lmost all food and food ingredients, unless specifically identified by the Islamic law, are otherwise halal or permissible for consumption. Since we are now living in so called scientific age the Islamic jurisprudence demands that we check the specification and authenticity of halal. For example, some additives and flavourings such as chicken flavouring, beef or mushroom flavouring do not contain any real chicken beef or mushroom. These are just a combination of chemicals gathered together by special processes.

However, these should be specified on food product labelling, so that there is no confusion in validity and authenticity of these being halal. Sometimes some ingredient manufacturers and providers inadvertently do not differentiate between the real non-halal meat constituent or synthetic and man made material. For example, smoky bacon flavouring is a synthetic substance, but, because it sounds, tastes and almost looks like what it is named after, it cannot be classified as halal.

Therefore, the HFA licenses the manufacturers and providers of ingredients by checking and auditing specifications, method and process of manufacture of additives, colouring and emulsifiers. Special attention is paid to have no ethanol, alcohol or animal derivatives in any of the approved substances or products.

Endorsements are done on contractual and licensing basis and apart from specification data the HFA inspectors audit the manufacturing premises and plants, particularly for sanitization, segregation of halal from non-halal and labelling.

Organisations and manufacturers intending to obtain the HFA halal endorsement are invited to telephone on 0208- 563 1994 for further details.