Halal Certified Clean and Pure Food
Halal clean and pure food products are becoming more and more popular as the trend towards clean food and pure diets accelerates. Halal is an Arabic word which simply means ‘permissible’. Many consumers consider Halal certified products to be clean and pure. Halal certification allows consumers to know and understand what is (and is not) in the food they are buying. Products that contain ingredients or additives that don’t comply with Halal standards cannot pass the Halal authentication process.
The Clean Food Trend
The clean food trend has two components. One is to eat “whole” foods that are not processed, like vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and oils, straight from the ground. The second is to know what is in processed products; to read and understand the ingredients and know where the product was sourced. Clean eaters read labels for information. As a rule, the fewer ingredients listed, and the more natural the ingredients are, the better. The clean food trend is about knowing what you are consuming. While the definition of what is ‘clean’ is personal and subjective, consumers are often more confident in their purchases when they see that there has been 3rd party oversight on products.
Halal certified products contribute to clean living by verifying that there are either no animal products in processed foods, or there are animal products that meet Halal standards. In addition, other ingredients besides animal products are certified if and when they meet Islamic dietary requirements.
More Clean Food Products Entering the Market
One of the first “clean food” products to hit the market was Haagen Dazs ice cream. In the 1980s when most ice cream makers were cutting costs with fillers and additives, Haagen Dazs promoted its product as ice cream made from pure ingredients, without colors, fillers, or additives of any kind. It was an innovative concept in the world of frozen treats. Consumers would read the ingredients - milk or cream, egg yolk, sugar and vanilla – and compare those ingredients with other brands. And people did not shy away from the price, which was nearly double that of other brands. The brand now has the 2nd highest market share in the world. And according to Forbes, it has a profit margin of 23%, one of the highest in the industry.
Companies cannot afford to ignore the trend towards clean foods. Consumers are demanding pure foods and are willing to pay a premium to companies that produce them. The key is to produce products that are not only clean, but actually taste better than those that have multiple additives and fillers.
According to a Harvard Health study, in recent years, many companies have started creating and marketing pure and clean products. However, some of these products, upon closer inspection did not in fact live up to their claims. This is where 3rd party Halal certification can help.
Halal Certification for Peace of Mind
Halal is often equated with Tayeb which means clean and pure. In order to make informed choices, people who have committed to healthier and cleaner lifestyles want to know what is in food, as well as where and how it was sourced. People who are on high protein diets have a keen interest in where meat and poultry came from. Those on mainly plant based diets want to know how plant-based foods are processed, sourcing methods, and what other ingredients, colorings, and flavorings are added.
This is where Halal certification can help. Qualified Halal auditors conduct detailed analyses and qualify products and their ingredients. They also inspect manufacturing and distribution facilities. If products and facilities are compliant, they will qualify for Halal certification.
Clean eaters appreciate the Halal seal of approval on both plant-based and animal-based foods. They want clean meat from family farms, and they seek information on flavoring, coloring, and additive sources.
To learn more about Halal Certification visit www.isahalal.com
