| Phone: 1-877-515-1008 | |
|
| Home | Food Products | Non Food Products | Ingredients | E-Numbers | News & Alerts | Muslim Consumer Group (MCG) | MCG Halal Certification | Services |
The Alert section also deals with food, non food items and any relevant news items. These alerts aware Muslim consumer’s about Halal & Not-Halal status of both food and non food items.
Dart corporation is still using the animal by product based Zinc Stearte to molds for making foam cups. Here are the correspondence with them:
Sales@dart.biz (Sales@dart.biz)
5/23/12
To: S. Rasheed Ahmed
Dear Mr. Ahmed: We understand that you would like to have additional information regarding the specific Dart products where zinc stearate is involved in the manufacturing process. Those products are a
|
From: |
Sales@dart.biz You moved this message to its current location. |
|
Sent: |
Wed 5/23/12 6:45 AM |
|
To: |
S. Rasheed Ahmed (halalfoods@hotmail.com) |
Dear Mr. Ahmed:
We understand that you would like to have additional information regarding
the specific Dart products where zinc stearate is involved in the
manufacturing process. Those products are as follows:
Foam Cups, Containers, and Bowls
Foam Dinnerware (Quiet Classic, Concord, Black, and Honey)
Foam Hinged Lid Containers
OPS (Oriented Polystyrene) Containers:
- Showtime
- StayLock
- ClearSeal
- ClearPac
- Clear Dinnerware Lids and Covers
If you are interested in relating the above Dart product lines to specific
product numbers, you can do so via the following link:
http://www.dart.biz/web/products.nsf/pages/US.html
Please let us know if you have additional questions.
DART CONTAINER CORPORATION
Dear Mr. Ahmed:
Thank you for your inquiry.
Zinc stearate is used in the manufacturing process for Dart foam cups, foam dinnerware, foam hinged containers, and clear OPS containers. Zinc stearate is not used to manufacture Dart impact plastic dinnerware, cutlery, translucent cups, clear PET cups, or clear Polypropylene cups.
Zinc stearate is derived from a number of sources, including animal by-products.
For additional information, please refer to the following Position Statement on Zinc Stearate.
DART CONTAINER CORPORATION
/jc
Posted on: 05-18-13 00:00 AM
Posted on: 04-21-13 00:00 AM
Thanks to brother Abdulrahaman who send the following e-mail to MCG:
Hello Abdulrahman,
Thanks for reaching out to us about our products, and whether or not
alcohol is used in our flavoring. All of our products that contain flavor
also contain alcohol because it is one of only a few solvents approved by
National Organic Standards. Other solvents are often chemical based and not
allowed in organic ingredients.
Thanks again for getting in touch. If you ever have another question please
give us a shout.
Sincerely,
The folks at Stonyfield
Posted on: 04-14-13 00:00 AM
There are used to be few Maggi Noodle Soups with Vegetarian Green Dot under Square Symbol but that symbol is not any more on any Maggi Noodle Soups.
The ingredients listed on Maggi Noodle Soups look to be Halal but they do not report Hidden Haram Ingredients on the ingredients statement. Then how a Muslim consumers know for sure that there is no pork by product or ethyl alcohol based ingredients are used as a processing aid or Hidden Ingredients.
So MCG decided to assign all Magi Noodles Soups without Halal or Kosher or Vegetarian symbol on the package as NOT HALAL status.
Posted on: 04-14-13 00:00 AM
|
Uses of Dewaxed Bleached Shellac in Confectionery The bleached shellac coating performs one or more of the following functions:
Solvents |
||||||||||
|
Formula for Chocolate Varnish
|
||||||||||
Courtesy of http://indianshellac.com/confectionery.html
Posted on: 03-26-13 00:00 AM
A sist has provided a e-mail to MCG from The Body Shop Company (reference Number 63461) where company claimed to use gelatin either from pork or non zabiha beef, Shellac which might be dissolved in alcohol. The Body Shop products are not recommended to be use by Muslims.
Posted on: 03-17-13 00:00 AM
The Procter Gamble Company can not give guarantee that it will be pork free, they will use pork by product if other source are not available. The reference number is 15231785 of March 4, 2013.
Posted on: 03-04-13 00:00 AM
MCG wrote this e-mail to clarify their statement regarding alcohol and the consumer department told MCG that they will look and get back to MCG:
Hi Mr. MCguire,
Nice to talk to on the phone. The e-mail below is causing lot of confusion among our 8-10 million Muslim consumers who do not consume any food product made with ethyl alcohol. To me the e-mail is missing the "in flavors" after processing agent. Because ethyl alcohol alone never used as a processing aid or hidden ingredient in chocolate and it has no technical effect during processing.
If you correct the e-mail this way then our consumer will not have any confusion:
" Thank you for contacting Hershey
All the products you mentioned contain vanillin. Our vanillin does not contain alcohol. Alcohol is used as a processing agent in flavors and is removed.
Have a sweet day,
Susan Harris
Consumer Representative"
Please forward this suggestion to your QA or Technical or legal department.
Rasheed Ahmed
Certified senior Food Scientist
Muslim Consumer Group For Food Products USA/Canada (a non profit educational organization)
www.muslimconsumergroup.com
www.canadianhalalfoods.com
Posted on: 02-12-13 00:00 AM
MCG tried very hard to get the technical information from Giordano Pizza Company without any success because there is no technical person works for this pizza company and they always refer to store manager who have no knowledge. He only says the their ingredients are natural and will not allow inside to look at ingredients cases.
So MCG advises Chicago area Muslims not to consume Giordano Cheese Pizza.
Posted on: 02-12-13 00:00 AM
PROBIOTICS
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) in 2002 define probotics live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a benefit on the host.
Probotics are friendly bacteria and yeast to our digestive system by improving imbalances in our digestive system and provide health benefit not nutrition. Certain species of Bifidobacterium or Lactobacillus bacteria are probiotic. Starter culture bacteria for cheese and yogurt are Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. In addition Lactobacillus acidophilus and Streptococcus lactose are added to yogurts. These bacteria active until yogurt is consume but in cheese the cheese curd is cooked from 90 to 176 F depend upon the type of cheese so they may or may not be active when cheese is consumed.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii is the only known probiotic yeast.
Acetate, l(+)-lactate, ethyl alcohol, and formate are end products of fermentation of probiotics Bifidobacterium on glucose, lactose, galactose, mannitol, and xylose.
Whereas during fermentation of yogurt lactic acid, acetic acid, diacetyl and acetaldehyde are formed and they are all Halal.
Yakult is dairy fermented drink containing probiotics bacteria in USA manufactured by a Japanese Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd company based in California.
Although probiotic bacteria and yeast are good bacteria and yeast providing health benefit but they perform alcoholic fermentation where as no alcoholic fermentation happened during yogurt processing. So MCG recommend Halal yogurts over fermented dairy drinks using probiotic bacteria.
The organisms are bacteria such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Lactococcus, Leuconstoc, Pediococcus, Propionibacterium, Streptococcus, Bacillus and yeast such as Saccharomyces, Schizosaccharomyces, Xantothophyllomyces. From Halal point of view, only probiotic bacteria which perform lactic acid fermentation by producing lactic acid are consider Halal. The probiotic yeasts which perform alcoholic fermentation by producing alcohol are consider not Halal.
Only manufacturers know what type of probiotic microorganism were used in probiotic foods. Then we have to contact them to verify the Halal status of probiotic microorganism used in the probiotic foods.
Posted on: 02-07-13 00:00 AM
Unilever has informed MCG that Clear Shampoos and Conditioners are made with animal protein which could be pork or non zabiha beef.
Posted on: 02-06-13 00:00 AM
Traces of pork" found in UK prison food served as halal
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/feb/01/traces-pork-prison-food-halal/print
Posted on: 02-03-13 00:00 AM
The following article was from: http://islam.pakistanway.com/ShowNewsDetail.aspxnewsid=170
|
||
|
Posted on: 02-02-13 00:00 AM
The ownership of Post brand of cereals has changes hand for many times. Originally it was belong to General Foods then to Kraft General Foods then it sold to Ralston Holding Philiph Morris bought both Kraft and General Foods became Keratook over and sold to Ralcorp Holding. Then Ralcorp sold it to Campbell's Labels for Education program in 2013.
Two very popular Post brand of cereals Alphabit and Honey Comb was reformulated and firs time in 30 years a natural flavor was added to them.Natural Flavor cereal is mostly natural vanilla base, then they are not considered Halal.
Br. Musfar Ahmed has provide this e-mail: September 28, 2012 Dear Musfar Ahmed, Thank you for contacting Post Foods. The majority of artificial flavors do contain carriers which are chemically known as alcohols, however this information is also proprietary. But in the case of dry finished food (ie. cereal), the alcohol evaporates during the drying/baking process. Thank you again for contacting Post Foods.We hope this information is beneficial to you. Ashley Lambert Consumer Response Representative.
Posted on: 01-21-13 00:00 AM
Posted on: 01-21-13 00:00 AM
RYAN J. FOLEY | November 26, 2012 03:20 PM EST | Associated Press
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The maker of a popular brand of food for observant Muslims says it is facing a potentially crippling investigation into whether it falsely labeled meat products as processed in compliance with Islamic law.
The Midamar Corp. said in federal court documents that investigators seized its main bank account and business records under search warrants executed last month. A judge last week upheld the government's seizure of $454,000 in bank funds and rejected the company's request to return the money.
No criminal or civil charges have been filed, and U.S. District Judge Linda Reade ruled that the government's affidavit supporting its search warrant can remain secret so as not to "compromise an ongoing investigation." The U.S. attorney's office declined comment Monday on the investigation, which involves the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Internal Revenue Service.
Miramar said in court filings that the seizures relate to vague allegations that it improperly branded and sold meat products as meeting Muslim dietary requirements, called halal, when they did not. The privately held business, which has been in Cedar Rapids for 40 years, dismissed the allegations. And it claims federal investigators are trying to regulate something that must be left to religions under the U.S. Constitution's separation of church and state.
"Whether Midamar's meat is in fact halal is a religious question that may not be answered by the U.S. government," company lawyers wrote last month.
Midamar says it was the first major U.S. supplier of halal products after its 1974 founding by Bill Aossey, who declined comment Monday. The company calls itself the leading U.S. halal brand and markets more than 200 products for U.S. and international customers, including beef, turkey and chicken. It largely relies on third-party suppliers for meat that it packages.
Reade ruled that she did not believe the company's constitutional argument was "an appropriate basis to quash a warrant" and is premature because no charges have been filed.
Midamar, which has 70 employees, says it has been unable to access credit needed to maintain its operation and that some business partners have kept a distance since last month's raid became public. It warned in one filing that it could soon have to close its doors.
Reade ruled that Midamar failed to show that the money seizure amounted to shutting down the business. Midamar failed to prove it could not obtain funding from other sources, such as by liquidating assets or taking out personal loans from its executives, she said. The agents' seizure of documents and files also did not prevent the business from operating, Reade ruled, noting investigators returned seized computers within a week.
Rasheed Ahmed, president of the Muslim Consumer Group for Food Products, a watchdog group in Huntley, Ill., said cheating is common in the marketing of halal meat, which is supposed to be killed in ritual slaughter. Some companies label routinely processed "supermarket meat" as halal, he said.
Ahmed said he was not aware of the investigation or Midamar's practices but that he would be interested in the case's outcome. "A lot of consumers buy from them," he said.
Midamar says the matter does not involve food safety. Still, its lawyers made public a letter from USDA that noted the agency stopped voluntary inspections at the firm in 2010, after seizing what it called misbranded meat products, before resuming them last year. Such inspections are done at Midamar's request to ensure their products meet requirements for export.
Investigators seized thousands of pounds of beef products that came from an establishment not approved for export to a foreign country and found falsified export documents for shipments to Indonesia and Malaysia, among other problems, according to the letter.
USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service resumed inspections after approving Midamar's "corrective and preventive measures," the letter says.
Posted on: 11-26-12 00:00 AM
Flavor companies at Chicago IFT Suppliers Night on November 15, 2012 told MCG that Artificial Vanilla Flavor are not made with Vanillin all the time but most of the time. If the artificial vanilla flavor is made in dry form then no alcohol is used but if it is made in liquid for then there is possibility of using ethyl alcohol as a solvent. So if you see Artificial Vanilla Flavor under ingredients then it needs to be further investigated for alcohol as a solvent. Only Vanillin is consider as Halal.
Posted on: 11-18-12 00:00 AM
November 8, 2012 4:32 PM ET
GLENDALE, Calif. (AP) - Nestle USA is recalling some of its Nesquik chocolate powder because of a possible salmonella risk.
The food maker said Thursday that the Nesquik involved was in 10.9-, 21.8- and 40.7-ounce canisters produced in early October and sold at retailers across the country.
Nestle says it is issuing the recall after its ingredient supplier, Omaya Inc., decided to recall some of the calcium carbonate used in the product due to possible Salmonella contamination. The company says there are no reported illnesses associated with the product.
Salmonella can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever. It can be life-threatening in infants, the elderly, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems.
The affected products have a "Best if sold by" date of October 2014.The recall includes the following products and unit production codes, which are located on the bottom of the canister.
-40.7 ounce powder with UPC 0 28000 68230 9 2282574810 2282574820
Posted on: 11-08-12 00:00 AM
FDA today reported 5 deaths with Monster Energy Drink link. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it's investigating reports of five deaths and a non-fatal heart attack linked to highly caffeinated Monster Energy Drinks.
Monster Drink is not considered as Halal because it has no Halal or Kosher symbol on the package. MCG has contacted the manufacturer and they told MCG that ingredients they used are not Halal. MCG recommend Muslims to stay away from Monster Energy Drink.
Posted on: 10-22-12 00:00 AM
Br. Musfar Ahmed a Muslim consumer has provide the information below for MCG.
From: Musfar Ahmed
Email Address: musfarahmed@
Phone:
Comments: September 28, 2012 Dear Musfar Ahmed, Thank you for contacting Post Foods. The majority of artificial flavors do contain carriers which are chemically known as alcohols, however this information is also proprietary. But in the case of dry finished food (ie. cereal), the alcohol evaporates during the drying/baking process. Thank you again for contacting Post Foods.We hope this information is beneficial to you. Ashley Lambert Consumer Response Representative
Posted on: 10-05-12 00:00 AM
Kuwait company's license revoked over imported sausages laced with pig fat
According to Gulf News, a Kuwaiti company that sold imported chicken sausages containing pig fat in Ramadan had its mandatory health license revoked, a municipality official has said.
Mohammad Gazzai Al Utaibi, deputy director general of municipality services affairs, said that the company’s sale point in the Shwaikh area was also closed down for breaking the rules.
“We have a zero-tolerance policy towards those who break the rules and harm public interest,” he said, quoted by local Arabic daily Al Watan on Wednesday. “The municipality is closely monitoring the sale of food stuff to ensure it passes the laboratory tests and fully complies with the required safety standards.”
However, Al Utaibi did not wish to name the company that came under fire from people for selling the pig fat-laced sausages. A Kuwaiti company that sold imported chicken sausages containing pig fat in Ramadan had its mandatory health license revoked, a municipality official has said.
“We have a zero-tolerance policy towards those who break the rules and harm public interest,” he said, quoted by local Arabic daily Al Watan on Wednesday. “The municipality is closely monitoring the sale of food stuff to ensure it passes the laboratory tests and fully complies with the required safety standards.”
However, Al Utaibi did not wish to name the company that came under fire from people for selling the pig fat-laced sausages.
By Habib Toumi Bureau Chief
Published: 11:47 September 5, 2012
Gulf News
Posted on: 09-05-12 00:00 AM
Sister Sana a Muslim consumer has send us the following e-mail from Jelly Belly. All candies from Jell Belly ate not because use of alcohol in Confectionary Glaze and alcohol in flavor.
Posted on: 08-28-12 00:00 AM
Alcohol was detected in Coke and 7 UP
Muslim Consumer Group was getting a lot of inquiries about the French study of finding the presence of alcohol in European Coke and Pepsi. MCG sent the samples to Northland Lab in Northfield, IL to use a more sophisticated method of Residual Solvents Identification known as USP 35 method than French's Headspace Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detection (HS-GC-FID) method which cannot quantify the amount of Ethanol or Ethyl Alcohol.
MCG sent unopened Coke, Pepsi and 7 UP bottles to Northland lab to perform alcohol test by using Residual Solvents Identification known as USP 35 method. This method can detect amount of alcohol at least 0.001% or 10 Part Per Million or 10 milligram per liter or more. But this method can't detect less than 0.001% of alcohol.
MCG has paid over $1200 to perform these analysis for Muslim consumers in USA.
The alcohol level in Coke was 0.0059 or 59 PPM as reported by Northland Lab.
The 7 UP has shown higher level of alcohol of 0.048% or 480 PPM.
Northland Lab, Northbrook Division, Corporate Office
Date Received: 07/09/2012
Blanket PO: CREDIT CARD
Start Date: 07/09/2012
Due Date: 07/30/2012
Sample ID Product ID Product Description Sample Description Lot Number Request Number
AD62895 COKE
CODE: SEP 1712MDA, NET
WEIGHT: 20 FL. OZ
SD SOFT DRINK
Analyte Name Result Units Specs *
Provided
DL Method Reference
Residual Solvents Identification Ethanol = 59 PPM USP 35
Comments: Temperature upon arrival = 33.5 deg C
AOAC Laboratory Proficiency Site # 95190, 30440
USDA/FSIS - Chemistry #1761
ISO/IEC 17025 Certificate #AT-1491
IDPH #17501
Northland Lab, Northbrook Division, Corporate Office
Date Received: 07/09/2012
Blanket PO: CREDIT CARD
Start Date: 07/09/2012
Due Date: 07/30/2012
Sample ID Product ID Product Description Sample Description Lot Number Request Number
AD62896 7 UP
CODE: E2137HB1408, NET
WEIGHT: 20 FL. OZ
SD SOFT DRINK
Analyte Name Result Units Specs *
Provided
DL Method Reference
Residual Solvents Identification Ethanol = 480 PPM USP 35
Comments: Temperature upon arrival = 34.0 deg C
AOAC Laboratory Proficiency Site # 95190, 30440
USDA/FSIS - Chemistry #1761
ISO/IEC 17025 Certificate #AT-1491
IDPH #17501
For any question about these tests, please contact Muslim Consumer Group at 1-877-515-1008. Please do not call the Northland Lab.
Posted on: 08-25-12 00:00 AM
Posted on: 07-11-12 00:00 AM
Sister Atiya a Muslim consumer has sent a publication from FAO where it was mentioned that three solvents are used for alcohol precipitation method for Carrageenan namely Methanol, Isopropyl Alcohol and ethyl alcohol. We immediately send inquiries to various Carrageenan suppliers, here we got response from them:
"From: Shemberg of Philippines:
Dear Mr. Rasheed Ahmed,
Thank you for stopping by our booth during the IFT.
I am replying on behalf of Pierre Dakay regarding your inquiry.
Only one of our factories is using both Isopropyl and Ethyl alcohol in the precipitation of carrageenan. Our two other plants do not use alcohol precipitation.
Cindi Chan
From: Ingredients Solution, Inc.
Dear Rasheed,
Thank you for your e-mail. No doubt, you were speaking to Dr. Pete Bixler, our retired CEO. The key to precipitating carrageenan is the need for a medium in which the carrageenan filtrate will not be solubilized. Solvents effectively meet this requirement as do certain salts.
Our primary supplier for alcohol precipitated grades is Shemberg Marketing and they use isopropyl alcohol. To the best of my knowledge, most carrageenan manufacturers with alcohol capability (and there are not many out there these days) use isopropyl alcohol. I’m told that the reasons are many but the two most important are cost and volatility. Isopropyl alcohol is more easily recovered after the precipitation step than ethyl alcohol and this, as well as initial cost, contributes to better economics. In addition, ethyl alcohol which is a potable substance and highly regulated whereas isopropyl alcohol is classified as a chemical, simplifying its handling and use.
Fortunately as far as Halal requirements are concerned, most of the refined, commercial grade kappa carrageenans produced today are precipitated in potassium chloride and “pressed” to remove the excess water. This gives rise to the term “gel-pressed” carrageenan and it is used extensively in applications where alcohol precipitated versions once dominated. There are obviously still many uses for the alcohol precipitated versions, particularly iota types, however they are far fewer than those of 10-15 years ago.
I hope this information is useful.
Regards,
Kevin Johndro
Laboratory Manager
Ingredients Solutions, Inc. 631 Moosehead Trail
Waldo, Maine 04921 kevinj@ingredientssolutions.com tel (207) 722-4172"
Based on these new information we will place Carraggenan as Mushbooh ingredient because Carrageenan is produced with Halal Potassium Chloride, Halal Isopropyl Alcohol and some with Haram Ethyl Alcohol. Our Ulema say any Halal thing if touches with ethyl alcohol then it became not Halal.
We have e-mail from Dean Foods indicating that they do not use alcohol precipitated Carrageenan in dairy products. Little Debbie company who wrote to us that the Carrageenan used in Sunbelt Granola Bars are from Alcohol precipitated method but did not specify which type of alcohol used. Kemps company is also send an e-mail indicating no alcohol is used in Carrageenan.
We have prepared a phrase for Muslim consumers how to ask the question about Carrageenan to those food manufacturers whose food products are made with Carrageenan.
" Dear Sir or Madam,
Due to my religious dietary requirements, I appreciate if you could find out from your Carrageenan suppliers whether they use ethyl alcohol during the precipitation method of Carrageenan because your ice cream, ice cream bars, fudge bars, heavy whipping cream contain carrageenan. Can you please assure me that the carrageenan used in your product is not Lambda type of Carrageenan where Ethyl Alcohol is used during processing of Carrageenan."
Posted on: 07-08-12 00:00 AM
Muslim Consumer Group has asked Northland Lab Northbrook, IL in April 2011 to perform alcohol test on Coke, Pepsi and 7 UP by using Gas Chromatography a official AOAC method. The limit on that method is 0.05% or 500 PPM. The Northland Lab detected no alcohol above 0.05% so they reported less than 0.05% and in layman term it is consider zero.
MCG is trying to find out what method of analysis used by National Institute of Consumption (INC). When we found out that method than we will ask a US lab to perform the alcohol test on same instrument.
This a scientific fact that if a flavor obtained from natural source such as fruits or vegetables, alcohol is naturally developed during ripening process of fruits and vegetables. This minute of alcohol in ripe fruits and vegetables is consider Halal.
There is a published in a book that birds get daisy when they consumed ripe grapes. Since coke and Pepsi are made with Natural Flavor, so it is possible that alcohol detection may be due to presence of alcohol in natural products.
Cola Sold in US/Canada are different from sold in Europe
The presence of other “controversial” ingredients such as phosphoric acid or ammonia-sulfite caramel E150D food coloring were present, the latter of which is listed as carcinogenic in California. The cola companies changed their recipes after the discovery in California but have no plans of doing so for Europe(http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/06/28/223293.html).
Coke and Pepsi companies sale only concentrates to bottling companies then those bottling companies add sweeteners and water. These concentrates are slightly different from country to country compare to concentrates in USA.
Since Northland Lab did not find out the minute amount of alcohol, MCG will consider Coke and Pepsi as Halal until we analyze Coke and Pepsi on same instrument used by Paris, France based Institute of Consumption (INC).
Posted on: 07-02-12 00:00 AM
Muslim Consumer Group is educating Muslim consumers that whenever the word "Natural Flavor" attached to Vanilla food products, it means vanilla natural flavor is extracted with alcohol and water from vanilla beans. One of our sister questioned Nestle regarding their claims "No Alcohol is used in Coffee Mate's flavor" including the Coffee Mate's Liquid Vanilla Latte which is made with Natural and Artificial Flavor. Here is their response:
Dear Ms------,
Thank you for taking the time to contact Nestlé® Coffee-mate® Non-Dairy Creamer regarding the alcohol content of our product. We welcome questions and comments from loyal consumers such as yourself and appreciate this opportunity to assist you.
You are correct that natural vanilla is obtained by alcohol extraction. In fact, there are FDA standards of identity for vanilla extract. However, all of the flavors used in Coffee-mate are dry flavors so any alcohol will be removed during the drying process.
At Nestlé, we are dedicated to you and your family throughout every phase of your lives. Your feedback is valuable to us, as it helps us to improve our products and services.
We appreciate your interest in our products and hope you will visit our website often for the latest information on our products and promotions.
Sincerely,
Beverly Watson
Consumer Response Representative
Ref #:19997486
If they say no alcohol in flavor, we recommend Muslim consumers to ask to clarify whether it is originally made from liquid flavors then dried to make dry flavors. I myself exposed to this experience when I was working for Best Eaton Donut chain in Rhode Island when we are using dry flavor for vanilla donuts. The flavor supplier told me it contained dried natural vanilla flavor. This means the alcohol is evaporated during spray drying processing.
So please do not consume any Natural Vanilla flavor containing food products or where Vanilla is product name with Natural & Artificial flavor. If vanillin or artificial vanilla flavor mentioned then there is no alcohol in it.
This is the reason we assign "Not Halal" status to all Coffee Mate dry powder or liquid products.
Posted on: 06-14-12 00:00 AM
Taki Tortilla Chips are not Halal because they do not have kosher symbol on the package . They are made in Mexico. We do not know whether the flavors and extracts are obtained from Halal source or not. There is no information about presence or absence of alcohol in flavor and no information about hidden ingredients because they are not kosher certified.
Posted on: 06-13-12 00:00 AM
Thanks to sister Saba Ahmad who sent this e-mail to MCG:
Dear Saba Ahmad,
Thank you for your email regarding Skinny Cow®. We appreciate the time you have taken to pass your comments on to us.
Several of our ice cream products contain alcohol. The alcohol is used as an agent to carry the flavor. Vendors are not required to disclose the type of alcohol they use, they are only required to ensure that the alcohol is GRAS and food-grade. Also, we do not maintain a list of products and flavors that do not contain alcohol.
Thank you again for contacting us.
Sincerely,
Nicole Salvatore
Consumer Response Representative
Ref # N2559657
Posted on: 05-25-12 00:00 AM
|
From: |
Janene.Cooke@dart.biz |
|
Sent: |
Mon 5/21/12 12:16 PM |
|
To: |
halalfoods@hotmail.com |
Dear Mr. Ahmed:
Thank you for your inquiry.
Zinc stearate is used in the manufacturing process for Dart foam cups, foam dinnerware, foam hinged containers, and clear OPS containers. Zinc stearate is not used to manufacture Dart impact plastic dinnerware, cutlery, translucent cups, clear PET cups, or clear Polypropylene cups.
Zinc stearate is derived from a number of sources, including animal by-products.
For additional information, please refer to the following Position Statement on Zinc Stearate.
DART CONTAINER CORPORATION
Dear Mr. Ahmed:
We understand that you would like to have additional information regarding
the specific Dart products where zinc stearate is involved in the
manufacturing process. Those products are as follows:
Foam Cups, Containers, and Bowls
Foam Dinnerware (Quiet Classic, Concord, Black, and Honey)
Foam Hinged Lid Containers
OPS (Oriented Polystyrene) Containers:
- Showtime
- StayLock
- ClearSeal
- ClearPac
- Clear Dinnerware Lids and Covers
If you are interested in relating the above Dart product lines to specific
product numbers, you can do so via the following link:
http://www.dart.biz/web/products.nsf/pages/US.html
Please let us know if you have additional questions.
DART CONTAINER CORPORATION
Posted on: 05-23-12 00:00 AM
Kraft can not guarantee that all Halls Cough Drops free of animal derived ingredients. They are are not consider vegetarian. They no information about alcohol in flavor. This information was obtained from consumer department of Kraft who bought Cadbury brand.
Posted on: 05-09-12 00:00 AM
April 9, 2012
Dear Mr. Ahmed,
Thank you for taking the time to contact Nestlé® Nesquik® regarding whether alcohol is used in the processing of carrageenan. We welcome questions and comments from loyal consumers such as yourself and appreciate this opportunity to assist you.
The information we’ve received from our ingredient supplier indicates that although the carrageenan is halal certified, alcohol is used in its manufacture. We hope you found this information helpful.
At Nestlé, we are dedicated to you and your family throughout every phase of your lives. Your feedback is valuable to us, as it helps us to improve our products and services.
We appreciate your interest in our products and hope you will visit our website often for the latest information on our products and promotions.
Sincerely,
Beverly Watson
Consumer Response Representative
Ref #:19883882
Posted on: 05-09-12 00:00 AM
From General Mills, Ref. No. 2012/04/16-1653 ZDS
Hello Mr. Ahmed:
Thank you for contacting General Mills with your inquiry. All of our Fruit Roll Ups and Fruit by the Foot products contain alcohol as an ingredient.
We hope you find this information helpful. Please let us know if we can help you again.
Thank you,
Darcy Smart
Customer Care Specialist
Posted on: 04-26-12 00:00 AM
Submitted by Aneel Khan to MCG:
From: ConsumerRelations@cr.gatorade.com
To: sa@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: Gatorade Thirst Quencher , REF.# 027242673B
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2010 16:15:14 -0400
Gatorade Consumer:
Gatorade may contain traces amount of alcohol as a formulation aid for the flavorings. But in the processing, these trace amounts are evaporated off in the heating process.
We hope this information is helpful.
Michael
Gatorade Consumer Relations
Ref# 027242673B
Posted on: 04-08-12 00:00 AM
JAKIM is violating US “Fair Business Practices Act of 1975,” O.C.G.A. Section 10-1-390 by approving only two US Halal certification organizations out of many US Halal certifying originations which are as capable as those two approved Halal certifying organizations.
By approving only two US Halal certification organizations, JAKIM has provided an avenue to those two US Halal certifying organizations to do:
1. Conspiring to Fix Market Prices
2. Price Discrimination
3. Conspiring to Allocate Markets for US food companies
4. Monopolization
So that those two Halal certifying organizations can charge huge amount to food companies for Halal certified food products designed to go to Malaysia.
The food companies has no choice but to do the business with those two Halal certification organizations to get the Halal certificate for Malaysia at a very high fee.
This is not fair business practice while JAKIM approved 10 Halal certifying organizations in Australia so they have healthy competition in Australia but not in USA.
The Halal certifying organizations who are rejected by JAKIM are not different from those who were approved.
They are sending unprofessional auditors who has no experience in food industry, one them has degree in art to audit Halal certifying organizations in USA. It looks like they never been to a food plant in USA and they do not know what to look for Halal certification. Even they do not allow MCG to take them to a multimillion dollar US company Seneca Food's plant in Wisconsin which is under MCG Halal certification.
They are rejecting the Halal certifying organizations because they operate from home. Even there is no mention that a US Halal certifying organization must not operate from home under their rules for approving a Halal certifying organization published on their website.
JAKIM does not know that in USA a good number of companies operate from home.
Here is the statistic of businesses which operating from private homes according http://finance.mapsofworld.com/business/home-based/statistics.html website. It says according to the home based business statistics of USA, there are about 36.6 million home based businesses in the country. Newsweek magazine predicts that in the near future, almost half of the households of America will be involved in one form of home based business or other. The Home Based Business Institute is of the opinion that 70% of the home based businesses in the U.S. Last for at least a period of three years or more. This form of business generates an annual revenue of $427 billion.
The second reason was the MCG body does not have sharia and technical expertise on Halal auditing and monitoring:
These reasons have no truth to it because we have provided the names of Islamic scholars who oversea MCG, listed on our website www.muslimconsumergroup.com under Food products sub section criteria.
Our Sharia expertise are:
· Mufti Mohammed Hafeezur Rahman Khan of Chicago Muslim Sunni Society Chicago, IL (773-275-7130)
· Mufti Syed Ahmedul Quadri of Islamic Academy of Dallas, TX (972-423-2626)
· Mufti Khalil Ahmed of Jamia Nizamia, Hyderabad, India(Phone 01191-9849071327, jamianizamia@yahoo.com)
· Mufti Mohsin Muki of Chicago Muslim Sunni Society Chicago IL 773-801-9101
· But, the auditors failed to find them from our website nor they requested the names
Those auditors wrote MCG do not have Technical Experts in Halal certification.
our answer to JAKIM is that why our website www.muslimconsumergroup.com is logged in 137 countries and Malaysia is the 4th top country where 1358 visitors logged to our website at 15 different region each month, they are as follow:
Federal Territory of Kuala Lampur, Selangor, Johor, Pulai Pinang, Terengganu,Sarawak, Perak, Kedah, Melaka, Pahany, Sabah, Federal Territory of Putrajaya, Negcry, Semhila, Kelantan and Perlis.
MCG has no choice but to approach the US Justice Department to file a complaint against JAKIM for violating US Fair Business Practice Act.
Posted on: 03-18-12 00:00 AM
According to a Muslim consumer who contacted little brownie baker who made girls scout cookies with UD sign.I asked which solvent they used in their natural and artificial flavor of all cookies.He confirmed from the manufacturer and told me that it is alcohol.
Posted on: 03-02-12 00:00 AM
One of our Muslim consumer Charmaine Shah has sent this e-mail to MCG to publish on our website:
Thank you for contacting Wonk®.
Posted on: 12-17-11 00:00 AM
NUCLEOTIDES IN INFANT BABY FORMULAS ARE NOT HALAL ACCORDING TO MCG'S CRITERIA
Nucleotides are composed of nucleobase (nitrogenous base), a five-carbon sugar (either ribose or 2'- deoxyribose), and one to three phosphate groups. Nucleotide is made of three functional groups: a nucleic acid base, a sugar, and a phosphate. It is a structural building block of RNA and DNA.
Nucleotide which is also known as Adenosine 5' - Monophosphate, Cytidene 5' - Monophosphate, Disodium Guanosine 5' - Monophosphate, Disodium Uridine 5' - Monophosphate, Inosito5' - Monophosphate. These nucleotides are obtained from Turula yeast cell's RNA. Ethyl Alcohol is provided as nutrients to Turula yeast cells to multiply in millions.
MCG has asked this question to Nucleotides manufacturer company:
" Use of ethyl alcohol during the manufacturing of Nucleotide"
Here is their answer we received today:
" The answer to your question is we do use alcohol for a nutrient source for the yeast. As for in the actual powder there is very little residual. If you have any other questions please let me know."
Use of alcohol to feed the Torula yeast make the Torula yeast as not Halal based MCG's criteria for Halal. Alcohol goes inside the cells of Torula yeast for its growth.
MCG 's ulema said if any Halal thing get in contact with alcohol that Halal thing became not Halal. The manufacturer of Nucleotide also has the opportunity to use Halal sugar can to grow the Torula yeast but they preferred to use alcohol.
Based on MCG's criteria any infant baby formula containing nucleotides or Adenosine 5' - Monophosphate, Cytidene 5' - Monophosphate, Disodium Guanosine 5' - Monophosphate, Disodium Uridine 5' - Monophosphate, Inosito5' - Monophosphate is not consider Halal.
Nucleotides were not used in infant baby formulas 5 years back but due to a publication of a Harvard medical research indicating nucleotide in infant baby formulas is to help babies build a good immune, digestive system and decreased incident of diarrhea, increase the immune system of babies and prevent babies from diarrhea.
There are 21 infant baby formulas in USA which are Halal because they do not use nucleotides or Adenosine 5' - Monophosphate, Cytidene 5' - Monophosphate, Disodium Guanosine 5' - Monophosphate, Disodium Uridine 5' - Monophosphate, Inosito5' - Monophosphate.
They are available at supermarkets and Wal-Mart:
1. Parent's Choice(Wal-Mart brand) Infant Formula Added Rice Starch for 0-12 months babies
2. Meijer Baby Milk based Nutrition for baby first year Added Rice Starch Infant Formula with Iron Lipids
3. Meijer Baby Milk based Nutrition for baby first year Gentle Protein Infant Formula with iron Lipids
4. Baby Basic Milk based Formula with Iron for older infant 9-24 months Lipids DHA & ARA
5. Enfamil Pros bee Soy Infant Formula with Iron for 0-12 months babies
6. Enfamil A. R. Lipil For Spit up Infant Milk based Formula with Iron
7. Enfamil Gentlease Milk based Infant Formula with Iron
8. Similac Isomil DF Soy formula for Diarrhea
9. Similac Sensitive Isomil Soy Formula for Fussiness and Gas
9. Walgreen Soy based Infant Formula with Iron
10. Walgreen Infant Formula Gentle with Iron for Fussiness & Gas 0-12 months babies
11. Enfagrow Premium Toddler
12. Enfamil Premium Next Step Lipil for 10-36 months babies
13. Enfamil A. R. for Spit up for new born 0-12 months babies
14. Enfamil A. R. Lipil Milk based with Iron for Spit up
15. Enfamil Rest Full 0-12 months babies
16. Enfamil For Bedtime Feeds milk based Formula with Iron 0-12 months babies
17. Mom To Mom Toddler Formula
18. Mom To Mom Soy Infant Formula with Iron
19. Meijer Toddler Formula with Iron
20. Parent Choice(Wal-Mart brand) Gentle for Fussiness & Gas for 0-12 months babies
21. Parent Choice(Wal-Mart brand) Soy based Infant Formula for 0-12 months babies
The following 8 Halal baby formulas are available in Canadian supermarkets:
|
A + Infant Formula |
Baby Foods |
Enfapro |
Food Basic Supermarket |
|
|
Advance Infant Formula with Omega 3-6 |
Baby Foods |
Isomil |
Food Basic Supermarket |
|
|
Follow Up Transition Infant Formula |
Baby Foods |
Nestle |
Food Basic Supermarket |
|
|
Gentlease Infant Formula A + |
Baby Foods |
Enfamil |
Food Basic Supermarket |
|
|
Organic Infant Soy Formula |
Baby Foods |
President's Choice |
Loblaw's Supermarket |
|
|
Soy Based Infant Formula |
Baby Foods |
Isomil |
Food Basic Supermarket |
|
|
Soy Infant Formula |
Baby Foods |
President's Choice |
Real Canadian Superstore |
|
|
Soy Infant Formula 0-12 months |
Baby Foods |
President's Choice |
Real Canadian Superstore |
Posted on: 12-17-11 00:00 AM
Brother Sayed Murad has sent this information:
This isn't a question, but i wanted to say that Wonka candies are not halal. I recently called them and asked if they have alcohol in their candy. They said they do add alcohol but its not detectable in the final product. She didn't have a list of candies that did and didn'
Posted on: 12-01-11 00:00 AM
One of our Muslim consumer brother Zayd has provided this e-mail so that Muslims in USA and Canada should aware odf use of pork skin in leather shoes.
Hi Zayd,
Thank you for your interest in our footwear.
All of our shoes contain pig-leather unless it states otherwise.
Thanks for your inquiry.
Rosemarie
Columbia Sportswear
Customer Care
Posted on: 11-30-11 00:00 AM
One of our Muslim consumer has supplied this information for benefit of Muslims in USA and Canada.
Each dose of flumist contains 10 6.5-7.5 particles of live, attenuated influenza virus. That means that between 10 million and 100 million viral particles will be forcefully injected into the nostrils when administered. The viral strain was developed by serial passage through "specific pathogen-free primary chick kidney cells" and then grown in "specific pathogen-free eggs." That means that the culture media was free of pathogens that were specifically tested for, but not a culture that was necessarily "pathogen-free." Each dose of flumist contains
0.188 mg monosodium glutamate, (http://www.msgtruth.org/ ) 2.00 mg hydrolyzed porcine gelatin,( Porcine gelatin, or pork gelatin, is made from the leftover parts of a pig after slaughter, and is used in many products as a stabilizer.) 2.42 mg arginine, 13.68 mg sucrose, 2.26 mg dibasic potassium phosphate, 0.96 mg monobasic potassium phosphate (a buffering agent) that can cause "CAUSE IRRITATION TO SKIN, EYES, AND RESPIRATORY TRACT. MAY BE HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED OR INHALED." (from MSDS) , and <0.015 mcg/mL gentamicin sulfate which is an antibiotic."
Source: Internet
Posted on: 10-04-11 00:00 AM
Jamba juices are not Halal
All Jamba Juice products are not Halal. Strawberry whirl all fruit smoothies is not Halal because due to presence of Non Halal or Kosher certified apple juice. All other products are made with non Halal or Kosher certified ingredients according to the company
Posted on: 09-07-11 00:00 AM
MEAT GLUE
Meat glue is any meat such as beef or pork or chicken or fish where scrap meat is glued to gather with Transglutaminase (TG) enzyme. Trasglutaminase is enzyme made of amino acids which form cross linkage to form insoluble polymer of protein. This insoluble polymer of protein works as a glue to bind scrap meat or form a high price meat by gluing to gather low quality meat with little high quality meat but sell as a high quality meat.
The transglutaminase enzyme is obtain through alcoholic fermentation by bacteria and it is also obtained from blood plasma of pig, cow, chicken. FDA consider this enzyme as generally recognized as safe but it is banned in Europe.
It is used in beef, pork, ham. chicken. fish ball, imitation crab meat and process meat such as hot dog, sausage, bologna without casing.
The scrap meat and other meat mix to gather then enzyme is sprinkle over the meat then after thoroughly mixing it is put in a plastic roll then refrigerated. After refrigeration you cannot distinguish it with real high quality meat.
This is a food engineering but it is a immoral and unethical questions for meat suppliers by selling a not top quality meat but blending scrap meat with little high quality meat. It may cause food poisoning.
Muslims consumers who buy fresh Zabiha meat do not have to be worry about it because we can see the big portion of beef, whole lamb & goat in Halal meat shop's refrigerator. They cannot use this enzyme in chicken legs and whole chicken. Zabiha hot dog, sausage Muslim suppliers take zabiha meat to co-packer for making zabiha hot dog, bologna and sausage. The non Muslim co packer cannot touch the zabiha meat to use food engineering to use the enzyme Transglutaminase .
But those Muslim who consume non zabiha meat from supermarkets (as meat slaughtered by Ahlekitab) may expose to this problem. Meat glue is not illegal according to FDA but it is a immoral.
Posted on: 08-27-11 00:00 AM
Natural Vanilla Flavor is obtained by using alcohol and water to extract natural vanillin from vanilla beans. MCG Islamic scholars do not consider any food ingredient or food product Halal if it contaminated with alcohol by adding alcohol containing flavor to Halal ingredients in a food product or alcohol is used to extract any extracted product either use as natural vanilla flavor or any extract from any source.
Posted on: 08-27-11 00:00 AM
Problem with FD&C Yellow Number 5, FD&C Red number 40 and other FD&C colors in Non Food Products
Red 40 & Yellow 5 are chemical dyes and they are Halal if used as powder or granular forms but if they have to use in liquid form then vegetable oil or glycerin is added as a solvent. Glycerin can be made from pork or beef or vegetable fat. Only vegetable fat based glycerin is Halal.
A Halal or kosher symbol such as U or K on any food package containing red 40 or yellow 5 indicates that either Red 40 or Yellow 5 is used either as a dry powder or if it is used as in liquid form in the product then vegetable oil or vegetable fat based glycerin was used as a solvent.
FD&C artificial colors are used in many on the counter medicine and skin care products but these products do not have Halal or kosher symbol on the package. The problems comes when consumer department of these products do not state that they are not made with animal derived ingredients.
As mentioned above that if non food products are made with dry ingredients such as tablets or caplets then the FD&C colors has to be used in dry powder or granular form then FD&C colors are Halal in tablets or caplets but if they use with liquid ingredients such as water, High Fructose Corn Syrup such as in cough drops or liquid cough medicine then they have to make the FD&C colors in liquid forms otherwise they will form lump. If vegetable oil is used as a solvent or hidden ingredient for FD&C colors then it is Halal but if glycerin is used then it could be from pork fat or beef fat or soy fat. Vegetable oil or glycerin is the hidden ingredient of the FD&C liquid colors. Since there is no Halal or kosher symbol on the package, everything depend upon the answers from consumer department of the company. Many 800 numbers operators do not know that the liquid FD&C colors contain hidden ingredient. Some time without checking they give wrong answer such as there is no vegetable oil or glycerin in the products. So Muslim consumers has to educate these 800 number operators or consumer affairs department.
Kraft Foods USA recently bought the Cadbury Adam company both in USA and Canada which sells Halls cough drops. The old Cadbury Adam was telling the consumers with reference number 001238038A dated 01/2010 that there is no animal derived ingredients used in Halls cough drops. Now Kraft Foods in USA is not claiming that Halls drops are free from animal derived ingredients. Either they do not have the knowledge or may change the source of FD&C colors in Halls cough drops. MCG has written a request to find out the answer but so far they did not answer. So Halls Cough Drops in USA are now Mushbooh. Vicks' Menthol Cough Drops do not use any animal derived ingredients and do not contain alcohol. This cough drops can be used instead of Halls Cough Drops.
In Canada Kraft Foods told MCG that if Halls Cough Drops are made with FD&C Yellow Number 5 and FD&C Yellow Number 6 colors then there is no animal derived ingredients are used that means either they use vegetable oil or Soy fat based glycerin as hidden ingredients in liquid FD&C Yellow Numbers 5 and liquid FD&C Yellow Number 6 colors.
But if Halls Cough Drops in Canada are made with FD&C Blue Number 2 and FD&C Red Number 40 colors then they used animal derived hidden ingredient in liquid FD&C Blue Number 2 and liquid FD&C Red Number 40 colors which has to be either from pork fat based glycerin or beef fat based glycerin as a hidden ingredients in FD&C colors.
MCG request Muslim consumers to be careful about hidden ingredients in liquid FD&C colors in Non Food Products.
Posted on: 06-20-11 00:00 AM
GREAT VALUE LIQUID JUICES ARE MADE WITH ALCOHOL CONTAINING FLAVORS
Wal-Mart has informed MCG that those Great Value liquid juices which are made with natural flavors or artificial flavors do contain alcohol as a solvent in flavors. Alcohol in natural or artificial flavors is a hidden ingredient and will not appears on the ingredients list.
Posted on: 03-17-11 00:00 AM
IS ALCOHOL FREE BEER OR WINE HALAL TO CONSUME, THE ANSWER IS NO
All alcohol free beer, wine, champion are not made from scratch but they are all made from real beer, wine and champion. In Islamic fiqah such as tabdeele Mahiya does not applied to alcohol free beer and wine because Tabdeele Mahiya has specific requirements to apply to Haram product to become Halal such as converting alcohol a Haram ingredient to vinegar a Halal ingredient.
In the case of alcohol free beer or wine no such thing happened, there is no chemical reaction, there is no name change which are few requirements of Tabdeele Mahiya. Production of alcohol free beer or wine is 100% based on physical action i.e. removing only alcohol from beer or wine without touching any other components of beer or wine. In USA, FDA requirements of alcohol free beer or wine must contains not more than 0.5% alcohol by volume or Dealcoholised: over 0.05% but less than 0.5% ABV(Alcohol By Volume). So all alcohol free beer from USA in Muslim countries contains a maximum of 0.5% Alcohol by ABV. This 0.5% is the result of alcoholic fermentation of sugars by yeast the principle used in making alcoholic beverages. This alcohol is the part of alcohol present in real beer and wine. Intoxicants were defined by our Prophet Sayyidina Mohammed Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallum when he said in the authentic hadith that was reported by Abu Da’wwod and Al Tirmithi: whatever a lot of it intoxicates a person, little of it is forbidden. In the above hadith there is no mention of amount or number of serving of getting intoxicated by consuming little amount of intoxicant in a product which contains little amount of intoxicant. So consuming number of cans of alcohol free beer is irreverent. The basic point is the large or little amount of intoxicant is Haram and alcohol is a intoxicant.
Alcohol content in Alcohol free beer or wine disqualify to consume based on the above hadith. There is no way any company in USA or anywhere can eliminate completely 100% alcohol from a beer or wine used by vacuum processing or using micro filter system to remove alcohol from beer or wine as they currently used in alcohol free beer or wine industry. What about rest of component of beer or wine. It remains as is, nothing happened to them. Alcohol free beer has the same volatile compounds as in original beer or wine. The purpose of alcohol free beer or wine is to maintain similar characteristic including taste, smell as in real beer or wine. All components of intoxicant are Haram because they are not present in original grape for grape wine or original cereals for beer made from cereals. All the components of beer or wine are the by-product of alcoholic fermentation of sugar content of grape or cereal by yeast.
So it is in the opinion of MCG that alcohol free beer or wine is not Halal to consume by Muslim.
Posted on: 02-21-11 00:00 AM
WAL-MART'S GREAT VALUE BREAD PRODUCTS ARE NOT HALAL
The following Wal-Mart's Great Value bread products are not Halal because the dough conditioners are made with animal fat including pork fat or vegetable fat. Wal-Mart cannot guarantee that it is pork fat free. This information is good for all Wal-Mart stores throughout USA. Wal-Mart do not specify their suppliers not to use pork fat based dough conditioners.
1. Great Value White Split Top Bread
2. Great Value White Round Top Bread
3. Great Value Wheat Sandwich Bread
4. Great Value 100% Whole Wheat Bread
5. Great Value 8 Hamburger Buns
6. Great Value 8 Hot Dog Buns
Posted on: 02-08-11 00:00 AM
SOFT GEL GAS-X AND GAS-X THIN STRIP ARE NOT HALAL
Soft Gel Gas-X Ultra Strength is not Halal because it contains gelatin. Gas-X Thin Strip Extra Strength is not Halal because ethyl alcohol is listed as an ingredient.
Posted on: 02-08-11 00:00 AM
TIM HORTON DONUTS, BAGELS AND OTHER BAKERY PRODUCTS ARE NOT HALAL BECAUSE OF CROSS CONTAMINATION
We have research extensively with Tim Horton consumer department, Nutrition/ Regulatory department and thoroughly researched the ingredients of Donuts, Bagels and other bakery products and found many products are kosher certified and meet Halal requirements. But Tim Horton Company cannot guarantee about the Halal and kosher status of their products. They said that the products with kosher status loosed its status when they prepared at store which uses pork and other meat. Donuts and all bakery products came to stores as frozen then they baked on the sheet in the oven.
Posted on: 01-22-11 00:00 AM
CREST TOOTHPASTES WITH SCOPE ARE NOT HALAL
Although there is no animal derived ingredients are used in all Crest toothpastes(this change was happened January 2009, now all old toothpastes are out from shelf) but Scope with 4% alcohol is added to those toothpastes with Scope names.
The following toothpastes containing Scope are not Halal:
1. Crest Extra White Plus Scope Outlast
2. Crest Plus Scope & Extra Whitening Toothpaste - Mint Splash
3. Crest Plus Scope Liquid Gel Toothpaste - Minty Fresh
4. Crest Plus Scope Liquid Gel Toothpaste - Peppermint
5. Crest Whitening Plus Scope Striped Toothpaste - Cool Peppermint
6. Crest Whitening Plus Scope Striped Toothpaste - Minty Fresh Striped
Posted on: 01-15-11 00:00 AM
Vanilla Bean Specks
Vanilla bean specks are made mostly from vanilla bean seeds which are obtained after alcohol extraction 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 seeds to get vanilla flavor and it is contaminated the Halal vanilla bean seeds.
Posted on: 01-14-11 00:00 AM
BAKERY PRODUCTS AT CORNER BAKERY CAFE ARE NOT HALAL
Bakery products at Corner Bakery Cafe are not Halal because the ingredients are not kosher certified according to the company.
Posted on: 01-06-11 00:00 AM
EQUATE ATHLETE FOOT SPRAY CLOTIMAZOL IS MADE WITH PORK FAT
Equate a Wal-Mart brand Athlete Foot Spray Clotimazol is made with pork fat according to the company.
Posted on: 01-04-11 00:00 AM
WHY YOPLAIT YOGURTS ARE NOT HALAL
Yoplait yogurts are manufactured by General Mills. Following classes of yogurts are made under Yoplait brand:
Original, Light, Whips, Delights, YoPlus, Fiber One, Greek, Large Size
Smoothies, Spiltz, Go-Gurt, Simply GoGurt, Trix, Kids
Some yogurts are made with Kosher gelatin. Kosher gelatin is not consider Halal because it is made from pork or non zabiha beef.
Although there is KD Kosher symbol on the package, KD symbol do not belong to one kosher certifying organization but any kosher organization can use the kosher symbol KD. By their religious requirements, Orthodox kosher certified food product cannot be made with meat and dairy ingredients. Since KD is a general kosher symbol, it is also used by some liberal kosher organizations. They can use kosher symbol KD on any product in which meat and dairy ingredients are used. This position is not accepted by orthodox kosher organizations who certification is used by many Muslims including MCG if they meet the Halal requirements. Even not every orthodox kosher certified food products are considered Halal unless they meet the Halal requirements and should not contain the following 16 ingredients:
1) Gelatin (2) Kosher Gelatin (3) L-Cysteine made from human hair or chicken or duck feathers (4) Wine (5) Liquor (6) Beer batter (7) Rum flavor (8) Ethyl Alcohol or ethanol as a main ingredient appears on the ingredient list such in McDonald's buns in Canada(9) Cochineal or Carmine, a red color from insects (10) Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce with wheat & soy as ingredients(11) Brewer’s Yeast Extract or Brewer's Autolyzed Yeast or yeast extract made from brewer’s yeast, a byproduct of beer making used only in cheese and cheese crackers (12) 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 (13) Vanilla Extract (14) Wine Vinegar (15) Ethyl alcohol is used as a solvent in natural and artificial flavors (16) Confectionary Glaze or Resinous Glaze made Shellac which is dissolve in alcohol and then alcohol is evaporated.
Some Yoplait yogurts do not contain kosher gelatin but they are made on the same line where yogurts with kosher gelatin are made, using same equipments. So there is possibility of cross contamination with yogurt containing kosher gelatin. The left over or rejected good yogurt containing kosher gelatin are added in a very small amount as a processing aid or hidden ingredients in yogurts which are not made with kosher gelatin.
This is the reason all Yoplait Yogurts are not consider Halal.
Please buy only plain low fat or non fat yogurts which carry orthodox kosher symbol such as OUD, Circle K, Kuf K, V, CRC.
The natural flavor in majority of yogurts are made with alcohol as a solvent. So fruit flavored Halal yogurts can be made at home by adding Halal jams or Halal jellies to low fat or non fat plain yogurts with orthodox kosher symbol.
Posted on: 01-02-11 00:00 AM
PORK AND BEEF FAT DERIVED INGREDIENTS ARE USED IN OLAY AND OIL OF OLAY SKIN CARE PRODUCTS
Proctor & Gamble has informed MCG that pork fat and beef fat derived ingredients are used in Olay and Oil of Olay skin care products. MCG advices Muslim sisters not to use these two brands.
Posted on: 12-30-10 00:00 AM
PORK FAT IS USED IN SOME AVON MAKEUP PRODUCTS
According to AVON Company(1-800-445-2866/1-800-265-2866) pork fat is used in some AVON makeup products. Please contact the AVON company for detail. Please avoid all AVON makeup products as a precaution.
Posted on: 12-30-10 00:00 AM
PORK FAT IS USED IN SOME NEUTRAGENA MAKEUP PRODUCTS
Pork Fat is used in some Netragena makeup products and there are some kosher certified makeup products are available. Please contact Ms. Alura at 1-800-582-4048 for detail. Please avoid Nutragena makeup products as precaution.
Posted on: 12-30-10 00:00 AM
COVER GIRL MAKEUP ARE NOT HALAL BECAUSE THEY ARE MADE WITH PORK FAT OR BEEF FAT OR VEGETABLE FAT
Procter & Gamble has informed MCG that they cannot guarantee that their makeup products are free from pork fat because they buy raw material whatever available at the time of year. So Cover Girl makeup products are made with pork fat or beef fat or vegetable fat.
Posted on: 12-23-10 00:00 AM
GOLD BOND HAND SANITIZER IS MUSHBOOH
Dear Mr. Ahmed,
Thank you for contacting Chattem, Inc. regarding our product Gold Bond Hand Sanitizer. I’m sorry for the delay in getting you your answer regarding animal by products in the product. However, we cannot confirm one way or the other, if there are animal by products in the Gold Bond Hand Sanitizer. I do apologize for the inconvenience. There are several raw materials that can be vegetable, animal or synthetically derived, so, we can't be sure at this time. Again, I do apologize.
Sincerely,
Susan Shell
Consumer Affairs Representative
Posted on: 12-21-10 00:00 AM
MONSTER ENERGY DRINKS ARE NOT HALAL
Monster Energy Beverage Company's products are not Halal because they are not Halal or Kosher certified. The knowledge hidden ingredients are also not known. The source of nutritional ingredients are also not known.
Posted on: 12-11-10 00:00 AM
ALCOHOL IS USED IN ALL MURRAY'S SUGAR FREE COOKIES EXCEPT SUGAR FREE PECAN SHORTBREAD COOKIES
Kellogg's has informed MCG that they use alcohol as a solvent in flavors of all Murray's sugar free cookies except sugar free pecan shortbread which is not made with any flavor.
Posted on: 12-10-10 00:00 AM
WHIPPED LIGHTNING IS HARAM
Maple Grove Products Atlanta, Georgia is selling Alcohol infused Whipped Cream under Whipped Lightning as a product name. They said the Whipahol is a specialty distilled spirits made with grain neutral spirits, cream, natural & artificial flavors and natural and artificial colored. It has more alcohol than a beer according to MSNBC.
Muslims should not be confused with regular whipped Cream, it is selling for $10 per canister.
Posted on: 12-04-10 00:00 AM
The Halal status of Turmeric Extract is Mushbooh because if Acetone a Halal chemical solvent is used for extracting the Turmeric Extarct then it is Halal but if alcohol is used in then the Turmeric Extract is Not Halal. MCG has contacted a major spice extract company for the information. They said they use only Acetone as a solvent for extraction but there are many suppliers over here in USA and in India. Many food manufacturer used different suppliers for Turmeric Extract for different plants in USA based on geographical location, so in one plant they use a supplier which use Acetone but other may use Alcohol.
MCG has received the following e-mail from a very big food company:
"We source turmeric extract from a variety of suppliers. Although we have strict food safety policies in place for ingredient sourcing, specific requirements for chemical and physical characteristics of the extraction of turmeric from the plant are not specified. Therefore, it is possible that an alcohol solvent is used during the processing of this ingredient."
Posted on: 11-14-10 00:00 AM
Johnson & Johnson Baby Company has informed MCG that the Johnson & Johnson Regular Baby Lotion with fragrance contains pork according to Reference Number 010112330B.
1. Regular Johnson & Johnson Baby Lotion contains pork.
Posted on: 11-08-10 00:00 AM
Few Islamic Scholars without scientific knowledge are promoting synthetic alcohol as Halal. They use synthetic alcohol terminology to describe alcohol obtained from other than grape, dates and barley such as soybean.
But in scientific world it has a different meaning, synthetic alcohol is obtained through gasification of heavy hydrocarbon in USA where as few Islamic Scholars gave name synthetic alcohol to the alcohol obtained from a bio source such as soybean.
Synthetic alcohol or synthetic ethanol is not different in intoxication quality, chemical formula, physiochemical characteristics. Synthetic alcohol is chemically, physically same and identical to ethanol obtained through bio sources such as grape, barley, corn, soybean. Bio ethanol is made through fermentation of sugars from their carbohydrates and distillation. Synthetic alcohol is made through thermo-chemical process.
It is not right to provide Halal status to a synthetic alcohol because alcohol from any source has the same intoxication quality.
There are other alcohol such as Cetyl alcohol used in skin care product. Cetyl alcohol is not a ethyl alcohol or ethanol but it is a fatty wax obtained from either animal fat or vegetable fat. Only vegetable fat based cetyl alcohol is Halal. Cetyl alcohol does not cause intoxication.
According to famous Hadith "Anything which intoxicate is Khamr and Khamr is Haram.
Synthetic alcohol or according few Islamic scholar's synthetic alcohol which is obtained other than grape or date is Haram and should be avoided. Muslim should be careful of those few Islamic Scholars who promote use of synthetic alcohol as Halal without scientific knowledge. Majority of Islamic scholars do not agree with those few Islamic scholars from few countries. MCG has published a fatwa on our ALERT section from Jamia Nizamia of Hyderabad Deccan in India that alcohol from any source is Haram.
Posted on: 10-29-10 00:00 AM
HOW TO PHRASE YOUR QUESTION ABOUT ALCOHOL IN FLAVOR OF A FOOD PRODUCT
The question about alcohol in flavor is a tricky one because it is a hidden ingredient of the flavor. If you ask alcohol question to non technical consumer department person of a food company, first they look at the ingredients list of the food product and will find no alcohol is mentioned. Then they will say we do not use alcohol in our products because they do not know the alcohol is a hidden ingredient of the flavor.
We request Muslim consumers to use the following phrase when asking or writing the question to consumer department of any food company regarding the presence or absence of alcohol in the flavor of a food product.
" is alcohol used as a solvent in flavor; alcohol is a hidden ingredient or processing aid ingredient of a flavor, it will not appear in the ingredients statement. The knowledge of presence or absence of alcohol in flavor is only known to your QA or Technical service department because they have access to the specification of flavors. In the specification of flavor, your flavor supplier has written the name of solvent or carrier used in that particular flavor. So please request your QA or Technical service department to find out whether alcohol was used or not in the flavor as a solvent. The consumer department can not answer this question because they do not have access to specification of ingredients".
Posted on: 10-29-10 00:00 AM
MCG did not receive any e-mail or phone call from the company on the technical information required to know the Halal status of their cheese since February 2010. So MCG has decided that the Little Caesar Cheese Pizza is not Halal.
Posted on: 10-29-10 00:00 AM
International Dairy Queen Inc. has informed MCG that all their products sold at every Dairy Queen location are not Halal or kosher certified. Without Halal or Kosher certification Muslims are not protected against adding Haram Hidden or Processing Aid ingredients and also source of ingredients will not remain same or it will be from Haram sources.
Posted on: 10-29-10 00:00 AM
According to Colgate company the following toothpaste are made with animal derived ingredients and they are not Halal:
1. COLGATE WISP
2. COLGATE MAX FRESH WITH MOUTHWASH BEADS
Posted on: 10-29-10 00:00 AM
Not all Kosher Certified food products are Halal because they do not meet the Islamic dietary requirements.
The Kosher Certified food products are not considered Halal if they contain the following ingredients:
(1) Gelatin (2) Kosher Gelatin (3) L-Cysteine made from human hair or chicken or duck feathers (4) Wine (5) Liquor (6) Beer batter (7) Rum flavor (8) Ethyl Alcohol or ethanol as a main ingredient appears on the ingredient list such in McDonald's buns in Canada(9) Cochineal or Carmine, a red color from insects (10) Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce (11) Brewer’s Yeast Extract or Brewer's Autolyzed Yeast or yeast extract made from brewer’s yeast, a byproduct of beer making used only in cheese and cheese crackers[ but in all other products Yeast Extract or autolyzed yeast is made from baker’s yeast a Halal source] (12) 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 (13) Vanilla Extract (14) Wine Vinegar (15) Ethyl alcohol is used as a solvent in natural and artificial flavors (16) Confectionary Glaze or Resinous Glaze made Shellac which is dissolve in alcohol and then alcohol is evaporated (17) Torula Yeast grown on alcohol.
Posted on: 09-01-10 00:00 AM
MACHINE SLAUGHTERED KOCH FOOD'S HALAL CERTIFIED CHICKEN PRODUCTS AT RESTAUARNT DEPOT
Koch Foods has informed MCG that their Halal certified chicken products available in Restauarant Depot are machine slaughtered
Posted on: 08-30-10 00:00 AM
GRAPE SKIN EXTRACT, GARPE SEED EXTRACT, JAPANESE KNOTWEED EXTRACT ARE NOT HALAL IF ALCOHOL IS USED AS EXTRACTING SOLVENT
Resveratrol from red wine is used in grape skin extract and grape seed extract, Resveratrol is not Halal because it comes from red wine. Ethanol and water is also used in grape skin extract which is not Halal. Resveratol and ethanol based solvents are used in Japanese knotwood extarct.
Posted on: 08-28-10 00:00 AM
ALCOHOL CONTAINING FLAVOR IS USED IN GATORADE
Gatorade Company has send this e-mail to one of our Muslim consumer.
Gatorade Consumer:
Gatorade may contain traces amount of alcohol as a formulation aid for the flavorings. But in the processing, these trace amounts are evaporated off in the heating process.
We hope this information is helpful.
Michael
Gatorade Consumer Relations
Ref# 027242673B
Posted on: 08-27-10 00:00 AM
Canadian cattle enjoy red wine with their feed
By JEREMY HAINSWORTH
Associate Press
updated 8/27/2010 9:45:48 AM ET
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Western Canadian beef producers have found a novel way of putting the "bar" in barbecue.
Angus cattle in British Columbia's Okanagan wine and cattle region are being fed red wine with their grain. Chefs in this Canadian Pacific Coast province said it makes for a unique beef taste, but Canadian food inspectors appear to have doubts.
Posted on: 08-27-10 00:00 AM
TORULA YEAST IS MUSHBOOH
Torula yeast can be grown on alcohol and sugar cane. Last year we provided Halal status to it based on information from Torula yeast industry that Torula yeast is now grown on sugar cane but this information found not be correct because the e-mail today from a Nucleotide manufacturer indicate they still use alcohol as a media to grow Torula Yeast.
Now we have to contact the manufacturer of food products containing Torula Yeast whether Torula Yeast was grown on alcohol or sugar cane. If it was grown on sugar cane then we can consume that food product make sure other ingredients are Halal.
Posted on: 08-19-10 00:00 AM
ALCOHOL IS USED IN NUCLEOTIDE PRODUCTION AND NUCLEOTIDE IS USED IN INFANT FORMULAS
MCG has contacted same company after few years about use of alcohol in manufacturing of Nucleotide.
MCG has asked this question to company:
" Use of ethyl alcohol during the manufacturing of Nucleotide"
Here is their answer we received today:
" The answer to your question is we do use alcohol for a nutrient source for the yeast. As for in the actual powder there is very little residual. If you have any other questions please let me know."
MCG cannot published the whole e-mail because they requested us not do so legally.
But they changed the source of yeast from Brower yeast to Torula yeast.
Only Brewer and Torula yeast can grow on alcohol not Baker yeast. The company used alcohol as media to grow Torula yeast. Then from millions of Torula yeast cells, they obtained Nucleotide.
Torula yeast also grown on sugar cane.
The nucleotide from this company is used in Similac, Enfamil, Nestle and Gerber infant formula.
The nucleotide from this company is Halal certified by a USA based Halal certifying organization even with alcohol is used in its production.
MCG will not recommend Muslim to feed their new born babies infant formulas containing Nucleotide in which alcohol is used in its production. Beside there are 7 different milk based brands (not soy based) Halal infant formulas are available in supermarkets coast to coast without Nucleotide. Why not feed the Muslim babies with Halal milk based infant formula without Nucleotide.
Based on our ulema’s recommendation MCG never Halal certify any food product or ingredient if alcohol is used in their production.
Posted on: 08-19-10 00:00 AM
ADENOSINE 5' MONO PHOSPHATE IS NUCLEOTIDE
Adenosine 5' Mono Phosphate is the chemical name of Nucleotide. It is used in Enfamil's Premium Infant baby formula. There is no mention of Nucleotide. Please be aware of it. This formula is not Halal.
Posted on: 08-18-10 00:00 AM
FACTS ABOUT NON ALCOHOLIC WINE OR BEER
This information is provided for Muslims all over the world so that they understand how a non alcoholic wine or beer is made and available throughout the world including in Muslim countries. The following are the facts about alcohol free wine, beer, its manufacture methods and its possible impact on Islamic Sharia(I am not a Alim but I will provide information so that the Muftiyans can make their own fatwas).
1. Fact number one, Alcohol free wine or beer is made from real wine or beer. Wines from grape, date, honey, wheat is Khamr and Khamr is Haram according to several ahadith.
2. Questions for Muftiyans, do they think that every component of wine also Haram including water in wine even wine made from grape.
The composition of wine is:
Water 80-85%, Alcohol 10-20%, Acids 0.4 - 1%, Sugar 0.1%(because all sugar in grape is used to produce alcohol), Mineral Salts 0.2 to 0.4%, Coloring substances 0.01 to 0.5%,
Aromatic substances 0.01 to 0.1%, Sulphites 10 to 200 Part Millions
3. Manufacturing processes used in manufacture of alcohol free wine or beer:
a. Alcohol free wine beverages is produced by using US patented process(4775538) where table wine is combined with demineralized water and poured into a centrifugal evaporator where alcohol is spin off to produce a alcohol free wine base. Then grape juice concentrate is added to alcohol free wine base to make alcohol free wine.
b. Vacuum Distillation where real wine or real beer is exposed to vacuum. Where due to change in atmospheric pressure with low heat or no heat the alcohol is distilled off.
c. Reverse Osmosis, a procedure used to clean impurities from drinking water. Most American homes has this unit under their kitchen sinks. The reverse Osmosis has filters with very minutes pores Through these pores filters only alcohol and water with volatile acids in wine or in beer is filtered out of wine or beer without heat. Then those volatile acid and water is put back to a mixture of syrupy mixture of sugar, flavor compounds on the other side of filter after distilling out the alcohol from alcohol and water acid mixture. This is also called dealcoholized wine or beer.
d. Non alcoholic sparkling wine or beer is made with a secondary fermentation to produce a non alcoholic sparkling wine or beer with less than 0.5% alcohol. Then carbon dioxide is forced to make a carbonated non alcoholic beer.
4. Another fact is that all the experts in this industry said that it is very difficult and very expensive to eliminate all alcohol from wine or beer. This is the reason Non Alcoholic beverages still contain some original alcohol from wine or beer. This leads to a US Federal Law about Non Alcoholic wine or beer which states that Non Alcoholic wine or beer can contain up to 0.5% "original alcohol of wine or beer by volume."
If you consider above breakdown of grape wine, the non alcoholic grape wine contains 5% to 10% original amount of wine in the Non Alcoholic grape wine based on 10% to 20% alcohol content in grape wine and if the Non Alcoholic grape wine contains maximum 0.5% original alcohol of wine or beer by volume according to US federal law.
So based on this calculation a Muslim who decides to consume Non Alcoholic grape wine is consuming 5% to 10% of original grape wine in Non Alcoholic grape wine.
5. Another fact is that many producers of Non Alcoholic wine and beer want to keep the same original flavors compounds in Non Alcoholic wine or beer because to match original flavor and taste of wine or beer. Sometimes they add 2-2.5% residual sugar content to match a completely dry alcoholic wine. Some companies advertized that their Non Alcoholic wine or beer contains same original abundant flavors of original wine and beer.
It was reported in research that It takes about 10 nonalcoholic malt beverages to equal the alcohol in one American-style lager.
MCG thinks every component of prohibited wine or Khamr is also Haram same as every part of pig is Haram. But some Muftiyans may have different opinion.
The purpose of this scientific information is to provide facts about Non Alcoholic wine or beer to every Muslims so that they can make decision to consume or not to consume Non Alcoholic wine or beer. But Muslim
Consumer Group consider Non Alcoholic wine or beer as Haram beverage and recommend Muslims not to consume them.
This article is based on some available scientific literature and Allah knows better.
Posted on: 08-04-10 00:00 AM
PORK GELATIN IN NATURE MADE FISH OIL 1200 MG LIQUID SOFT GEL
Our brother has sent an e-mail to MCG from Genesis McClendon which states that the Nature Made Fish Oil 1200 mg Liquid Soft gel is made with pork gelatin and free of beef gelatin.(reference number #353315).
It is not necessary that Nature Made products are Halal but the above fish oil is a Haram fish oil. Fish Oil are not Halal unless they Halal or kosher certified.
Posted on: 06-27-10 00:00 AM
DEEP FOOD’S FROZEN INDIAN PRODUCTS ARE NOT HALAL
Ms Savita, Manager Customer Service has informed MCG on the phone that their frozen Indian food products are not Halal because there is no indication on the package that they are Halal. Any Muslim consumer can confirm her statement by calling her at 908-810-7500.
Posted on: 06-17-10 00:00 AM
SIMILAC GO AND GROW MILK BASED FORMULA IS NOT HALAL ANYMORE
Nucleotide was not present in Similac Go & Grow milk based formula for infant in December 2009 when it was reported in Halal in Halal food book 2009 but sometime in 2010 they added Nucleotide to Go & Grow milk based infant formula. Presence of nucleotide in Similac's Go & Grow infant formula was brought to us by a Muslim consumer.
Nucleotide is made of three functional groups: a nucleic acid base, a sugar, and a phosphate. It is a structural building block of RNA and DNA.
In foods, it is obtained from brewer yeast cells which grow on alcohol. Anything which grows on ethyl alcohol a intoxicant("every intoxicant is khamer and every khamer is Haram whether consume in small or large quantity" according ahadith) is not consider Halal according to MCG criteria.
Posted on: 06-04-10 00:00 AM
PLEASE DO NOT BRING LAXMI BRAND PRODUCTS TO YOUR HOMES
All Laxmi brand products has Hindu belief deity Laxmi picture and they are available in all Muslim owned Indo/Pak Desi grocery stores in USA and Canada. We should avoid bringing homes these products because we perform Namaz(Salat), read Quran, read Zikar and Darood, fast during Ramadan in our homes. The company has to change its logo. The Muslim owners of grocery stores has buying power and they can demand to change it. There are other Hindu owned brands which do not have any their religious symbol on their products.
So MCG is requesting Muslims to stop buying Laxmi brand products until they remove the picture of deity Laxmi’s picture from their products.
Posted on: 04-16-10 00:00 AM
ALCOHOL IN THE FLAVOR OF 7 UP & OTHER PRODUCTS 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 made the following products:
All 7 UP, Dr. Pepper, A & W, Canada Dry, Clamato, Country Time, Crush, Diet Rite, Hawaiian Punch, Schweppes, Snapple, Squirt.
Posted on: 03-23-10 00:00 AM
Wrigley's following gums are Not Halal Products
The following products are made with animal derived ingredients:
Extra Polar Ice Stick
Juicy Fruit Pellet
Extra Polar Ice
Orbit Crystal Mint
Juicy Fruit Grapemelon
Juicy Fruit Strappleberry
Altoid Mints
All Life Savers Gummies
CreamSaver
LifeSaver Fusions
LifeSaver
Posted on: 03-15-10 00:00 AM
PORK IN ALL MAJOR BRANDS OF MULTIVITAMINS TABLETS
MCG has found out that the following major brands of Multivitamins tablets or caplets on counter are made with pork derived gelatin or other ingredients:
1. CENTRUM: ALL MULTIVITAMINS TABLETS CONTAIN GELATIN MADE FROM PORK AND POULTRY.
2. ONE A DAY: ALL MULTIVITAMINS TABLETS CONTAIN GELATIN MADE FROM PORK AND BEEF.
3. NATURE’S MADE: ALL MULTIVITAMINS TABLETS CONTAIN GELATIN MADE FROM PORK AND FISH.
4. VITA FUSION: ALL MULTIVITAMINS TABLETS CONTAIN GELATIN MADE FROM PORK.
5. CITRACAL: CALCIUM TABLETS CONTAIN MINUTE AMOUT OF PORK GELATIN AND IT IS NOT SUITABLE FOR VEGETARIN.
6. FISH OIL: NATURE MADE AND ALL BRANDS CONTAIN CONTAIN PORK GELATIN.
Posted on: 03-11-10 00:00 AM
DART CUPS AT WAL- MART STORES ALL OVER USA ARE NOT HALAL
Dart Company of Michigan makes styrofoam cups by using animal fat at the molding. These Dart Strofoam cups are sold by Wal-Mart in every state. It is not a Halal styrofaom cup according MCG criteria. Please avoid buying Dart cups.
Posted on: 03-07-10 00:00 AM
In Chicago area ethnic stores some DANA brand Labna Yogurts from Ziyad Brothers contain Kosher Gelatin and they are not Halal based on MCG Halal Criteria
The following yogurts donot have OUD Kosher symbol and contain Kosher Gelatin:
1. Mint 16 oz Dana Labna A0082A Plastic Cups
2. Hot & Spicy Dana Labna A0082C Plastic Cups
The above two has liberal kosher symbol but they are not Halal based on MCG Halal criteria because they contain kosher Gelatin which is made from pork or non zabiha beef.
The only New Improved Taste All Natural 16 oz Dana Labna A0082 plastic cup has OUD Kosher symbol and it is a Halal Labna yogurt.
Posted on: 02-05-10 00:00 AM
CHUCK E. CHEESE'S CHEESE IS NOT HALAL
MS Haley Beaty ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ''> hbeaty@cecentertainment.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) of Chuck E. Cheese has provided the following information to MCG about Cheese and Dough used in their cheese pizza through a E-Mail::
1.Is starter cultuer bacteria is from milk source or animal source. That information is not currently available.
2. Is media upon these bacteria grow kosher certified or conatins whey and lactose, brewer yeast extract. No, it’s not kosher certified.
3.Is whey protein concentrate is kosher certified. Is whey protein concentrate is made with animal rennet? or whey proetin concentrate is made by your cheese supplier from Mozarella cheese making? No, the whey protein concentrate is not kosher certified.
4. Is Flavors used in cheese kosher certified or does it obtained from animal based sources. No, it’s not kosher certified.
5. Is alcohol is used as solvent or carrier in flavors. Our flavors do contain alcohol.
PIZZA Dough:
Is inactive yeast in pizza dough means yeast extract or autolyzed yeast?. That information is not currently available.
From above Chuck E. Cheese's Cheese do not meet the MCG's Halal requirements for cheese, so it is not consider as Halal according to MCG criteria.
Dough is considered as MUSHBOOH because of lack of information about INACTIVE YEAST.
The Chuck E. Cheese's pizza sauce is considered as Halal because it is made with all Halal ingredients.
Posted on: 01-15-10 00:00 AM
FLINTSTONE CHEWABLE VITAMINS WITH IRON CONTAIN PORK FAT
Bayers has informed MCG that pork fat along with beef fat was used in gelatin a ingredient of Flintstone Chewable vitamins with iron. Muslims should not used all Flintstone Chewable Vitamins.
Posted on: 01-14-10 00:00 AM
DART’S FOAM PRODUCTS ARE NOT HALAL ACCORDING MCG’S CRITERIA
Dart’s foam products are not Halal according to following reasons:
1. Dart Container Corporation is refused to provide guarantee that Zink Stearate applied at the molding is free from pork fat.
2. Dart Container Corporation has provided an e-mail indicating cross contamination of beef tallow with pork fat at their supplier plant.
3. Dart Container Corporation has provided a letter title " Position statement on Zinc Stearate on their Polystyrene Products" which clearly indicate that they use of animal fat or tallow and do not provide any guarantee from cross contamination of pork fat.
Here are the letter and e-mails:
Position of Zink Stearate
Dear Mr Ahmed:
We have been in communication with our
supplier of zinc stearate, and he assures us
that in their manufacture of this additive they
specify that their source of stearic acid, from
which they make zinc stearate, must have
a ’tallow’ basis and not a ’lard’ basis, which
means that it is obtained from cattle and
sheep, and not from pigs. They did give us the
caveat that the original company who renders
the fat may not have used meticulous
procedures in place for cleaning a vessel or
process piping when converting from lard raw
material to tallow, so that there exists a slight
possibility of some minor contamination of the
product in changing from one source to
another. We hope this helps.
Again, thank you for your support of our
products.
Sincerely,
Don Anderson
Analsis:
Dart Container Corporation suppliers has a
problem of sepearting the pork fat based
Stearic acid VS beef fat based stearic acid
because both are made on same line. There is
cross contamination of pork fat in beef fat.
It means the supplier of Dart and Dart
corporation both can not give guarantee in
writing that Stearic acid and Zink Stearate
which is made from non zabiha beef fat is pork
fat free because both are made on same line.
There is always possibility of mixing pork fat
with beef fat.
Win Cups company wrote us that their foam
products free from animal fat. So It is preferred
to buy Win Cups against Dart’s foam products.
Dear Mr Ahmed:
Thank you for your request for clarification of the Dart Position Statement on Zinc Stearate. Dart purchases Zinc Stearate in the marketplace and, unfortunately, we are unable to be more specific than what we have stated in our position statement. Zinc stearate is, ultimately, a chemical but if there are questions regarding it’s use as a releasing agent, we suggest you seek guidance from your own religious leader. For your information, we have attached another copy of the Dart position statement.
Sincerely,
Don Anderson
Position Statement on Zinc Stearate and the Composition of Dart Polystyrene Products
Dart Container Corporation has a keen interest in providing safe and sanitary polystyrene products (e.g., foam cups and containers) for food and beverage service. With this in mind, we have the following comments relating to the composition of our products:
1. Dart products conform to the rigorous standards of the Federal Food and Drug Administration as found in Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This conformity applies not only to major components, but also to additives and processing aids.
2. Dart’s manufacturing practices are directed toward strict preservation of the sanitary nature of our products.
3. Dart does not currently use post-consumer recycled materials in our products.
4. With specific respect to the retention of “Kosher” or “Halal” status of foods and beverages served in our polystyrene products, please consider the following:
Dart utilizes processing aids known as “release agents” in the manufacture of our polystyrene products. Release agents are present in minuscule amounts, to allow the product to be “released” from the molds used to form the container. Almost all zinc stearate the release agent used by Dart, and other fatty acid products are ultimately derived from animal fat or “tallow”. We know of no reports indicating detection of these materials in contained food and we cannot test either for their presence nor for the level of that presence. However, our calculations indicate that if all the release agent on the contacting surface of a cup were to migrate to the contained food, the resulting concentration of migrated chemical material within the food would be approximately one part per million. It is important to keep in mind that the use of these additives is not intended as a food, but simply as a processing aid. In adhering to the guidelines in the Code of Federal Regulations, we do not exceed the amount “required to accomplish the intended technical effect.” And, we do not use these materials to enhance such appearance factors as the gloss of the cup or the container surface. Dart participated in a study committee sponsored by the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) charged with reviewing the issue of “Kosher” or “Halal” status of food and beverage packaging, and publishing a report. The major conclusion reached in the SPI report is that there is considerable controversy in theological circles as to the effect on Kosher status of foods and beverages contained in polystyrene foodservice products. One school of thought holds that the process of obtaining these products, because of its high temperature and purification steps, in effect “denatures” them and removes them from the class of being “food”; therefore, they should be considered as just another chemical. The other school of thought does not accept this argument of denaturing and further takes the position that the presence of even small amounts of tallow-derived processing aids causes contained foods to lose Kosher status. Given the current difference in theological opinion, we suggest you seek guidance on this issue from your own religious leader. The full SPI report, “An Introduction to the Role of Packaging in the World of Kashrus” can be obtained from SPI at (202) 974-5200.
Posted on: 12-19-09 00:00 AM
PUBLIX BRAND BREADS ARE NOT HALAL
Sara Lee now supplying all the bread under PUBLIX brand name. We do not when this switch has made but as we all know that Sara Lee will never guarantee that the fast based dough conditioner could be made either with animal fat including pork or vegetable fat unless if the bread carries a kosher symbol such as in east coast supermarkets.
Now PUBLIX Inc. is not guarantee that PUBLIX brand of breads are free from animal fat based dough conditioners.
We request Muslim consumers in Florida and south not to avoid buy PUBLIX brand of breads, hamburger buns and hot dog buns.
Pleas also call your local supermarket whether their store brand breads are made by Sara Lee, if they say yes, then do not buy their bread because Sara Lee is only baking company who refused to use vegetable fat based dough conditioners in their bread products.
Posted on: 12-17-09 00:00 AM
Breyer's Ice Cream without Flavors
MCG recommend to consume Breyer's Ice Cream without flavor. All Natural Coffee Ice Cream, All Natural Strawberry Ice Cream and All Natural Dulce Leche are only three ice cream flavors made without any flavor.
Posted on: 11-20-09 00:00 AM
PAPA JOHN'S PAN CRUST & THIN CRUST ARE NOT HALAL
Papa John Pizza Company has informed MCG by e-mail that they cannot verify the source of glycerin, L-Cystein and DATEM in for Large Pan Pizza Shell. Large Pan Pizza Shell will be face out from their stores soon.
Since we are telling Muslim consumers for several years that Papa John Thin Crust Pizza is not Halal because of Natural and Artificial flavor in it. This flavor contains alcohol as a solvent. So Thin Crust is also not Halal.
Hand Tossed pizza dough Crust is the only Halal crust at Papa John Pizza stores.
Posted on: 11-05-09 00:00 AM
CHEETOS AND DORITOS (EXCEPT TOASTED CORN TORTILLA CHIPS) ARE STILL NOT HALAL
MCG has received an inquiry about Halal status of Cheetos from a Muslim consumer who saw Muslims at Islamic Community Center of Des Plaines, IL(Masjid on Porter Road in Des Plaines, IL) consuming Cheetos. They said that Frito Lay has changed the ingredients and it is Halal now . This is not true, Frito Lay did not change the ingredients nor the source of their ingredients is Halal or kosher certified. There is no protection for Muslim consumers in USA for Frito Lay’s non kosher certified products against the use of non Halal ingredients, non Halal hidden ingredients, use of non Halal rework products added during processing of non kosher certified products.
http://halalcentral.wordpress.com website has published the following Alert on their website :
ALERT: PLEASE AVOID ALL CHEETOS, DORITOS, AND OTHER PRODUCTS CONTAINING CHEESE
Posted on: 10-08-09 00:00 AM
GERBER'S DHA BABY FOODS ARE MADE WITH GELATIN
Gerber the number one baby foods manufacturer are now selling baby foods containing gelatin. Gerber's DHA Oatmeal Cereal and all their DHA baby food products contain gelatin as an ingredient. Muslims parents are adviced to read the ingredients before purchase any baby foods.
Posted on: 10-06-09 00:00 AM
DENTYNE BLAST GUM IS MADE WITH NON ZABIHA BEEF
Cadbury Adam has informed MCG that Dentyne Blast Gum is made from non zabiha beef so according to MCG criteria they are not consider as Halal.
Posted on: 09-30-09 00:00 AM
PORK IN TRIDENT LAYERS GUMS & NON ZABIHA BEEF IN SPLASH TRIDENT GUMS
Cadbury Adam has informed MCG that Pork is used in Trident Layers Gums and Non zabiha beef is used in Trident Splash Gums.
The rest of varieties of Trident gums do not contain any animal derived ingredients and alcohol in flavors.
Posted on: 09-30-09 00:00 AM
PRILOSEC-OTC IS MADE EITHER VEGETABLE OR ANIMAL DERIVED MAGNESIUM STEARATE
Procter & Gamble has informed MCG that the Magnesium Stearate in Prilosec-OTC is either made with vegetable fat or pork or beef fat. They will not guarantee free from pork. So it is not a Halal medicine for heart burns.
Posted on: 09-24-09 00:00 AM
FATWA FROM DARUL IFTA JAMIA NIZAMIA HYDERABAD, INDIA ON ALCOHOL
Jamia Nizamia has issued the following Fatwa on Alcohol:
Although there is difference of opinion among ulema about alcohol being consider as wine but according to "Mufti Ba Qhool" (saying of Mufti) anything which causes intoxication in large or small quantity is consider as Haram. So use of alcohol is prohibited.
Posted on: 09-24-09 00:00 AM
PORK DERVIED VITAMIN B6 IN PRENATE BRAND OF PRENATAL VITAMINS
One of our Muslim consumer has informed MCG about Vitamin B6 is obtained from pork source in Prenate brand of prenatal vitamins.
Posted on: 09-12-09 00:00 AM
PORK IN ACT FLUORIDE BUBBLE GUM
Chattem Inc of Chattanooga, TN has informed one of our Muslim consumer by email that the Polysorbate 80 a fat based emulsifier is derived from the pork fat. So ACT Fluoride Bubble Gum is a Haram product.
Posted on: 09-02-09 00:00 AM
Diacetyl in Starter Distillate used as Natural Flavoring in Unsalted Butter
According to a internet report: " Popcorn lung, or bronchiolitis obliterans, results from exposure to Diacetyl, the chemical used in butter flavoring in microwave popcorn and other food products. People affected by the toxicity of this chemical have developed shortness of breath, hardening of the lung tissue, and other serious respiratory symptoms.
Butter manufacturer such as Land O Lakes is already replacing the starter distillate with Lactic Acid which is a Halal ingredient. But Land O Lakes Company is still using the word "Natural Flvoring to represent Lactic Acid and this was told by the company to MCG. Other butter manufactur such as Wild Harvest who makes Organic Unsalted butter reports Cream and Lactic Acid under ingredients statement. Many butter producer will follow.
Our advice is to use Salted Butter and Unslated Butter if the ingredients are Cream and Lactic Acid or Cream and Natural Flavoring. If it says Natural flavoring then contact the company to ask whether they are using Starter Distillate or Lactic Acid as Natural Flavoring.
Natural flavoring is still Starter Distillate in many unsalted butter brands and it contains Diacetyl. As we reported in our Ingredients section about Starter Distillate as "Besides diacetyl, starter distillate contains minor amounts of acetaldehyde, ethyl formate, ethyl acetate, acetone, ethyl alcohol, 2-butanone, acetic acid and acetoin.
Posted on: 09-01-09 00:00 AM
BURGUNDY WINE LIQUID GEL AS A DECORATING COLOR ON BASKIN ROBINS Ice CREAM CAKES
Baskin Robins is using a Kosher certified Burgundy Wine Liquid Gel product number 9533 on ice cream cakes as a decorating color at their franchise stores. Ice cream cake is composed of five different components.
1. Cake Base white or chocolate made with vanilla flavor(Baskin Robins refused to provide the information of alcohol used as a solvent)
2. Baskin Robins Ice cream(only Kosher certified Classic Chocolate, Classic Chocolate Fudge, Classic Chocolate with Almond, Classic Peanut Butter N Chocolate and Classic Jamoca ice cream are Halal)
3. Kosher certified White Frosting from Wal-Mart/Sam Club # 00860503(No information about alcohol as a solvent in artificial falvor)
4. Kosher certified different color gels(including Burgundy Wine Liquid Gel 9533) for various colors as a decoration
5. Sprinkle which may be made with confectionary glaze where Shellac is dissolved in alcohol then evaporated.
Posted on: 08-09-09 00:00 AM
WHY DANNON’S DANACTIVA, DANIMALS CRUSH CUPS, FUSIONS, DANO-NINO, LIGHT & FIT SMOOTHIES YOGURTS ARE NOT HALAL
One of our Muslim consumer who regularly follows our website asked why Dannon’s Yogurts which do not contain any Haram ingredients are Not Halal even it has a K kosher symbol on the package?.
This is very a good question. The above Dannon yogurts do not contain Kosher Gelatin which is a Haram ingredient because it is obtained from pork or non zabiha beef but they have a kosher symbol K not OUD or other orthodox kosher symbols.
The main reason is that there is no protection for Muslims consumers against using the rework yogurts containing kosher gelatin in small quantity as hidden ingredients. It is a practice in food industry to use rework food products if it was rejected due to not adding one ingredient by mistake. They will not throughout the whole batch but they use in very little amount in same type of products or other similar type of products which will not alter the taste, texture, flavor of the current products. Since both type of yogurts has similar type of K kosher symbol.
In case of orthodox kosher certified Dannon products such as low fat or fat free plain or vanilla yogurts or natural flavor low fat vanilla, coffee, lemon yogurts, these yogurts either made on separate line or other orthodox kosher certified plants. So there is no chance of cross contamination with kosher gelatin containing rework yogurts.
Posted on: 08-07-09 00:00 AM
GELATIN IN APPLE JUICE PROCESSING
4-Hydroxyproline is a rare and uncommon amino acid, a derivative of amino acid proline which is found in abundance in the fibrous protein collagen and some plant protein. The collagen is the raw material to manufacture gelatin. One medium apple of 5.5 oz. contains zero gram of protein that means apple do not contain hydroxyproline amino acid. Since some apple juice processors in USA and Europe use pork or beef gelatin in apple juice processing. In USA, Halal or Kosher certification protect Muslims in USA/Canada not to consume apple juice where gelatin is used in processing by having a Halal or Kosher symbol on the apple juice containers. But this is not the case with Europe and in Muslim countries. No efforts to protect their Muslim consumers in Muslim countries from gelatin used apple juice has been reported. MCG has brought this fact in a Halal Food conference conducted by KUIM at Futrajaya Marriott in Futrajaya, Malaysia on September 29, 2004. Many Muslim scientist at the meeting do not know about it. So there is need to do analysis on imported apple juice to Muslim countries. Since Hydroxyproline do not possess the genetic code word then DNA test for pork cannot be used. Although the analytical analysis do not distinguish the gelatin in apple juice whether it is from pork or beef but it will detect the gelatin in apple juice if gelatin is used in apple juice processing. The use of Gelatin - Tannin precipitation is still used in USA according to apple juice industry personnel for clarification of apple juice. Some part of gelatin is leached into apple juice and it can be detected by analytical method.
So there is need of monetary support from Muslim countries to provide funding for a MS or PhD thesis at universities such as Halal science center at Chulalongkorn university in Thailand or any US university such as Cornell University, University of California at Davis, CA or Washington State University at Pullman, WA, MSU at East Lansing, MI, University of Illinois at Urbana, IL.
Here is the analystical method for determination of Hydroxyproline in a tissue hydrolyzate at the University of Illinois Urbana, IL.
Clinica Chimica Acta, 104 (1980) 161-167
0 Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical Press
CCA 1375
" MODIFIED ASSAY FOR DETERMINATION OF
HYDROXYPROLINE IN A TISSUE HYDROLYZATE"
C.A. EDWARDS * and W.D. O’BRIEN, JR.
Bioacoustics Research Laboratory, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801 (U.S.A.)
(Received September 24th, 1979)
Summary:
A modified assay for the determination of hydroxyproline in tissue is presented. The modifications greatly reduce the time required for analysis of excised tissue as first introduced by Stegemann and Stalder [ 11. These modifications include a change in the technique for tissue hydrolysis and a change in
the preparation of the hydroxyproline oxidizing agent. The analysis utilizes the standard addition technique, eliminating the need for correction of matrix effects between the specimen and standard. This paper attempts to give a complete detailed description of the assay such that the procedure may be repeated without requiring additional reference material.
Posted on: 08-03-09 00:00 AM
Possible Animal By-products in Puffs Products
A Muslim consumer has provided a email to MCG which says"There is no alcohol that is used in the manufacturing of any of our Puffs products. It is possible however for animal by products to be used in the manufacturing and processing of all paper products. Please be assured that Procter & Gamble (the parent company of Puffs) uses vegetable resources whenever possible."
There is no gurantee that Puffs products are free from animal by products
Posted on: 08-03-09 00:00 AM
Dr. Ali Raza has provided the information from the manufacturer of Ensure that it contains a small amount of Alcohol. So according MCG criteria it is not consider as Halal
Posted on: 07-27-09 00:00 AM
WINE IN KIKKOMAN'S TERIYAKI MARINADE & SAUCE AND ALCOHOL IN SOY SAUCE
According to a Kikkoman's E-Mail provided by one of our Muslim consumer that Wine is present in Kikkoman's teriyaki marinade & sauce. Alcohol is also present in their Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce. They also mentioned that their Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce is just like wine and beer. MCG is educating Muslims since 1993 that Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce is just made like wine and beer. Even Chinese Muslims who owned the Chinese restaurants do not know that alcohol is present in Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce.
Posted on: 07-02-09 00:00 AM
PLEASE DONOT USE BOUNCE, SNUGLE, GAIN, FRESH N SOFT, DOWNY DRYER SHEETS BECAUSE THEY ARE MADE WITH ANIMAL DERIVED INGREDIENTS
The above brands of dryer sheets are made with animal derived ingredients including beef or pork according to manufacturer of above brands of dryer sheets.
Posted on: 06-26-09 00:00 AM
One of our brother from Chicago has provided an e-mail from Home Runn Inn Pizza chain in Chicago that they do not use kosher certified ingredients and also they did not answer his question about any pork or alcohol used in making the pizzas.
Posted on: 06-23-09 00:00 AM
MRS. FRESHLEY'S PINK SNOWBALL CREME FILLED CAKES CONTAIN PORK GELATIN
One of our brother has provided an e-mail from Flower Baking Company regarding the presence of pork gelatin in Pink Snowball creme filled cakes.
Posted on: 06-20-09 00:00 AM
Hansen Beverage Sodas are not Halal because the flavor extracts contain ethyl alcohol according to company.
Posted on: 06-02-09 00:00 AM
Graden Burger and VeggieMax at Subways are not Halal
According to Subways the Garden Burger or Veggie pattie is made with Part Skim Mozzarella cheese, Cottage cheese and Cheddar cheese. Except Cottage cheese other cheeses are not kosher certified generally. So Garden Burger or Veggie pattie is not Halal.
The VeggieMax contains Naturally brewed soy sauce with 2-3% alcohol, non Halal Calcium Caesinate, may or may not contain alcohol in natural flavor and in Celery Extract. So VeggieMax is not consider as a Halal food product.
Posted on: 05-02-09 00:00 AM
ALCOHOL IN NATURAL FLAVOR OF RITZ CRACKERS
Nabisco has just added a natural flavor to its Ritz Crackers recently. We have contacted Nabisco about the presence or absence of alcohol in natural flavor in their Ritz crackers. They informed us that alcohol is used as a solvent in natural flavor used in Ritz crackers. So all those Ritz crackers which contain natural flavors are not Halal.
Posted on: 02-24-09 00:00 AM
Why Gold Fish crackers are not Halal because most Pepperidge Farms cookies products are kosher certified but Gold fish crackers are not Kosher certified. The cheese used in it is not kosher certified. The starter culture bacteria, the media upon which these bacteria multiply in millions, the rennet used in cheese makeing has to be Halal or kosher certified. The starter culture bacteria can be obtained from meat source rather milk source, the media may be made of non Halal whey, lactose and non Halal yeast extract which is obtained from beer making or by product of beer. The natural flavor, color, yeast extract present in the Gold Fish formula are not Halal or kosher certified. In addition the natural flavor may contain alcohol as a solvent. Please learn about the Halal requirements of cheese and dairy products at Ingredients section of our website www.muslimconsumergroup.com .
Posted on: 02-15-09 00:00 AM
TECHNICAL INFORMATION ON CONFECTIONARY GLAZE
Confectionary Glazes are available to food companies in variouse concntration. The are the alcohol solutions of different types of food grade Shellac. The amount of Shellac dissolved in one gallon of ethyl alcohol. The benefit of use of confectionary glazes on certain food products is to have good appearance, increase shelf life, moisture protection and avoid coated products sticking to gather in package. Confectionary glazes are also available in different colors and these colored confectionary glazes are used in decorating cakes and ice cream. They use in MALTED MILK BALL, CHOCOLATE COVERED SUGAR COATED PEANUTS AND RAISIN, USE AS COLORED SUGAR ON COOKIES(such as Pepperidge Farm's Sugar Cookies), JELLY BEANS AND LICORICE, GUM BALLS, SOFT CENTRES AND HARD SHELL CANDIES. Alcohol is evaporated during panning procedure so that no alcohol is reamin in the coating. MCG ulema do not consider them Halal.
Posted on: 01-28-09 00:00 AM
All Cinnabon products except Danish Stick are not Halal in USA because due to the presence of vanilla extract in frosting. Vanilla extract contains 35% alcohol. The only item which do not contain frosting is Danish Sticks according Cinnabon. Danish Stick is made with natural and artificial flavor but the information about alcohol use as a solvent is not known. So Danish Stick is Mushbooh product. Although all ingredients used in Cinnabon products are kosher certified.
Posted on: 12-29-08 00:00 AM
DAIRY QUEEN PRODUCTS ARE STILL NOT HALAL
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 buy the food products from different suppliers. Some suppliers provide kosher certified food products and some do not.
Posted on: 12-22-08 00:00 AM
A sister got this e-mail from Nestle about alcohol in Butterfingers. According to the sister It doesnt clearly state it has alcohol.
Dear Nestl�© Consumer,
Thank you for contacting Nestl�©�® Butterfinger�® .
Many natural and/or artificial flavors do contain some alcohol as flavor carriers. The amount transferred to final food products is so small that it is not detectable and considered incidental. So it is not declared in the ingredients statement.
It can be surmised that if a product contains natural and/or artificial flavor, there is a good chance that alcohol was used in the development of the product and that any potential residual alcohol in the product is insignificant.
We appreciate your use of our products and hope you will visit our website often for the latest information on our products and promotions.
Posted on: 10-14-08 00:00 AM
The Following Ice Cream products from Cold Stone Creamery contain ethyl alcohol in the ingredients statement(not in flavor):
Irish Ice Cream
Mango Ice Cream
Pecan Praline Ice Cream
Posted on: 10-13-08 00:00 AM
The Game Juice's apple and Ginger flavors both have a small amount of residual ethyl alcohol. The anticipated amount in the finished beverage would be less than 0.25%v/v. Ther is no animal derived ingredients in the juices. These juices are not consider Halal. A muslim consumer has sent this information to MCG
Posted on: 09-08-08 00:00 AM
Minute Maid Juices to Go Ruby Red Grapefruit Drink is Haram because it contains cochineal. Cochineal is a red color obtained from female beetles in South America. All insect except locust are Haram in Islam. The Coca Cola has mailed the above information to one of our Muslim Consumer.
Posted on: 09-08-08 00:00 AM
According to Long John Siver stores the fish and non zabiha chicken are fried in the same fryer and same vegetable oil. This is the reason the Long John Siver fish is not consider Halal although the Battered Fish has Halal coating. You can buy the unfried battered fish if they sell and fried it in your house.
Posted on: 08-01-08 00:00 AM
The natural flavor in Instant Cream of Wheat Original flavor hot cereal is not Halal according to MCG Criteria. The Natural flavor is from vanilla bean extracts, sugar, cornstarch and tricalcium phosphate according to B & G Foods Company. According to company the vanilla is extracted with alcohol and water from vanilla beans then it is concentrated with sugar to make powder, during this concentration process the alcohol is evaporated.
Posted on: 07-20-08 00:00 AM
kefir is one of the fermented milk product. It is an alcoholic and acid permented product. Both alcohol and acid are produced at the end of fermentation, so as Koumiss.
kefir contains 1-2% alcohol in final product at supermarket. You can smell alcohol in the Kefir. It is not recommended for Muslims.
Posted on: 10-20-07 00:00 AM
WHY DORITOS AND CHEETOS PRODUCTS ARE NOT HALAL IN US & CANADA
Lot of Muslims calls Frito Lay Company to find out the Halal status of Doritos and Cheetos products. The 800 personnel are trained by the company to tell consumers that their cheeses are made with microbial rennet enzyme. But many Muslims are not aware that the rennet is not only thing, which decide the Halal status of a cheese. There are other things which has to be Halal if used during manufacture of a cheese such as Mother Culture Media, Bulk Culture Media (which is used to grow bacterial cheese cultures), other Enzymes such as Lipase and finally dairy flavors containing Enzymes, if the rennet is from microbial and above mentioned are not from Halal source then cheese will not be Halal. The culture medias are made with milk, whey and lactose (Haram if made from pork rennet, Haram media, pork enzymes), dried autolyzed brewer’s yeast (by product of beer) and Pancreatin (Haram if from pork). If culture media is pure milk then it is Halal. There was a international uproar from Muslims around the world when Ajinomoto of Indonesia used a pork derived culture media to grow bacteria for the production of Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) in Indonesia in 2000 (Muslim Consumer Group’s News/Alert update Jan. 05, 2001). We explained to Frito Lay Nutritionist supervisor Ms. Nina Ferguson about the requirements for Halal cheese and other ingredients. She is not aware of what are Halal and its requirements for Doritos and Cheetos products. We offered our help to educate them about Halal status of their products.
Posted on: 09-18-07 00:00 AM
Natural Vanillin is the major component of the vanilla beans. It is present as a white crystalline material on the vanilla beans. Natural Vanillin is the main source of vanilla flavoring. Vanilla beans also contain other flavoring compounds in minor amounts which are lost during extraction.
The Halal vanilla powder can be obtained by crushing the vanilla beans without alcohol extraction. If a company claims that it has alcohol free vanilla powder then it has to be crushed vanilla beans without alcohol extraction.Sometimes the claimed is based on evaporation of alcohol.
Vanilla is subjected to alcohol/water extraction of natural vanillin from the vanilla beans for various vanilla products such as vanilla extract, pure vanilla, vanilla flavor or vanilla flavoring, pure vanilla powder, vanilla paste and vanilla bean specks or seeds. Vanilla extraction of vanilla beans with a solution of alcohol and water yields four folds strength. Then with heat and pressure, the liquid is driven out to make concentrated vanilla which is also called vanilla oleoresin. Vanilla can be sold into one to several folds; one fold being the lowest in vanilla flavor.
Vanilla, Pure Vanilla, Natural Vanilla, Vanilla Flavor, Vanilla Flavoring, Vanilla Powder, Vanilla Specks and Vanilla Extract, all these products are made after vanilla extraction with alcohol and water. They all contaminated with alcohol, even if the alcohol is evaporated in case of vanilla powder, Natural vanillin from vanilla beans is not subjected to washing with water so that alcohol is washed away. Vanilla flavor after alcohol/water extraction is subjected to spray drying to make vanilla powder.
The vanilla standards are available at the “Ingredient section” of our web site. According to FDA regulation for vanilla extract, it must contain a minimum of 35% ethyl alcohol by volume and any thing less than 35% alcohol; it should be labeled as vanilla flavor. So all the vanilla flavors conatins less than 35% alcohol.
Alcohol is used to hold the natural vanillin as a flavoring matter of vanilla beans in suspension.
Pure Vanilla powder is obtained by spray drying the vanilla extract with a carrier such as dextrose or maltodextrin where alcohol is evaporated. This pure vanilla powder is not considered Halal because it is obtained from vanilla extract containing alcohol. Our ulema said that the vanilla extract containing alcohol has to be chemically changed to a new thing, here it is not the case, only alcohol is evaporated and natural vanillin from vanilla beans is contaminated with najus alcohol.
Vanilla bean specks or seeds are obtained from previously alcohol extracted beans through drying, chopping and sifting method. Here again, previously extracted bean is contaminated with alcohol.
Pure vanilla paste is made of pure vanilla extract and vanilla bean specks or seeds in the form of syrup with a thickener.
According MCG’s ulema all of the above vanilla products except crushed vanilla bean powder without alcohol extraction are considered not Halal. Other ulema may have different views, so please contact your Islamic scholar on this issue.
Posted on: 01-31-07 00:00 AM
The following important things should be considered while eating in a regular restaurant in USA and Canada. This is for those Muslims who only eat the Zabiha meat. Most of us go to seafood restaurants to eat fish because it is Halal. But we do not have information on how it is cooked or made. Here are the following things we have to keep in our mind about eating fish dish in a restaurant. Not all fish items in fast foods or restaurants are Halal. Not because of fish itself but due to the following reasons: 1. Coating and batter on the fish: Fried fish items are made with coating or batter. The coating or batter of the fish may contain whey, colors and flavors which may not be Halal. Some fish are dipped in beer batter before frying and it is known as beer battered fish. This is type of fish is Haram. The McDonald and Burger King coating is Halal in USA and Canada. 2. Frying media and fryer: Coated and battered fish items are fried in shortening at 360F. If the coating or batter for fried fish is Halal and if it is fried in vegetable shortening with or without vegetable fat based Mono & Diglycerides then the fried fish is Halal. But if same fryer and vegetable shortening was used to fry non zabiha chicken nuggets OR beer battered fish then fried fish items will not be Halal because of left over batter and fat from the chicken. Burger King's Big Fish and Long John Silver are fried their fish items in the same fryer and vegetable shortening use for frying the non-zabiha chicken nuggets in USA and Canada. This is the reason their fish items are not considered Halal. Same thing may happens in restaurants.Beside Burger King also fried pork patties in the same vegetable oil. So it is necessary to avoid eating fried fish in a restaurants because you do not know the Halal status of the coating and batter and use of vegetable shortening and where they fried. 3.Broiled or Grilled Fish: If the fish is broiled or grilled with cooking wine then it will not be Halal. If the fish is broiled or grilled with AA butter then it will be Halal. Sometimes spices are also added to it, we have to make sure that they used 100% spices not the seasoning because seasoning may contain whey, color and flavors which may not be Halal. 4. Sauce with Broiled or Grilled fish: Most of the time broiled fish or grilled fish comes to the table with different sauces on the top of the fish. Dill Sauce with broiled or grilled Salmon is an example. Dill sauce, Tartar sauce and other sauces contain dairy ingredients which may not be Halal. So you have to avoid it and use salt, pepper, lemon or A1 sauce which is a Halal sauce. 5. Broiled Vegetable: Sometimes bacon or ham is added to vegetables, so ask about them. 6. Rolls/Bread: Rolls/bread and cheese rolls are provided at tables, these rolls and bread are mostly made from frozen dough or mixes. These frozen dough or mixes are made with dough conditioners which may not be Halal. Cheese may be made with animal enzymes. 7. Garden Salad, Salad Dressing and coleslaw: Garden Salad in most of the restaurants comes with croutons, cheese, Chinese noodles, and bacon bits. They all should be avoided because croutons may be made with Romano cheese and other ingredients which may not be Halal. Cheese may not be Halal as well as Chinese noodles. Bacon bits are Haram. Salad dressing is made with cheese, emulsifiers which may not be Halal. You request a garden salad without cheese, croutons, Chinese noodles and bacon bits. Lemon juice or olive oil and distilled white vinegar can be used. Coleslaw is made with cabbage and dressing containing dairy ingredients which may not be Halal. 8. Soups: Soups are made with soup bases and concentrates. These bases and concentrates are made with dairy ingredients which may not be Halal and they also contain non zabiha chicken fat. Left over gravy from cooked meats are used to make a soup. You do not know what kind of meat gray was used. This gravy is provide extra flavor to the soup. Clam Chowder is made with dairy ingredients which may not be Halal and bacon is also added to the clam chowder. Soup has to be avoided. 8. Rice Pilaf: Rice pilaf is always made with non zabiha chicken broth, so it has to be avoided. Steam rice is Halal. 9. Vegetables: Vegetable are sometimes cooked with bacon and ham, so it is necessary to ask ahead of time. 10. Baked Potato/French Fries: The ingredients of French fries in restaurants and the way they fried are not known to public. They may be made with Haram ingredients. They may be fried in animal fat shortening. So they have to be avoided unless you are sure that they are Halal. Baked Potato is Halal but the margarine and sour cream may not be Halal. Sometimes they bring with margarine and sour cream and with bacon on the top of the potato. So either you eat with salt & pepper or with butter if it is AA. If they provide you the sour cream and butter in the small packed container with ingredients statements and kosher symbol and if the kosher certification meet the Halal requirements then you can use it. Eggs for the breakfast: Scramble eggs at restaurants are not 100% eggs but other ingredients such as emulsifires are present. Restauarnts get the eggs in batters from food service company such as Sysco Company, they also supplies egg beaters which is Halal only if no alcohol is used in flavor. It is possible thye fried on the same hot plate as bacon. 12. Dessert: Pies, Cheesecake, Cakes may contain gelatin, liquor, dairy ingredients, flavors and other ingredients which may not be Halal and should be avoided. Ice Cream may contains emulsifiers which may not be Halal and flavor may contain alcohol. NOTE; THIS INFORMATION WAS PUBLISHED ON MARCH 13, 2002 AND WAS AVAILABLE ON OUR OLD WEBSITE FOR MANY YEARS UNTIL OCTOBER 1, 2005. IT WAS LAST DURING CHANGE OVER FROM OLD TO NEW WEBSITE. WE ARE SORRY ABOUT IT.
Posted on: 06-15-06 00:00 AM
Although the Red Bull energy drinks are Kosher certified and Halal certified by a South African Muslim organization but the company refuses to provide information on solvent use in artificial flavors. The company did provide the ethyl alcohol content less than 0.05% rather than zero. It means the solvent used in artificial flavor is ethyl alcohol because the rest of the ingredients in the Red Bull soft drinks do not provide any source for alcohol, so where this minute alcohol comes from, it is definitely contributed by artificial flavor in the energy drinks.
Posted on: 07-01-05 00:00 AM
CICIS pizza Chain of Dallas, Texas has informed MCG that they have no information on ingredients used in pizza crust, pizza sauce and cheese. So based on this information we are not recommending their cheese pizza at this time.
Posted on: 05-17-05 00:00 AM
The Mozzarella cheese is made with animal or microbial rennet and there is no guarantee that it is made only with microbial rennet, according to Hungry Howie Pizza Chain of Madison Heights, Michigan. Although the pizza sauce is Halal but they did not provide any information on flavored crusts.
Posted on: 10-27-04 00:00 AM
HALAL STATUS SYMBOLS Halal
 Not Halal
 Mushbooh or Unknown
 Halal if no alcohol is used in flavor
 MCG Certified Halal
|
||
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. |
 |
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. |
Click Here to visit our Canadian Halal Food Site.
| © 2005 - 2013 Muslim Consumer Group. All Rights Reserved. Site Developed by: LJ Web Management, Inc. |