Animal DNA and halal status of chocolate products in Malaysia
Chocolate is a type of confectionary product loved by most of the Muslim society in Malaysia. Various types of biscuits, cakes and desserts may be produced with chocolate as an ingredient. Thus, chocolate products are encouraged by the Halal Council of Malaysia for an authentic halal certification...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2020
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/6988/1/FH02-FKI-20-39523.pdf http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/6988/ |
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| Summary: | Chocolate is a type of confectionary product loved by most of the Muslim society in Malaysia.
Various types of biscuits, cakes and desserts may be produced with chocolate as an ingredient. Thus, chocolate
products are encouraged by the Halal Council of Malaysia for an authentic halal certification. This led to tension
after a report went viral in local newspapers that pig DNA was found on a well-known brand of chocolate in
Malaysia. Muslims were shocked when the chocolate involved had the halal certified logo from the Department
of Islamic Development of Malaysia (JAKIM). The consequence was that Muslims tend to boycott the particular
chocolate brand. Therefore, the purpose of this paper was to identify the ingredients used in making chocolate and
the method of determining its legal status. The definition of DNA and and how it can contaminate to other
substances were highlighted and discussed. A qualitative case study design is conducted on chocolate making
using a content analysis of primary sources of Islamic studies and sciences such as al-Quran, hadith, contemporary
fiqh, science books and journals. Results indicated that the method of detecting animal DNA in chocolate was
through Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) where pig DNA is detected with primers 5’-
GCCTAAATCTCCCCTCAATGGTA-3’ and (reverse) 5’ -ATGAAAGAGGCAA ATAGATTTTCG-3’. Pig
traces can contaminate other food products either deliberately or unintentionally. Legal ruling was that, it is haram
(prohibited) if pig DNA was placed intentionally by human intervention or negligence. However, unintentionally
contamination by human is affirmed as halal (permissible) based on the general rule by the mukalaf (authority). |
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