FALL 2010 18 Magazine A Publication of the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America Taking Halal to the Next Level Annual Subscription: U.S. $15.00 Single Copy: $5.00 WWW.IFANCA.ORG In the name of God, the M ost Beneficent, M ost M erciful CONTENTS Editor’s Note 2 From the Publisher’s Desk 3 4 The Benefits of Hajj 4 By Dr. Ahmed H. Sakr From West to East, An Eid-Ul-Adha Feast 10 By Aisha Kureishy Halal Catering Goes Mainstream 12 12 By Naazish YarKhan Halal Foods at Hospitals 16 By Tayyaba Syed Universities Giving Lip Service to Halal? 19 By Maryam Funmilayo Americans Searching for Halal: IFANCA at NRA Show 20 16 By Naazish YarKhan Halal Happenings 22 IFANCA Halal-Certified Company News 25 Hygiene Products for Hajj Pilgrims 28 By Tayyaba Syed 25 A Brand New Concept: www.HalalHealthy.com 29 IFANCA News 30 FALL 2010 1 HALAL CONSUMER 18 EDITOR’S NOTE WWW.IFANCA.ORG WWW.IFANCA.ORG FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK Assalamu Alaikum Halal Consumer Islamophobia has really been muddying the waters this year, be it attacks on Campbell Soup for having halal options or Muslims wanting a Community Center in Lower Manhattan. Given the negativity in the air, it is heartening IFANCA Board Of Directors Assalamu Alaikum to share the many strides that halal is making, especially at the retail level. President: M. Munir Chaudry Vice President: Mahmood A. Baig IFANCA started halal certification exactly 25 years ago, primarily for products exported to the Three IFANCA clients– American Halal Co, Med Diet, Inc., and Labayk™ Director: Rashid A. Chaudary Middle East and South East Asia. Every major corporation produced halal versions of their products products - launched new initiatives within weeks of each other. For the story, Director: Allen A. Hamood to be exported to those markets. For many years, with the exception of products made specifically go to IFANCA Halal-Certified Company News , Hygiene Products for Hajj Director: Ahmad H. Sakr for Muslims in the US military, those organizations had no interest in marketing their halal inven- Pilgrims, and Brand New Concept: www.HalalHealthy.com. Then turn to tory to North American consumers. Halal Happenings for a bird’s eye view of the halal industry’s impact on the IFANCA Religious Advisors Sh. Jaafar Al–Quadri global and North American food scene. Dr. Ahmad H Sakr Imam M. Mardini Around the year 1999-2000, some smaller to mid-size companies in USA and Canada started to rec- It being the Fall season, students are back on campuses. It is a good time to Mufti Ebrahim Desai ognize the existence of Muslim consumers and their halal dietary requirements. Since that time, learn if Universities Give Lip Service to Halal? Halal Consumer Magazine Halal Consumer Editorial Staff dozens of other companies including some large corporations have opted to service the halal con- also sheds light on business decisions and halal catering at hotels and in the Managing Editor: Naazish YarKhan sumer market. We are seeing ‘halal’ labeled products not only in ethnic stores but in mainstream food service sector. For details, read: Halal Catering Goes Mainstream and Assistant Editor: Mujahed Khan supermarkets as well. We anticipate this trend will continue and it will not be limited to processed Head Office Americans Searching for Halal: IFANCA Panel at NRA Annual Show. Our meat and poultry. Many more products with ‘halal’ markings will start to appear on shelves. They 777 Busse Hwy. contributing writer, Tayyaba Syed, shares other welcome trends with Halal Park Ridge, IL 60068-2470 USA will include ice-cream, cereals, nutritional supplements, juices, personal care products and baked Foods at Hospitals . Tel No.: +1– 847-993-0034 goods. One reason for the current increase in availability of halal certified products is that younger Fax No.: +1– 847-993-0038 Muslim consumers have been reaching out to manufacturers of consumer goods. As they have May God grant the Haji’s a blessed pilgrimage to Mecca and a safe return, [email protected] learned, companies do listen. [email protected] insha’Allah (God willing). Dr. Ahmad Sakr details the foundations of prepar- [email protected] ing for the pilgrimage and some of its many benefits. We hope families will During the ‘70’s and ‘80’s, North American Muslims could not eat cheese because most of it was welcome the Haji’s home with recipes from Aisha Kureishy, one of our read- REGIONAL OFFICES IFANCA–CALIFORNIA made with pork enzymes. When Pfizer developed synthetic rennet for cheese, the industry started ers, who shares an appetizing East-Meets-West Eid-Ul-Adha Feast with us. Walnut, California to change. Today, many brands of cheese are halal certified including Simon Country Store produced Finally, join me in welcoming Mujahed Khan as our Assistant Editor. Dr. Ahmad H. Sakr by Trega Foods, Pine River Cheese, Cabot Cheese, and Saputo Cheese - all IFANCA clients. Similarly, [email protected] the use of animal fats was very common 30 years ago. Due to an increasingly health conscientious This certainly is one of my favorite issues of Halal Consumer Magazine. We IFANCA–CANADA American public, manufacturers switched from animal fats to vegetable oils as an ingredient. As a look forward to hearing what you would like to see in our future issues. Mississauga, Ontario Haider Khattak result, IFANCA has been able to certify many more products as halal. [email protected] IFANCA–ASIA PACIFIC Singapore These various efforts came about due to the proactive stance taken by consumers. The rise of retail N aazish YarKhan Shahlan Hairalah halal products, too, reflects a demand by consumers, whether it is for convenience foods such Managing Editor [email protected] IFANCA certified Saffron Road or Med-Diet’s range of halal TV dinners or healthy desserts such as IFANCA–CHINA Beijing, China Happy and Healthy Products' Fruitfull line of halal ice-cream fruit bars. These are exciting times Charles Wenchuan Yu in the halal industry. The next decade will be even more so, as the halal retail market continues to [email protected] evolve around the needs of the North American consumer. Wuhan, China Daud WenTao Wang [email protected] Sincerely, Tianjin, China Lan (Ibraheem) Zhen Qiang [email protected] IFANCA - PAKISTAN M uhammad M unir Chaudry ABOUT HALAL CONSUMER Faisalabad Prof. Dr. Javaid A. Awan President, IFANCA Halal Consumer is a publication of the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council [email protected] of America (IFANCA). IFANCA is a non-profit Islamic organization with Copyright© 2010. All rights reserved the mission to promote halal food and the institution of halal. IFANCA ISSN: 1532–351X objectives include making halal foods conveniently available, introduc- ing halal to food companies and institutions, creating awareness of halal Disclaimer: None of the health-related information contained here should be used in lieu of medical advice nor should it be used without consulting a among consumers and providing halal solutions to consumer needs. physician first. Halal Consumer Magazine, its writers and editors, its parent organization IFANCA, IFANCA’s board of directors, and its employees and consultants are not liable for any actions taken by individuals or groups based on the information or recipes presented here. Designed by: Ansari Media Design HALAL CONSUMER 18 2 FALL 2010 FALL 2010 3 HALAL CONSUMER 18 WWW.IFANCA.ORG Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam. A These benefits are not restricted to The performance of Hajj wipes out Muslim is expected to perform Hajj one particular area, or to a particu- the sins of a pilgrim. This is a type of at least once in a lifetime if means lar time of history. The benefits that rejuvenation that helps a person not allow him/her to do so. Allah people may get from the perfor- to lose hope in this world. On the The Benefits of Hajj revealed a Surah in the Qur’an called mance of Hajj are much more than contrary he would strive effectively By Dr. Ahmed H. Sakr Surah Al-Hajj. In that chapter, Allah to be counted. These benefits are to please Allah after his/her sins says the following: specifically good for the individu- and mistakes are wiped off. It has als who perform Hajj and for the been reported by Abu Hurairah that Behold! We gave the site to Abraham, of Muslim community and the Muslim Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon the (sacred) House, (saying): “Associate society as a whole. These benefits him) said: "Whoever performs pil- not anything (in worship) with Me and are good for people in this world and grimage without uttering immodest sanctify My House for those who com- in the Hereafter. speech or abusing others, he returns pass it round, or stand up, or bow, or as though a new-born." [Muslim] prostrate themselves (therein in prayer). BENEFITS And proclaim the pilgrimage among peo- A person sacrifices through the ple; they will come to you on foot and The following are some of the ben- performance of Hajj. He leaves his (mounted) on every kind of camel, lean efits for the individuals and for the family, business, and country; he on account of journeys through deep and Muslim society. spends lots of money, time effort and distant mountain highways. (22:26-27) energy; and he bears lots of difficul- Individuals ties due to travelling. All of these are To write about pilgrimage (Hajj) is Renewal of the remembrance of for the pleasure and love of Allah. good, but to perform Hajj is more Allah and strengthening the rela- This type of sacrifice helps the indi- important.