Beyond Halal Certification: The True Definition of Cleanliness
By Loshinniy Nair S. Baskaran
15th September 2024 – Halal certification is widely recognized for ensuring compliance with Islamic dietary laws, but what constitutes true cleanliness goes beyond just halal compliance.
While halal certification guarantees that food is permissible according to Islamic law, it does not always address broader issues like environmental impact, animal welfare, and sustainable agricultural practices. True cleanliness in food production should encompass ethical treatment of animals, use of eco-friendly methods, and avoidance of harmful chemicals.
For example, a product may be certified halal, yet the farming practices behind it could involve the excessive use of pesticides or unethical treatment of animals. These issues raise concerns about whether the food is truly “clean.” Cleanliness should be holistic, considering not only religious requirements but also sustainability and ethics.
Increasingly, consumers are becoming more aware of these broader dimensions of cleanliness, demanding transparency in how food is sourced and produced. For food to be truly clean, it must meet high standards in terms of both ethical sourcing and environmental sustainability, not just halal compliance.
Moving forward, the food industry must embrace this holistic view of cleanliness to align with consumer expectations and contribute to a healthier planet.
This expanded definition encourages a shift from simply fulfilling legalistic requirements to considering the long-term effects of food production on people, animals, and the environment, offering a more ethical and comprehensive understanding of what “clean” truly means, as stated in Free Malaysia Today.
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