Halal Certification for Airline Catering Companies

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Why is Halal Certification Relevant for Airline Caterers?

Airline catering companies are increasingly seeking halal certification to meet the needs of all their passengers in the global market. Here are top 3 reasons why they are acquiring halal certification:
Agreement

1. Meeting Passenger Demands:

With a growing number of Muslim travelers worldwide, airlines need to cater to halal dietary needs. Providing halal meals as part of the standard menu offering eliminates the need for pre-ordering special meals, making the process seamless for both the airline and passengers.

Effıcient Processes

2. Helps Expand Market Presence:

Halal-certified meal offerings will allow airline caterers to work with airlines to tap into the lucrative Muslim travel market, estimated to be worth billions annually. By offering certified halal meals, airlines can appeal to a broader customer base, including Muslim travelers who prioritize halal food options.

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3. Staying Competitive:

Halal certification allows caterers to offer a differentiated/competitive product that keeps their airline clients competitive, especially on routes with high volumes of Muslim passengers, such as flights to the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and North Africa.

The efficiency with which AHF works has saved us a substantial amount of time and money. The custom solution that was created for quality controls for halal were logical and made sense in our operational structure and has not created any extreme changes to our process

Stu Blohm

Executive Vice-President

Halal Certification Requirements for Airline Catering Companies

Below is a detailed overview of the halal certification requirements for airline catering companies:

1. Sourcing of Halal-Compliant Ingredients

All ingredients used in the preparation of meals must be sourced from suppliers that are halal certified or suitable. This includes meats, poultry, food additives, enzymes, and other critical ingredients.
The use of non-halal ingredients such as pork, alcohol, or any products derived from non-halal sources is strictly prohibited. This also extends to by-products and derivatives that might be hidden in flavorings or processed ingredients.

2. Facility and Equipment Compliance

Facilities must be designed to prevent cross-contamination between halal and non-halal foods. This involves separate storage areas, preparation zones, and utensils dedicated exclusively to halal meal preparation.
All equipment and utensils used in halal food preparation must be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized according to halal standards before use. This ensures no traces of non-halal substances remain, maintaining the purity of halal products.

3. Halal Critical Control Points (HCCPs)

Specific points in the catering process must be identified as critical to maintaining halal compliance. These include receiving, storage, preparation, cooking, and packaging stages.

4. Training of Personnel:

Staff involved in the preparation and handling of halal meals must undergo training on halal principles and practices. This training is part of the facility audit, which also includes document verification and facility-walkthrough.

5. Labeling Requirements:

Clear labels must be placed on the packages of finished products bearing: plant name and number; name of product; weights; list of ingredients; production and expiration dates and safe handling instructions

6. Audits and Inspections

AHF halal standards require airline caterers to undergo regular audits and inspections to ensure continued compliance with halal standards. These audits assess all aspects of the catering process, from ingredient sourcing to final meal packaging.

7. Documentation and Record-Keeping

Accurate records of all ingredients, suppliers, and processing steps must be maintained to provide traceability. This allows any issues of non-compliance to be traced back to the source and corrected swiftly.

The AHF Difference

American Halal Foundation (AHF) is a leading globally accredited Halal certification provider—with over $1 Billion + in revenue growth achieved by businesses through its certifications.

Universal Consumer Acceptance

The north star of AHF certification is Universal Consumer Acceptance. AHF uniquely certifies to the highest halal standards acceptable to all 2 billion halal consumers.

Internationally Accredited

AHF is internationally accredited and globally accepted. Learn more here.

Client Service

You will receive dedicated account executives dedicated to your success in achieving halal certification and beyond.

Wide Scope

AHF covers every applicable industry, from yogurt to pharmaceuticals, with our halal certification services. You can learn more here.

Efficient and Dynamic Processes

From the application to adding new products to your program, AHF has designed its processes to save you as much time as possible.

Integrative Approach

You have existing quality systems that may meet some halal program objectives. AHF removes the redundancy and seeks to integrate with your systems where possible.

An Efficient 3-Step Certification Process

The American Halal Foundation (AHF) will process your application with no cost.

1

Application

The American Halal Foundation (AHF) will process your application. Your designated account executive will guide you through the application process to determine the halal status of the facility and its products.
calendar icon5-7 Business Days

 

2

Audit

Your Account Executive will schedule a halal audit on a mutually convenient day. The audit typically lasts 4 hours and includes a training session for the employees who will be responsible for overseeing the halal production.
calendar icon1 Day

 

3

Certification

🎉  Congratulations

Upon the successful completion of the halal audit, your products and facility are now officially certified as halal and recognized as such internationally. Your products will bear the most recognized symbol of integrity, authenticity, and wholesomeness in the world. You may add products or facilities at any time by simply contacting your Account Executive.

calendar icon48 hours from the successful completion of the audit process.

 

Our Accreditations

World Halal Food Council (WHFC) logoWorld Halal Food Council (WHFC)

Global Halal Certifiers’ Council World

World Halal Food Council (WHFC) logoThe Assessment Institute for Food, Drug and Cosmetic, The Indonesian Council of Ulama (LPPOM MUI)

Leading Religious Authority of the Republic of Indonesia

The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia logoThe Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM)

Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS)

Testimonials

Ivanhoe logo

AHF has a solid understanding of the chemical industry when it comes to Halal certification. AHF and their leadership made our transition seamless and have been very cost-effective. They visited our facility for an onsite process audit and we've had zero issues when it comes to having new products evaluated for certification.

Emily Rowlette

Plant Manager
DSM logo

Halal certification allows our customers to trust our product. We switched to AHF because they were globally accepted and nice to work with. They take the time to understand our process and are very responsive when we have questions.

Renee Al jassani

Quality Assurance Supervisor
Dnata logo

AHF has allowed us to build trust with the world's top Halal Airline Carriers by allowing us to present program details beyond what they have seen from other certification bodies.

Rishi Hinduja

DNATA
Butcher Packer logo

The efficiency with which AHF works has saved us a substantial amount of time and money. The custom solution that was created for quality controls for halal were logical and made sense in our operational structure and has not created any extreme changes to our process

Stu Blohm

Executive Vice-President
Sopakco logo

…American Halal Foundation provided a tailored program around SOPAKCO's very complex military assembly program. Through this effort SOPAKCO was able to prepare a meal configuration that met the US Government's strict standards within the price point required for our contract…

Lonnie Thompson

President

FAQ

Will halal certification increase our operational costs?

While there is an initial investment in certification, the costs are generally minimal compared to the substantial returns, such as accessing a larger market of Muslim travelers and improving operational efficiencies. The long-term benefits often outweigh the upfront costs.

How long does the halal certification process take?

The duration of the halal certification process can vary depending on the complexity of your supply chain and the certification body you choose. On average, it can take anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks to complete, including document submission, audit, and approval stages.

What are the key steps involved in obtaining halal certification for exports to Jordan?

The key steps include filling the halal application, submitting the necessary documentation (including product ingredients and manufacturing processes), undergoing an audit of your facilities and processes, and finally, receiving the certification if all standards are met.

What documents are required for halal certification?

The required documents generally include product specifications, ingredient lists, supplier certifications, manufacturing process details, and quality control procedures.

What happens if any product doesn’t meet the halal standards?

If your product doesn’t meet halal standards during the initial audit, AHF will typically provide a report detailing non-compliance issues. You will then need to address these issues and undergo a follow-up audit before certification can be granted.

Get Halal Certified Now!

Time is running out for airline catering businesses to gain a competitive edge through halal certification, as more companies recognize its growing importance.

Investing in halal certification for your products or facilities is a small commitment that can lead to significant returns, making it a smart move in today’s market. Check out an example of the ROI of halal certification here!

Interested in applying Halal Certification for Airline Catering Companies?

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