September-october . 2020 | @ Halal

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Dumping of food supplement products containing collagen should be given attention by consumers because the effects of collagen use vary depending on the content of total collagen molecules , the type and rate of absorption by the body system .

For example , cow-derived collagen must be obtained from cows slaughtered according to Islamic law . Also , collagen extracted from cattle and fish should not have a mixture of ingredients which may not be halal .

Other reasons for gelatin source authentication include the protection of consumers from food frauds due to false labelling and avoiding unfair market competition .

Recently , many gelatin source authentication methods were developed , such as spectroscopic , immunochemical , nucleic acid-based and mass spectrometry HPLC / LC .

For example , liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry ( LCMS / MS ) can generate testing results with high speed and increased accuracy . LC-MS / MS can detect or identify protein present in a food product .

Protein testing is considered reliable because the primary structure of proteins is generally stable against processing and a limited degree of protein degradation is less critical than the equivalent amount of DNA shearing .

Besides gelatin , Genetically Modified Food ( GMF ) is a food that has undergone a genetic engineering process by altering its structure and direct gene characteristics .

Deoxyribonucleic Acid ( DNA ) is manipulated through a process merging and isolating the DNA of one organism and the DNA of another organism . This process produces a new organism that will not exist naturally .

However , in regards to Muslim consumerism , there are general concerns on whether or not GMF is halal . The legal determination of these GMF products needs to be selective .

It is because each GMF product is different from other GMF products both in terms of its content and purpose .

Therefore , some GMFs need to be punished as illegal because they contain DNA from illicit sources or after it has been identified as causing harm to humans .

However , some GMFs are halal because they contain dna that is manipulated from sacred sources and can have a beneficial effect on human health and natural balance .

Also , GMF law can be determined based on how genetic engineering technology is applied in its production . The method in question is the method of DNA isolation from animals that have blood flow .

It is done as the DNA status in the living cells can turn into faeces if the method of isolation does not comply with the syaria guidelines . As a result , GMF produced from the DNA will also be illegal because it contains faecal elements .

While in cosmetics , the critical ingredients in cosmetics refer to components that originate from sources ( e . g ., unspecified animals , halal animals slaughtered in an unknown manner ) and process of synthesis ( e . g ., incorporation of haram processing aids , contamination with haram or najis ) nonconforming to the halal system .

However , the use of critical ingredients may still be allowed to be part of a halal cosmetic formulation if the halal certification for its origin and production has been secured and at the same time uncontaminated with najis .

Other issues that arise in the mix of ingredients in cosmetic products with chemicals such as drugs , poisons and even heavy metals that are not allowed by the Ministry of Health .

The National Pharmacy Regulatory Agency ( NPRA ), an agency under the purview of the Ministry of Health Malaysia ( MOH ), made frequent press releases for cosmetic products that contain scheduled poisons and prohibited substances .

UMHRC Researcher Atiqah Ab Aziz is analyzing oil samples derived from lard and palm oil using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy ( ATR-FTIR ) to characterize the chemical structure between animal and plant oil-based .

( Below ) UMHRC Researcher Atiqah Ab Aziz is extracting oil from lard and separate free fatty acids from the extracted oil through the saponification process for fatty acid profiling using chromatography .

If any cosmetic contains banned substances , then the agency will cancel its product notification . Thus these products will be prohibited in Malaysia . ( Cosmetic products in Malaysia are controlled through products notification procedure starting from 1 ^st January 2008 ).

For example , as of May 2019 , NPRA had cancelled notification number for 20 cosmetic products as they contain banned substances , including scheduled non-permissible poisons in cosmetic products such as Hydroquinone , Tretinoin , Mercury , Diphenhydramine and other harmful chemicals .

Hydroquinone is a type of chemical that was originally used to kill ‘ melanocytes ’, a kind of cell that acts to produce melanin ( NPRA , 2019 ). Therefore , the skin will look brighter and whiter .

According to Guidelines for Control of Cosmetic Products in Malaysia , ANNEX III-Part 1-List of substances , cosmetic products must not contain , except subject to restrictions and conditions laid down , the maximum authorised concentration in the ready-for-use preparation of hydroquinone is only 0.02 per cent ( after mixing for use ).

Quality assurance important

Moreover , the use of hydroquinone is only allowed for artificial nail systems ( Guidelines for Control of Cosmetic Products in Malaysia , 2018 ). The intent of certifying cosmetics products as halal is parallel with the goals of most quality assurance procedures ( e . g ., cGMP , HACCP ).

Hence , cosmetic products with halal logo will be recognised as an indicator of cleanliness , safety , purity , and quality . Knowing the origin of raw materials and the production process of cosmetic ingredients is vital .

This is because , upon application , cosmetic products may be unintentionally ingested ( e . g ., lipstick ), inhaled ( e . g ., perfumes ), or absorbed through the skin ( e . g ., alcohol or ingredients of critical origin ).

With the known challenges , manufacturers have to guarantee that cosmetic products are critically developed to be halal in composition and support the requirements of Islamic rituals holistically ( e . g ., wudu , cleansing before praying , or reading the Qur ’ an ) performed daily .