Voice of the Cape
Cadbury’s chocolates produced in South Africa will soon have a halal emblem on its packaging following the completion of its halal certification process by the South African National Halal Authority (Sanha). The confirmation comes after VOC News received queries from Muslim consumers questioning the halal status of Cadbury’s, one of the most-well known chocolate brands in the country.
One consumer, Nabawia Akemdien said she was disappointed that the company did not have any halal symbols displayed on the product packaging. After enquiries on the Cadbury website, she was contacted by a representative of the manufacturer Kraft Foods in East London, who informed her there was no intention to display a halal symbol.
“[I was told] the chocolates are halal and they have a halal certificate on their premises but since they are an international company, they have decided not to have any religious logos on their products. My concern however is that they should have a halal logo on the products. Otherwise, how else are Muslims to know which products are halal and which are not?”
Kraft Foods consumer relations manager Pat Grebe said the chocolate wrappers have never had a halal logo. Grebe said Sanha has however declared the products “halal suitable”. This information can be found on their website www.sanha.co.za. “Kraft Foods takes its customer feedback seriously and, to this end, have committed to formally progressing halal certification, through Sanha for its products.”
Grebe said Kraft Foods operates under strict guidelines regarding products, quality and safety. “We comply with national, as well as local, health regulations and conditions for the manufacturing of food products. Any additives in our products are safely tested and approved for use by relevant local food regulators and are listed on all products as per regulations,” she said.
Certifiers
Sanha PRO Ebi Lockhart said the halal certification body were currently processing their application and the halal logo will appear once the application is concluded. “We presume that they are being prudent while this process is being undertaken. Based on the information at our disposal, the Cadbury products manufactured in South Africa are halal suitable”.
VOC News first approached the Muslim Judicial Council Halal Trust (MJCHT), who said it received queries from the public on the halal status of Cadbury’s “on a daily basis”. However, the halal authority does not certify any Cadbury’s products and does not have the product detail of the products. MJCHT senior halal consultant Sheik Moosa Titus said a few months ago, there was a major issue regarding shellac, an ingredient used in chocolates and other food products. Shellac is a resin secreted by the female lac bug, on trees in the forests of India and Thailand.
It is processed and sold as dry flakes, which are dissolved in ethyl alcohol to make liquid shellac, which is used as a brush-on colorant, food glaze and wood finish. “The MJC Fatwa Department in January 2010 completed and finalized its extensive research on the subject of Shellac. We have concluded that shellac is Taahir and halal and that it is permissible to be used in the preparation of halal foods and other halal products,” he explained.
VOC (Tasneem Adams)
