Not sure about the halal-ness of certain foods? Contact the food company.

Labeling for halal is not mandatory in the United States, so how can consumers determine if their groceries, meats, produce, deli foods, and beverages were manufactured and processed based on their beliefs? Top tip: Contact the food companies directly. Kosher, vegan, or any other certification is not a guarantee that the product is halal.

Consumers in the United States have the right to contact food companies for any concerns or inquiries related to ingredients and nutritional information or to, give feedback, make a complaint, or report a problem with a product. In turn, food companies are required to provide consumers with accurate information about their products and to respond to consumer inquiries.

While the core halal-observant community in the US is still a small percentage (albeit with higher discretionary income) of the country’s population— the largest communities in New York, California, Illinois, New Jersey, Texas, and Michigan—export-oriented American food companies are increasingly halal-certifying their products to appeal to the one in four individuals across the world who is Muslim. With companies in the US producing more than 20% of the $1.5 trillion global halal food and beverage market, it is probable that the foods you’re putting in your shopping carts are halal but not labeled as such.

Your concerns are valid

If your concerns as a consumer are any of the following, there is definitely a benefit in contacting food companies:

• There are no halal-certified options or alternatives to food products you’re looking for.
• No halal label: A food or beverage product you believe is halal is not labeled as halal-certified. This could include products like seafood or beverages like fruit juices.
• No halal label: After doing your research about what’s on the product label, you are still unsure or suspicious about the halal-ness of certain ingredients.
• Halal-labeled: A product carries a halal label, but you spot ingredients that you understand to be impermissible according to Islamic law, such as alcohol.
• Halal-labeled: A product carries a halal label that you are not familiar with.

Food companies have the most accurate and up-to-date knowledge about their products, so they are the best source of answers to your concerns or doubts.

What good would contacting food companies do?

Signaling demand

If you cannot find halal alternatives to the food products you’re looking for, contacting the manufacturer will signal to them there is demand for halal options.

If enough consumers make the same call, manufacturers may be swayed to modify products to meet the halal demand. Your call also encourages them to prioritize halal certification, leading to greater availability of suitable products.

Ingredient clarification

A lot of produce and beverages are not outrightly non-halal, for example, a lot of seafood is permissible under Islamic law, and a regular person’s understanding of what goes into fruit juices would not ring halal alarm bells.

But certain types of seafood, such as salmon, trout, and shrimp, are sometimes treated with additives, which may be non-halal, to make them look more attractive to consumers. Manufacturers may also use non-halal gelatin as a clarifying agent in beverages such as apple juice.

If, after scrutinizing the product or food label, you are still unsure or suspicious about certain ingredients, the best way to put your mind at ease is to contact the responsible food company for answers.

By contacting food companies, you can request comprehensive information about the components and additives used during production. This knowledge will empower you to make informed choices that align with your own dietary requirements.

Manufacturing and Product Claim certification process clarification

A product like soy sauce may contain alcohol and its derivatives, which are broadly understood to be non-halal by Islamic law, but still be labeled with a generic halal logo halal.
The food company that manufactured the product and went through the process of halal certification for it will be best positioned to explain to you why it is claimed as labeled halal but still contain alcohol. The explanation may lie in adherence to one halal standard over another to meet the requirements of a certain country’s halal framework that is not the same as another’s.

By engaging with food companies directly, you can ask about the steps they take to ensure their products meet halal standards and request proof of certification for any ingredients or processes you are unsure about.

When you receive the food manufacturer’s explanation, you can then decide for yourself your position on consuming the particular product. In any case it is strongly advised to not trust generic halal logos at face value.

Accountability

If the product you’re looking for has a halal logo that you are not familiar with, a Google search may give you the answers you’re looking for.

Alternatively, if you contact the food company seeking clarification about the status of the organization that halal-certified the product, you may receive a more detailed explanation about why they chose that certifier to begin with.

Feedback and transparency

Food companies appreciate consumer engagement and value feedback. By expressing your concerns regarding the halal status of their products, you contribute to a more transparent marketplace.

According to the United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organization, it is not uncommon for a single company in the US to be contacted by consumers literally hundreds of thousands of times each year through telephone or mail communications. For food companies, these engagements are an essential source of information about consumer concerns and interests and provide useful insights about products.

As a result of communication with halal-conscious consumers, manufacturers may be inclined to modify products, provide new information or respond to consumer interests.

That’s a win-win for the halal consumer and the food company that has found a new market to serve.

How to get in touch with companies?

Learning more about a product’s status and signaling halal demand is easier than you might think. Below are a few practical strategies to get in touch with the right people and ask the right questions.

How to best get the information you are looking for?

1. Have the specific product details handy. Generalized information requests are not particularly insightful in the food industry, and products may vary from one SKU to another.
2. Generally, it would be best to request to speak with the food safety and quality staff or address your written communication to the QA department. Otherwise, customer service can generally get the answer from the relevant department and relay it to you.
3. Ask if the specific product is halal certified.
4. If the product is halal certified, request information about the certifier.
5. If the product is not certified, indicate that you would like to see the products become halal certified and ask about any specific ingredients of concern.

Methods of getting in touch

Consumer Help Lines

Often companies will have a consumer helpline listed on their website. You can use the above steps to get the information you need. This is often the fastest way to receive a response.

Website Contact Forms

If you can identify the manufacturer or brand owner through the label, you can often reach them online through their websites.

Industry Councils

Many large companies and brands participate in councils that advise them on issues such as certifications. Often reaching out to these councils may give you valuable information on not only the particular product but other similar products.

Contact Intelligence Platforms

If you need a swift response, a lesser-known contact method is to use contact intelligence platforms to get the contact information of the specific person or department in the company whose product you seek to gain information on.

Conclusion

In summary, it is imperative that halal consumers contact companies to gain clarity about the products they consume, make their voices heard, and hold companies accountable. By being proactive, in time, awareness about the concerns and issues facing halal consumers will spread, and the food and beverage companies will more clearly inform consumers whether or not their products meet their dietary needs.