@ Halal | January-February . 2025

Processing aids in halal food production

BY NUR AZIRA TUKIRAN International Institute for Halal Research and Training ( INHART ), International Islamic University Malaysia ( IIUM )

“ Gelatin is a critical substance for halal compliance since it is derived from animal collagen . If the animals were not slaughtered according to the shari ’ ah law , the gelatin is non-halal , making the juice haram ( forbidden ) regardless of its final clarity .”

While many of us glance at labels to check for sugar content or calorie count , there is a hidden world behind the listed ingredients that remains largely unseen : the processing aids . Imagine these processing aids as the unsung heroes of food production , performing essential tasks like stabilising flavours , preserving textures , and ensuring the consistency of products .

Unlike additives , which are clearly labelled , processing aids are not required to be listed on the packaging .

This invisible presence raises a significant question for millions of Muslim consumers : Are these unseen “ ingredients ” halal ? For Muslims , the food ’ s journey from farm to table is just as important as the final product .

Transparency is key , but it is often elusive in processed foods . Some additives are cloaked under generic terms like “ spices ”, making it nearly impossible to discern their exact origins . This opacity extends to processing aids , making it difficult for consumers to make informed choices .

UNDERSTANDING PROCESSING AIDS

According to Regulation 19A , Malaysia Food Regulations 1985 , processing aids means “ any substance that is used in the processing of raw materials , foods or ingredients , to fulfil a technological purpose relating to treatment or processing but does not perform a technological function in the final food product and may result in an unavoidable presence of residues in the final food product ”.

There are three situations in which a manufacturing substance is deemed to be a processing aid ( Food Safety and Inspection Service , 2008 ):

• Substances that are added during the processing of a food but are removed in some manner from the food before it is packaged in its finished form ;

• Substances that are added to a food during processing are converted into constituents usually present in the food and do not significantly increase the amount of the constituents naturally found in the food or

• Substances that are added to a food for their technical or functional effect in the processing but are present in the finished food at insignificant levels and do not have any technical or functional effect in that food . Since they are not typically present in the final product or present only in negligible amounts , they are considered distinct from ingredients and additives . These processing aids help in various stages of processing , such as improving texture , appearance , or processing efficiency . They may include solvents , catalysts , lubricants , antimicrobial agents , or other chemicals . Some processing aids and their purposes are given in Table 1 .

Note that all of these materials must be approved for use with foods , and their presence in the final food must be consistent with food safety . As such , these substances shall be used under conditions of good manufacturing practices ( GMP ) which include the following :

• the quantity of the substance used shall be limited to the lowest achievable level necessary to accomplish its desired technological function ;

• residues or derivatives of the substance remaining in food should be reduced to the extent reasonably achievable and should not pose any health risk and

NO . FOOD PRODUCTS PROCESSING AIDS PURPOSE

• the substance is prepared and handled in the same way as a food ingredient ( Malaysia Food Regulations 1985 ).

STATUS OF PROCESSING AIDS ?

Various processing aids , which are often invisible to the consumer , can complicate matters . These processing aids can leave behind residues or derivatives in the final product , raising essential questions about their halal status . Even trace amounts can be significant for halal compliance .

For instance , consider the materials used to lubricate food-processing equipment , like metal conveyor belts . If these lubricants contain animal fats such as lard ( from pigs ) or tallow ( from non-slaughtered cows or goats ), they can render a product non-halal .

Even if the amounts are tiny , their presence can compromise the halal integrity of the food . Another example is fruit juices . To clarify fruit juices , manufacturers might add materials like gelatin . Although these clarifying agents are intended to be filtered out before the final product is packaged , traces can remain .

Gelatin is a critical substance for halal compliance since it is derived from animal collagen . If the animals were not slaughtered according to the shari ’ ah law , the gelatin is non-halal , making the juice haram ( forbidden ) regardless of its final clarity .

Ensuring that processing aids and all other ingredients meet halal requirements is a meticulous and vital part of the certification process . These ingredients must be scrutinised , from the raw materials to the final product , to guarantee that halal integrity is maintained .

This rigorous oversight ensures that consumers can trust the halal label on their food , confident that every aspect of its production has been carefully vetted . This diligence aligns with the divine guidance in the Quran :

Table 1 . Examples and functions of processing aids ( Sources : Yerramsetti and Browser , 2017 )

1 . Apple juice Gelatin with gums Help to eliminate suspended particles

3 . Beverages Silicone Antifoam 4 . Bread Phospholipase Increase volume and prolong softness 5 . Cheese Rennet Separate curd and whey 6 . Chill water Ozone Antimicrobial

9 . Frozen dough ( e . g . waffles and pancakes ) Sodium stearoyl lactylate Strengthen dough 10 . Fruit and vegetable washes Chlorine organic acid washes Antimicrobial 11 . Liquid nitrogen BBQ sauce Improves stability of plastic container 12 . Meat Ammonium hydroxide Antimicrobial