COMMON INGREDIENTS TO CHECKOUT |
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The ANZFA has the following list of categories as used in the regulation of food ingredients. It uses Code Numbers for each ingredient.
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| Gelatin | Usually of animal origin, mostly from hog skin and also from cattle. COMMENTS: Can be consumed if they are from halal dhabiha animal. |
| Lard/Lard Shortening | Fat/purified fat from swine. COMMENTS: HARAAM |
| Animal Shortening | Fats and oils of animal origin. COMMENTS: Halal if from Dhabiha animal only. |
| Vegetable shortening | Fat and oils of plant origin. COMMENTS: Make sure the word “Pure” or 100% is there. Sometimes animal fats are added to it at 5-15%. |
| Rennet or listed as enzyme | Protein breaking enzymes used in cheese making. COMMENTS: Halal if it is not from animal source. |
| Lecithin | Emulsifier of fat. COMMENT: The sources are mainly from soybean and egg yolk. |
| Glycerine | For maintaining moistness of food. COMMENTS:Questionable – should ask the company about the source.. |
| Glycerol monosterate | Moistness, emulsifier COMMENTS: Questionable. |
| Gum Tragacanth | Thickner, binder and stabiliser. COMMENTS: Questionable. |
| 471 (Mono-glyceride and Di-glyceride) | Improve texture of food, emulsifiers. COMMENTS: Questionable. Halal, only when the source is plant. |
Emulsifier in general such as 471, 472a, b, c, d, e, 473-477, 480, 481, 482, 483, 491-495
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Emulsifiying agnt used in bread, ice cream etc. Improve texture of food. COMMENTS: Questionable. Halal only when the source is plant. |
Vanilla or any flavouring
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To improve the consumers sensory acceptability o the product. No nutritive value in it. COMMENTS: Questionable as it may contain alcohol if used in liquid form. Should ask the company if the final product has any traces of alcohol left after processing of food. |
Colour
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To improve the consumers sensory acceptability o the product. No nutritive value in it. COMMENTS: Questionable as it may contain alcohol in liquid form. Should ask the company if the final product has any traces of alcohol left after processing of food. |
Whey
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Nutrient. Used in buiscuits, confectionery etc. COMMENTS: Questionable. Ask if they use any enzymes from animal source during cheese making |
Yeast
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Fermentng agent. COMMENTS: Questionable as it produces ethyl alcohol during fermentation. This process may vary from product to product. Should obtain more info from the manufacturers. |
This list is just a few to name but the most common one to observe. There are hundreds of other ingredients which is very difficult to track them down. You may consult the book for other references that I have mainly consulted is “Islamic Dietary Concepts and Practices” by M.M. Hussaini. Please make du’a for me so that I may be able to help the Muslim community here in Australia and elsewhere with my humble little knowledge but enormous responsibility that Allah (SWT) has bestowed upon me, in this regard, Insha Allah, |
However, one has to be careful regarding few ingredients. The questionable ingredients are as follows:
All these above products – must be derived from Halal sources. Please verify the source of these ingredient listing from the respective company concern by calling their Technical Manager (QA Re: Halal) via consumers complaint dept. It would be better if you could ask them for Halal status (current Halal certificate) of their product range. |