelatin
Kosher gelatin is not Halal because it is made either from pork or non zabiha beef. Kosher gelatin is Haram if it is made from pig.
18. Cochineal or Carmine
Carmine or Cochineal is a red color made from red female beetle in South America. All in insects except locust are Haram under Hanafi fiqah.
19. Nucleotides
Nucleotides (building block of nucleic acid) are obtained from Torula yeast cells grown on alcohol, used in Infant baby formulas to help babies build a good immune, digestive system and decreased incident of diarrhea.
20. Confectionery Glaze
Confectionary Glaze or Resinous Glaze made Shellac which is dissolve in alcohol and then alcohol is evaporated. MCG do not consider it as a Halal ingredient.
21. Brewer Yeast
Brewer Yeast is used in beer making. After beer making it is separated from beer, washed dries and use in food products. MCG do not consider it Halal because alcohol during beer making penetrate inside brewer cell and will not convert into new thing.
Posted on: 02-12-11 00:00 AM
Sugar Alcohols
Sugar alcohols or Polyols are carbohydrates. Many Muslim consumers has asked us about Halal status of sugar alcohols in Questions and Answers section of our website. We answered them in the above section. So we decided to explain about them in News section of our website. The sugar alcohols are made from plant carbohydrates except Lactitol which can be made from sucrose or whey's lactose or milk sugar and all the sugar alcohols are Halal except Erythritol and if Lactittol is made from non Halal whey then it is not Halal. But if Lactitol is made from sucrose then it is Halal. There is no ethyl alcohol present in them. Alcohol is just the name because of chemical formulas. FDA recognized sugar alcohols as GRAS(Generally Recognized As Safe). Sugar alcohols are not artificial sweeteners technically and slightly lower in calories compare to sugar. The most important use of them is in chewing gums, sugar free candiaes and cookies because they do not cause tooth decay and good for diabetes because on consuming them the blood sugar will not increase. The most important sugar alcohols are Sorbitol or Glucitol, Xylitol, Lactitol, Mannitol, Maltitol, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysates, Isomalt, . No bone char is used in sugar alcohols as compare to sugar. Sugar alcohols are slow fermented carbohydrate than sugar. Sugar alcohols are not fermented by oral bacteria in mouth, this is determind by FDA through McNail company’s research. Sorbitol, Mannitol, Maltitol and Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysates are manufactured from cornstarch. Xylitol is manufactured from corn cobs, sugar cane bagasse, birch wood waste.
Lactitol is made from sucrose and whey. When Lactitol is manufactured from sweet whey then we have to be very careful about it. Whey has to be Halal or kosher certified otherwise Lactitol will not be Halal if it is manufactured from sweet whey which is obtained from animal rennet whey. Even if it is obtained from acid whey the starter culture bacteria and starter culture media upon the bacteria grow has to be Halal. If a Halal or kosher symbol appears on a food product package containing Lactitol, it means lactitol is either made from sucrose or Halal or kosher certified whey.
Erythritol is obtined either cornstarch or fruits through alcoholic fermentation because there is no lactic acid ferementation to be Halal. Sugar alcohol Erythritol is not consider Halal.
Lactitol is considered as Mushbooh and depond upon the Halal or kosher status of rennet whey and acid whey.
Posted on: 01-25-11 00:00 AM
HALAL STATUS SYMBOLS Halal
 Not Halal
 Mushbooh or Unknown
 Halal if no alcohol is used in flavor
 MCG Certified Halal
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MCG'S HALAL CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE:Please fill out the application form from site or obtained through e-mail or fax. Please click here for Certification Procedure If your products pass the Halal requirements then signing the contract including number of inspection per year, record keeping, number of products to be Halal certified and service fees for Halal certification. |
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MCG'S HALAL REQUIREMENTS:Raw material, processing aid ingredients, processing, sanitation chemicals and packaging should meet the Islamic dietary requirements. MCG will not consider a natural or artificial flavor as Halal if ethyl alcohol is used as a solvent or carrier and if the flavoring ingredients are not from Halal source. |
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