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Saturday, July 31, 2010

French Halaal market booms




Muslim-friendly food, such as Halaal foie gras is moving away from its immigrant roots and merging with mainstream French tradition.

While the fine wine and gourmet food exports that underpin the French food industry have been hit hard by the global crisis, the Halaal niche market has been growing fast.

The growth of Halaal products is largely thanks to young descendants of Arab and African migrants, who want to enjoy the same culinary diversity as their non-Muslim French neighbours while remaining true to their religious roots. 

French sales of Halaal food are forecast to hit 5.5 billion Euros (ZAR 53.68 billion) in 2010 and move from the ethnic market to the mass market. 

Supermarket chain Casino has created a Halaal brand, Wassila, and fast food chain Quick is trying out a Halaal menu in 8 of its 350 burger joints.
http://www.meatinternational.com/news/french-halal-market-booms-id2474.html

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Pig skin lining in NINE WEST brand (South Africa)

The following article deals with the issue of pig skin leather contained in products made by the company known as Nine West...

Website

Phone number: 1-(800) 999-1877

They make the following products

  • Nine West Sandals
  • Nine West Boot
  • Nine West Shoes
  • Nine West Handbags
  • Nine West Wallets
  • Nine West Watches
  • Nine West Jewelry
  • Nine West Sunglasses
  • Nine West Belts
  • Nine West Hoisery
  • Nine West Scarves


Anger over pig skin in shoes

By TENESHIA NAIDOO

Popular designer label Nine West has been forced to disclose that some of its local shoes contain pig lining following a complaint from a Muslim customer.

The luxury brand will now post disclaimers on shoes containing pig lining after a complaint and query lodged with the South African National Halaal Authority (Sanha) in March.

Sanha raised the matter with the shoe brand who confirmed that certain ranges of shoes contain traces of pig skin. It is strictly forbidden in Islam for Muslims to consume or use any products associated with pigs.

The confirmation prompted the watchdog body to issue an alert to Muslims.

The upmarket brand also has a selection of

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Modified Milk Ingredient Halal or Haram??

According to Canadian food laws, Modified milk ingredients are defined in item 7.1, subsection B.01.010 (3) of the FDR, as "any of the following in liquid, concentrated, dry, frozen or reconstituted form, namely, calcium reduced skim milk (obtained by the ion-exchange process), casein, caseinates, cultured milk products, milk serum proteins, ultrafiltered milk, whey, whey butter, whey cream and any other component of milk the chemical state of which has been altered from that in which it is found in milk".

Additional examples of Modified Milk ingredients are 

  • Casein(milk protein)

  • Caseinates

  • Calcium reduced skim milk

  • Cultured milk products

  • Milk Protein Concentrates

  • Milk Protein Isolates

  • Milk serum proteins

  • Skim Milk Powde

  • Ultrafiltered milk

  • Whey

  • Whey butter

  • Whey Protein Concentrate

.How we know they are Halal?:

1. If a kosher symbol such as COR, MK, OUD, Circle K, CRC, V appears on food package containing modified milk ingredients, it means the modified milk ingredients are Halal and all other ingredients meet the Halal requirements because not all kosher certified food products are Halal unless they meet Halal requirements. There is a list of 16 ingredients as listed in ALERT section if one of them present in kosher certified products then those kosher certified products are not consider Halal.

2. Inquiry with manufacturer to find out what actual ingredients are used in so called modified milk ingredients. If they happened to be skim milk, ultrafiltered milk then the modified milk ingredients are Halal.

Source

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Halal Awareness Seminar in Scarborough, TORONTO
















HALAL Awareness Seminar will be taking place at Masjid Bilal in Scarborough

Sunday, August 15, 2010 at 2:00 PMMASJID BILAL
214 Markham Rd.
Scarborough, Ontario
Tel: 416 691-0995
              
In March 2004 the Jami’yyatul Ulama Canada (CCMT) received complaints from the Muslim community and from certain individuals from the halal industry that many things within the industry are not in compliance with halal guidelines. Subsequently, the Halal Foods Department of CCMT carried out inspections at numerous meat and poultry slaughter and processing plants, all of which are the major suppliers of halal consumables within the GTA. The inspections revealed many areas of concern. Since then, the HMA has provided numerous alternatives of monitored certified products. Attend the seminar to see what is being done and obtain first hand information regarding HMA. Remove any misunderstandings and be an active ambassador for genuine Halal.

SOURCE

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Pringles (United Kingdom ONLY) Halal in uk??

PRINGLES (Halal in UK)
Regular Original
Regular Cheese & Onion
Regular Cheese
Regular Curry
Regular Hot & Spicy (alcoholic flavourings)
Regular Paprika
Regular Prawn Cocktail
Regular Salt & Vinegar
Regular Sour Cream & Onion (alcoholic flavourings)
Regular Texas Barbecue

Delight Original
Delight Sour Cream & Onion

Rice Infusions Barbecue
Rice Infusions Cheese & Onion
Rice Infusions Classic
Rice Infusions Salt & Vinegar
Rice Infusions Sour Cream & Onion (alcoholic flavourings)
Extreme Exploding Cheese & Chilli
Extreme Flamin' Chilli Sauce
Extreme Spicy Sour Cream & Onion
Extreme Wasabi (alcoholic flavourings)



Please Avoid:
PRINGLES Regular Smoked Bacon


HARAAM
Regular Gourmet Burger - beef
Regular Kebab - beef
Extreme Paprika & Smokey Bacon - pork and beef
Extreme Smokin'Ribs - pork and beef



*  Alcoholic Flavouring carrier (trace)
Products which use a carrier are permissable.  Alcohol used as carriers are common food industry techniques and are permissible due to necessity on condition that they do not intoxicate i.e. negligible (trace) amounts of alcohol are present.



Read the full article here:
http://www.gmwa.org.uk/foodguide2/index.php?page=viewquestion&id=200
Is Whey Rennet Haraam?  (no!)
http://www.gmwa.org.uk/foodguide2/index.php?page=viewquestion&id=20


Source

Monday, June 21, 2010

Crest Toothpastes Going Halal soon??

According to Canadianhalalfoods:

Procter & Gamble has decided recently to eliminate animal derived ingredients from all their Crest toothpastes both in USA and Canada. This is good news but we have to be very careful because Crest toothpastes with animal derived ingredients are still available in the markets. They are not giving any date when all the stock of animal derived ingredients Crest toothpaste will be sold out. So please buy only the following four flavors of Crest toothpastes until for next 6 months or a year.

List of Crest Toothpaste Products (Made by Proctor and Gamble):
  • Crest Pro-Health sensitive shield
  • Crest Pro-Health Whitening Toothpaste - Fresh Clean Mint
  • Crest Pro-Health Clean Mint Paste
  • Crest Pro-Health Clean Cinnamon Paste
  • Crest Pro-Health Clean Night Mint
  • Crest Whitening Plus Scope
  • Crest Whitening Plus Scope Cool Peppermint Paste
  • Crest Whitening Plus Scope Citrus Paste
  • Crest Whitening Plus Scope Minty Fresh Paste
  • Crest Whitening Plus Scope Minty Fresh Liquid Gel
  • Crest Whitening Expressions Wintergreen Ice
  • Crest Whitening Expressions Cinnamon Rush PasteTM
  • Crest Whitening Expression Extreme Herbal Mint Paste
  • Crest Whitening Expressions Refreshing Vanilla Mint Paste
  • Crest Whitening Expressions Cinnamon Rush Liquid Gel
  • Crest Whitening Expressions Extreme Herbal Mint Liquid Gel
  • Crest Whitening Expressions Refreshing Vanilla Mint Gel
  • Crest Vivid White
  • Crest Extra White Plus Scope Mint Splash
  • Crest Extra White Plus Scope Outlast - Long Lasting Mint
  • Crest Extra Whitening Clean mint
  • Crest Sensitivity Whitening Plus Scope
  • Crest Health & Radiance
  • Crest Tartar Control Paste
  • Crest Tartar Control Gel
  • Crest Complete Clean Mint Paste
  • Crest Complete Clean Mint Gel
  • Crest Cavity Protection - Cool Mint Gel
  • Crest Cavity Protection - Paste
  • Crest BURSTIN bubblegum
  • Crest Kids Spider-Man Super Action Liquid Gel
  • Crest Kids Sparkle Gel

Where to contact them?? (Proctor and Gamble)
http://www.pg.com/en_CA/howcanwehelp/index.shtml

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Al Habib Supermarket HMA Certified in Markham

Al Habib Supermarket (Markham)


Monitored & Certified Products:
Fresh Chicken, Beef, Veal, Lamb, Goat & Sheep
NOTE: Frozen products, ox tail, and cowfeet are not certified

Address:
Al Habib
2860 Denison st.
Markham, ON. L3S 4T6
905 201-6455 Meat Department


Source

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Karim Halal Meat & Groceries HMA certified in Mississauga

Karim Halal Meat & Groceries


Monitored & Certified Products
All Fresh Chicken, Beef, Veal, Lamb, Goat & Sheep only

Note: All frozen meats and frozen meat products are not certified by HMA
Address
Karim Halal Meat & Groceries
735 Twain Ave. Unit # 4,
Mississauga, ON
Tel: 905-670-2111
Cell: 416 879-5315

Source

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Taza Bazaar (in Bombay Bazaar) HMA Certified in Scarborough

Taza Bazaar (in Bombay Bazaar)

Monitored & Certified Products:
         Fresh Chicken, Beef, Veal, Lamb, Goat and Sheep,
NOTE: Burned cow & Lamb Hooves and Burned Goats Head are not HMA certified. 
Frozen products, cow feet and ox-tail are NOT HMA certified
Address;
TAZA BAZAAR (in Bombay Bazaar)
3601 Lawrence Ave E 
Scarborough GTA , ON ,
M1G1P4
Tel: 416 757 2522


Source

Monday, June 14, 2010

Sakin Grocery HMA Certified in Brampton

Sakin Grocery

Monitored & Certified Products:
Fresh Chicken, Beef, Veal, Lamb, Goat & Sheep
NOTE: Frozen products, ox tail, and cowfeet are not certified.
 Address:
7-279 Queen St. E.
Brampton ON
Tel. 905 455 2530

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Fraudulent Claim of HMA (Baksh Halal Meat)

Sunday May 16, 2010
       THESE STORES ARE NOT HMA CERTIFIED
Please kindly note that the following butcher outlets/ meat stores have fraudulently advertised their store and products as HMA certified. (amongst others the false advertising has appeared in Ummah Times)
Please note that these stores and all its products are NOT HMA CERTIFIED.
Baksh Halal Meat Shop
1666 Jane Street (at Lawrence)
Toronto, Ont.
416-243-9473
Baksh Halal Meat Shop
3160 Eglinton Avenue (West of Markham Road)
Scarborough, Ont.
416 261-8564
PLEASE EXERCISE CAUTION !

Thursday, June 10, 2010

PEPSI PRDODUCTS ARE FREE OF ALCOHOL ACCORDING TO PEPSI CANADA



Brother Hadi Mohammed from Canada has provided the follwing e-mail from Pepsi Canada, there is exception for Vanilla Pepsi if it contains Vanilla Extract then it will not be Halal:

Hi Hadi:

Thank you for taking the time to contact us at PepsiCo Canada regarding our beverages.  We certainly appreciate the opportunity to clarify the situation.

Although our exact formulations are proprietary, please be assured that analysis of our products will confirm that they are non-alcoholic.  In fact, we do not add ethanol to any of our products and our products do not ferment to produce ethanol.  You can be certain that all our products throughout the world are non-alcoholic and fully comply with local regulations.

Once again, many thanks for your interest in our company.  We hope this information is helpful to you.
Sincerely,

PepsiCo Consumer Relations
www.pepsi.ca

Pepsi Products:
  • Pepsi
  • Diet Pepsi
  • Pepsi caffeine Free
  • Diet Pepsi Caffeine Free
  • Pepsi max
  • Diet Pepsi Lime
  • Pepsi Lime

Monday, June 7, 2010

Alcohol in Flavouring of 7 up, Dr Pepper, Canada dry, Crush, Scweppes, Snapple

ALCOHOL IN THE FLAVOR OF 7 UP & CANADA DRY IS  CONFIRMED

Dr. Pepper Snapple Group company has confirmed the use of ethyl alcohol as a solvent or carrier in the flavor of 7UP, Dr. Pepper and other product to MCG by e-mail.

"Thank you for contacting us about 7Up Regular. Your comments and inquiries are appreciated because they provide valuable feedback about our brands.

Most of the flavors in our products are designed with a carrier that is usually ethanol. The amounts are very slight, but still present".

They make the following products:

All 7 UP, Dr. Pepper, A &p; W, Canada Dry, Clamato, Country Time, Crush,  Diet Rite, Hawaiian Punch, Schweppes, Snapple, Squirt. 

Note: Ruling on Alcoholic is different from different scholars, best practice is ofcourse Taqwa or caution, but otherwise the ruling regarding the permissibility of the Non khamr "alcohols" to be used as flavourings / carriers can be found here: Alocohol Ruling,   
Question remains regardless of the ruling that whether the ehtanol they used is source from Khamr or Non Khamr...

Source

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Arizona drinks Halal??



Just received a response from Arizona drinks Company (www.drinkarizona.com/)
stating that NONE of their products contains any alcohol or animal ingredients...

There still remains a chance that for their flavouring the carrier is some sort of alcohol but the company did not clearly respond to that question. Their associate simply replied there is no alcohol in any of their products..

Readers are requested to confirm this for themselves. You can email them at Info@drinkarizona.com

Here is the email response i received from them...:

DrinkArizona


Thank you for your email. There is no alcohol or animal ingredients in any of our products. The U inside of the circle means the product is kosher certified.
 (end of email)

Now its a totally different subject matter whether they

Halal and Haram e Numbers

From the Muslim Food Guide  By Shaykhayn Yusuf Sacha and Fahim Mayat.
Additive and 'E' numbers in food
Food additives are added to food to make it safer, keep it longer, stop the growth of bacteria, mould, and stop food going stale. They also aid processing as emulsifiers, raising agents, preservatives and improve food in terms of colour, taste, texture and nutritional value.

Additives increase the variety of food available to consumers keeping prices down, allowing safe delivery of food to urban populated areas and create alternatives to traditional food like meat substitutes for meat, low fat products for butter and yoghurt and sugar free drinks for diabetics.

The use of additives is strictly controlled by law. They may not be used in food unless they are on approved Government supervised list, proving their safe and effective usage. Once approved by the EC it is then given an 'E' number and is constantly monitored by local Government and the EEC.

EEC directives require all

Monday, May 31, 2010

Krispy Crème (UK) Doughnuts 2010 - 2011

Last Updated: 16/05/2010
We have been liasing with Krispy Crème UK, and according to the information we have received:

As a general rule,Krispy Crème (UK) Doughnuts are permissible.   (ALWAYS check ingredients).
However a line contains marshmallows.
HARAAM Krisp Kreme  - rocky road  contain pork gelatine in their marshmallows


Please do note that they use alcoholic flavourings.
Alcoholic Flavourings Clarification:

Alcohols used as a carrier for food colourings and flavourings are permissible as long as they are not sourced from dates or grapes.(Source)

Source of article

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Slaughtering criteria for HFA (Halal food authority UK)

From a recent online conversation with a Halal Food authority Spokesperson by the name of Masood Khwaja here is a brief excerpt from their response:

i) HFA does not subscribe or allow ‘Captive Bolt’ stunning, as the procedure is not reverseable and the animal dies prior to slaughtering, ii) Low voltage electric (tongs or water bath) stunning is used only to immobilize the animal or the bird, with the assurance from the OVS that animal are not dead prior to slaughtering, iii) Mechanical slaughter is also used with strict presence of Muslim slaughterman/men, wherever manual slaughter is not in operation. Muslim slaughterman/men would do rendition of shahadah all the times whence slaughtering is in progress. Blades are NOT blessed, as some rumours are purporting and circulating.
A document which is labelled  Guidelines for Slaughter (this is hosted on HFA's website)

Once again here is the link:
 http://www.halalfoodauthority.co.uk/HFA%20Brief%20Guidlines%20for%20slaughtering.pdf

Was not able to fully read all the details but just the fact they allow mechanical slaughter is reason to either try to convince them to move away from this practice or look for a more viable solution.  Such as the HMA in toronto.

Last but not least here is further information about Halal Food Authority uk:

Halal food authority
109 fullham Palace Road
hammersmith, W6 8JA
44 0 844 879 4568
www.Halalfoodauthority.co.uk

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Long time no updates..

Sorry about not being able to update the blog for the past few days..  was away on a trip for 40 days... just got back last week... expect to see an information overload worth of updates in the very near future Inshallah..

Monday, April 5, 2010

Halal Breads in Canada (MCG Research)

According to the MCG's Canadian website they have found out that the following brands of breads are Halal to eat provided if they do not contain whey, butter and flavor.

Halal Canadian Bread list:
  • Wonder
  • Country Harvest
  • D's Italiano
  • Gadoua
  • Deli World
  • Oroweat
  • Weight Watchers
  • Weston
* If any of the readers have any further information/updates regarding these or any other makes / brands of bread / bread makers, then please feel free to share by commenting at the bottom...

Friday, April 2, 2010

Arm & Hammer toothpaste (Halal or Haram??)

Following is an excerpt from MCG's Canadian website regarding ARM & Hammer Toothpaste which is doubtful to believe after the recent email i received from Church & Dwight:

Arm & Hammer toothpastes are free from animal derived ingredients and alcohol

According to Church Dwight Canada, there is no animal derived ingredients and alcohol in their toothpastes. This information was sent us by a sister in Canada.
Church and Dwight (Arm & Hammer) Contact us page Click here

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Dairy Queen (USA / Canada)

The following is taken from MCG's Canadian website:
 Dairy Queen International? informed MCG on December 17, 2008 that they will not guarantee about Kosher/Halal status of their products because different stores in USA/Canada buy the food products from different suppliers. Some suppliers provide kosher certified food products and some do not.
Following are the ingredients for the Dairy queen Chocolate Sundae:. The sundae contains mono and diglycerides which could be either animal or vegetarian...


INGREDIENTS - Dairy Queen Sundae, Chocolate - Large
Chocolate Topping: Glucose-fructose, cocoa, water, modified corn starch, salt, potassium sorbate, artificial flavour.

Dairy Queen Vanilla Soft Serve: Modified milk ingredients, sugar, glucose, mono and diglycerides, guar gum, polysorbate 80, carrageenan and artificial flavour.

Source
Source for ingredients

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Calypso 2010 UK - Haram / Halal List

List of Calypso Halal - Haram Products For the UK 2010



Haraam
Cognac Tablet - contains alcohol
Irish Coffee Tablet - contains alcohol
Cointreau Tablet - contains alcohol
Petits Dessert Boxes 200g/400g - contains alcohol
Swiss Tradition De Luxe Assortment - contains alcohol


The following are permissible - Halal
Wafer bar
Nocciolatte Bar
Excellence 70% Cocoa
Excellence Extra Creamy
Excellence Macadamia Nut
Excellence 85% Cocoa
Excellence White Coconut    (Calf Rennet)
Excellence Natural Vanilla   (Calf Rennet)
Excellence Natural Orange  
Excellence Crunchy Caramel
Excellence Intense Orange
Excellence Natural Orange  
Petits Desserts Tarte Citron
Petits Desserts Dark Orange
Petits Desserts Crème Brulee
Lindt Milk Hazelnut
Lindt Dark Hazelnut
Lindt White Almond  (Calf Rennet)
Lindor Milk Chocolate Truffles   (Calf Rennet)
Lindor Assorted Chocolate Truffles
Swiss Tradition Mixed Assortment
Gold Bunny/Gold Reindeer/Santa
Kerry the Kitten
Bobby the Bunny
Bernie the Bear
Golf Balls
Milk raisin Hazelnut Gold Bar
Milk Hazelnut Gold Bar
Milk Gold Bar
Cherry Bar
Strawberry Bar
Pistache Bar
Swiss Thins Milk
Swiss Thins Dark
Swiss Thins Orange
Calypso Exotix Mango
Calypso Exotix Passionfruit
Calypso Exotix Guava

Calf Rennet Clarification:
Rennet per se, is not impermissible.
It is permissible to eat cheese which has rennet from calf rennet though
praiseworthy to refrain from due to a slight difference of opinion viz:
Is Whey Rennet Haraam?  (no!)
 http://www.gmwa.org.uk/foodguide2/index.php?page=viewquestion&id=20


Alcoholic Flavourings Clarification:

Alcohols used as a carrier for food colourings and flavourings are permissible as long as they are not sourced from dates or grapes.

Read the full article here:
http://www.gmwa.org.uk/foodguide2/index.php?page=viewquestion&id=200


 Last Updated: 07/03/2010

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Brazilian halal (haram) meat export....

Shockwaves from Brazil – An Exposé
In October 2007, HMC was approached by a Global meat supplier and manufacturer to investigate and inspect on its behalf the Brazilian ‘Halal’ market. Brazil, along with Australia and New Zealand are the world’s largest exporters of meat and processed products feeding the global hunger for Halal Products. Much of these supplies head to the Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia; UAE, Dubai, Oman, Qatar,
Africa and Europe.

This month we reveal the shocking and confidential findings of our man from his trip through the wild west of Brazil and the practices from a continent apart. Nevertheless, meat and poultry finds its way to our palates in a global world where distances have shrunk and we the Ummah consume blindly in good faith – Allah forgive us all for our lack of knowledge and shortcomings.