Earlier this week a colleague forwarded an email to me containing a message which has allegedly been written by the management of Haagen-Dazs. In it, the popular ice-cream chain is seen explaining the contents of its vanilla-based products and that it contains about 0.2% alcohol due to the nature of its flavouring compounds.
Needless to say the email has been widely forwarded amongst Muslims here, judging from its list of past recipients in the email body. With it came the equivocal but vehement call for all Muslims to boycott the ice-cream establishment for its products are not Halal based on this alcoholic content declaration.
Prophet Muhammad once said, “That which can intoxicate in large quantities is also forbidden in minute quantities." Based on this narration, Muslims in general have developed a critical eye towards everything that they eat which could possibly contain even trace amounts of alcohol, including chocolates, ice-cream, cakes and even sushi.
Generally I think that this could be a good habit. After all it pays to be aware of what is in your food let it be alcohol, additives or anything that may harm the mind and body in any way.
But why has the same stringent criteria not been applied to other dishes that has been prepared by Muslims? After all, it is a well-known fact that fermented Malay dishes like the Tapai (made of either tapioca or rice) do contain traces amount of alcohol? A brief walk through the Geylang Serai market will inadvertently reveal an entire row of Muslim stalls selling this dubious delicacy.
Are Muslims genuinely interested in avoiding non-Halal foods or is the general agenda leaning more towards the boycott of Western products which they perceive to be un-Islamic? Very often I have seen Muslims furiously condemning non-Muslim products and services once they are not found to be Halal, but turning soft towards Muslim-produced dishes which are clearly doubtful.
In fact, a search on the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) FAQ website reveals that its stand on Tapai is that it is Halal. Its explanation is that “Rice and tapioca can only intoxicate at the point of it being fermented” and that “after the process of fermentation, the intoxicant element will cease to exist and thus making the product, tapai, halal”.
But is it, really? On Wednesday, the 1st November 2006, Malaysian newspaper The Star carried a report about a teenager in Kota Kinabalu who raped a 75-year-old grandmother. The suspect was diagnosed as being drunk after consuming too much Tapai.
Granted, this grandma-raping may be an isolated one-off incident. But the fact is that intoxication can happen upon excess consumption. Frequent consumers of the sour dessert can attest to this fact. How MUIS deduced this dish to be Halal is beyond my understanding.
But that could not be the end of it. What about other Malay dishes that has gone through fermentation like soy sauce, cincaluk, etc? Could they not also contain trace amounts of alcohol? Basic fermentation is after all a chemical conversion that turns carbohydrates into alcohol and carbon dioxide ( C6H12O6 → 2 C2H5OH + 2 CO2 ). Why then have these traditional Malay food eluded the ever encompassing radar of Halal evangelists who are ever so keen to decriminalise and boycott products made by non-Muslims?
I’m not a big fan of the big ice-cream companies like Häagen-Dazs nor Ben & Jerry’s. I think they’re way overrated. This entry is in no way a defensive article for these establishments nor any other non-Halal food outfit.
But the point that I’m trying to make is that if we have chosen to adapt a very critical stance towards the food we take, then we should go all the way and not be hypocritical against the ones Muslims have grown accustomed and familiar to, including the ones in our own kitchen.
The prohibition against alcohol exists in the form of 4 verses in the Quran (4:43, 2:219 and 5:90-91). The reason for their revelation (Asbab al-Nuzul) was so that Muslims stay away from intoxicating substances that drift the mind. But somehow over the centuries, this objective has evolved into a witch-hunt to zealously purge anything and everything that contains even an insignificant amount of naturally occurring alcohol.
Since this the line we have decided to toe, I think we will only have the moral right to call for boycotts only if we also clean up our kitchens. Else critical stances, like the Haagen-Dazs chain mail, aims to just isolate the community further.
Science note: Basic fermentation produces ethanol (ethyl alcohol) and carbon dioxide. However there are some forms of fermentation that produces acids instead of alcohol. This fact should be noted in the interest of an all-round discussion. Thanks Diyanah for pointing it out!*
*And yeah, thanks too Feroz too for forwarding me the email. (Jealous colleague who's sore that I didn't mention his name. Lol.)
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Soy Sauce contains a tiny amount of alcohol. It is natural from the making process. Dun believe me, try drinking one whole bottle of soy sauce at one go. Tell me if you can still walk straight. The strenth is diff from brand to brand. But soy sauce is halal becos u dun get drunk from eating soy sauce right?
ReplyDeleteThe point is this, why is there such thing as halal and haram? Muslims must ask our selves more about the why and u will appreciate Islamic laws better.
ive yet to redeem my haagen daz voucher..dilemma!!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous who is gg to redeem your HD voucher:
ReplyDeleteAsk your self this: are you going to get drunk taking ice cream with 0.2% alcoholic content? If you do then i suggest you stay away from it.
Salams,
ReplyDeleteI think a better example of fermented food in Malay culture would be the Taucu, which is actually made of fermented soy beans. Taucu follows the same chemical properties that is mentioned in the post above, a breakdown of carbohydrates into carbon dioxide and alcohol and acid. However the amount of alcohol is very very very tiny, maybe about the same level as HD ice creams 0.2%-0.5% that is the reason why you cannot get drunk by eating taucu, especially when it is cooked. Soy sauce contains a higher level of alcohol of about 1%-2% and some as high as 10%. Now that is smth for Muslims to think about and decide, how much alcohol is acceptable? If we follow strictly that minute quantities are to be avoided? Then taucu is also to be avoided for its very tiny amount of alco?
yes! finally someone brings something like this up!
ReplyDeletei agree with everything you brought up. once again, a clever, articulate and well-researched piece from you.
i also have an issue with say, leather products. people are like, "what material is that shoe?"
"pigskin!? no!"
what's your take on leather products?
i mean, how about the cowhide leather wallet that everyone has? do they have to made from islamically-slaughtered cows?
if yes, does that mean we are all doomed?
Leather, is not requirted for it to be halal as we're not eating it. but pig skin is a no-no for it is najis.
ReplyDeleteBut the real isue is TAPAI my friend, TAPAI.... it has been in doubt for so long.
malaysian scientists tested the thing positive for alcohol since ages ago, thats why the debate started when some ulama there declared the food as haram. but MUIS insist it is Halal. i wonder why. Maybe the ppl at MUIS like to eat tapai for lunch la. thats why its still being sold in Geylang Serai openly like nobody's business.
yes fermentation sometimes produces acids instead of alcohol. but are we taking the chance by not testing the other foods like taucu cincaluk tempoyak etc? they could ferment with acid but it could be ethanol also? its about time ppl at MUIS do some testing. glad u brought this up bro.
Ripe fruit also can contain up to 3% (?) alcohol, but Muslim scholars apply principles to make them acceptable.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to go down to 1 PPM, I'm sure almost everything has alcohol in it.
Adding on to what Agagooga has said,
ReplyDeleteRipe bananas contain trace amounts of naturally occurring alcohol. In fact, scientists have discovered the skin of the banana is highly alcoholic – 11% alcohol content. Please see the scientific finding at http://www.despardes.com/food/news/alcohol-in-banana-jan8.html. 11% alcoholic content is way higher than many of the drinks at a typical cocktail bar.
So to all Muslims, are we going to ban and boycott bananas too? Muslims, especially those calling for boycotts, please think as to why Islam forbids alcohol in the first place. Is it so that we Muslims live a life that is free from being drunk and useless? Or is it because God wants us to conduct a “witch hunt” as the author mention - for every single food that contains any amount of alcohol. Please, think.
Muslims today are so pre-occupied with wat is halal and wat is not that they have simply forgotten the more important values of Islam in the first place. Muslims like these make the religion a laughing stock in the eyes of non-Muslims.
'Halal concept' is a simple way of life. Stay away from whatever harmful to your body and mind and you will become a Halal fan.
ReplyDeleteIf you are addicted to junk foods, you are moving away from Halal food culture.
If you are a lover of nature and environment you are more closer to the Halal concept.
Consumerism demand aggressive falsification of food. Every additives can be harmful to your body.
Imperialist forces promote all such beautifully packed products to natural friendly communities around the world. They will teach you lessons on PR and marketing.
Such contaminated food products threatens local or traditional food culture and their habitat. And finally it causes political conflicts.
i know this is way too late to give comments but i want to say it anyway.
ReplyDeletei come from the state of Sabah (the capital is Kota Kinabalu).
in Sabah, there are 2 kinds of tapai. first, is the rice tapai and the other one is the drinking tapai.
the rice tapai is the usual one that can be found also in the peninsular of malaysia.
but the lesser known one (the drinking tapai) is only popular in Sabah (the borneo part of malaysia). it's an alcoholic drink traditionally produced by the natives of Sabah.
most people in the peninsular malaysia are not aware that there's actually 2 kinds of tapai in Sabah. and we just call both of them (the rice and the drinking one) tapai.
so, if people ask 'do u drink tapai' then they mean the alcoholic drinking tapai.
if they say 'eat tapai' then they mean the rice one.
so, i think the teenager actually took the drinking tapai.
i'm actually commenting on the pigskin and cow leather comment.
ReplyDeleteyou can touch a cow, or non-halal cow meat anytime. so, it doesnt really matter.
only pigs and dogs are haram to be consumed or touched, consequently haram to be eaten.
you have to consider why certain things are haram first.
There is a gross misunderstanding of the word "tapai".
ReplyDeleteIn Sabah, another meaning is "rice wine". It is not just the fermented rice.
We use both terms indiscrimately. No wonder the reported just reported what he/she hear and print the word "tapai" without explaining which tapai is that.
You cannot get drunk while eating "rice tapai" because I used to eat until I was full without any feeling of being drunk. We become full very quickly when we eat the fermented rice. There is no chance at all of being drunk.
I believe only dogs' noses are haram, since they're wet.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you follow the "way of life" concept of Halal, wouldn't that mean that pork and alcohol (in moderation) are alright?!
I'm new here.
ReplyDeleteJust my two cents worth..
My first cent goes, As muslims we adhere strictly to halal and haram. So heck care to what non-muslims think about it. Honestly, its a total waste of time and energy explaining to them.
The other cent, I'm quite ashamed of some muslims in fact. They would eat at any joint even there's no halal certification issued there. I simply don't understand why. And nowadays, companies hire tudung clad women in their foodstalls.. now, that doesn't mean that the food is halal.
To be strict in what you follow, depends on you, yourself. How you take islam. Seriously or not.
Well, the issue's subjective.. so..
to each his own yea.
Well, I can't say I'm against alcohol coz that would be hypocritical of myself; but I do hope this whole boycotting thing would stop. It shows shallow understanding.
ReplyDeleteIt gets a tad too unbelievable when even Oreos and the MooMoo ice-cream are called on to be boycotted.
yup.
ReplyDeletei would like to clear up a point about employers employing tudung-clad women at non halal certified joints.
when you see one next time, do make it a point to ask them if they have a halal cert.
MUIS don't dish out halal certs upon application like NEA dishes out food licenses.
there needs to be a lot of documentation and bouncing back and forth before a halal cert is given by MUIS.
the whole process can take months of which one of the pre-requisites is to have muslim staff at the premise. their role is be MUIS' eyes at the stall to ensure that everything is kept halal.
they're to sound out when for example another staff brings in non-halal packed lunch from someplace else to eat at the premise or when they come across something without a halal chop when receiving food supplies from suppliers.
they have to be there from the beginning, from the point where the food joints in question are only in the process of halal-application.
Salam to all,
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I am the girl who actually emailed Haagen Dazs and asked for their clarification about whether or not their ice creams are halal. And I must say, I did not expect it to be a chain mail, let alone be a topic of discussion on a lot of blogs, as I have come to realise.
My intention when sending the email was as simple as getting the clarification from Haagen Dazs on whether their ice creams are halal or not. Because I used to like eating their ice cream (as stated in the email). And when they replied, it's only natural for me, as a Muslim, to inform my other fellow muslims about it. That's it. No intention of asking anyone to boycott or what so ever. To each its own. It is just a fardhu kifayah for me to inform what I know. Then the responsibility lies in each Muslim who are informed, on whether to consume or not to consume the products.
Wallahualam
hmmm...i find it interesting abt employin tudung clad ladies at a non-halal restaurant.
ReplyDeleteHow abt those restaurants who claimed tht they are halal BUT they don have the halal cert cos they said they sell alcohol? too many of those around.
And some time ago, i ate at Swensen's at Vivo. I asked for some sourcream but they said they don carry it as it is not certified halal. THEN i asked for yellow mustard, which they gave me in this botle of a popular brand (brand undisclosed) and nope, i don find no halal stamp on it.
hmmmm....
something to ponder abt....
hmmm...i find it interesting abt employin tudung clad ladies at a non-halal restaurant.
ReplyDeleteHow abt those restaurants who claimed tht they are halal BUT they don have the halal cert cos they said they sell alcohol? too many of those around.
And some time ago, i ate at Swensen's at Vivo. I asked for some sourcream but they said they don carry it as it is not certified halal. THEN i asked for yellow mustard, which they gave me in this botle of a popular brand (brand undisclosed) and nope, i don find no halal stamp on it.
hmmmm....
something to ponder abt....
as for restaurants saying they're halal but don't have the halal cert because they sell alcohol, go ahead and ask them to show you their food packaging/s.
ReplyDeletethen again, it's up to the individual if he/she still wants to go ahead or not. make your own decisions.
as for food products that carry no halal chop, muis can't be everywhere, everytime.
ask the staff/management of the joint to clarify on the halal issue first. give them a chance to explain themselves.
if the explanation is not satisfactory, then let them know why and then bring it up to muis.
muis will liaise with the joint's halal in charge and they'll take it from there.
Malaysian Mamak
ReplyDeleteMahathir Kept Hidden His Little Secret - The Indian Muslim
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad started life NOT as a Malay but a Malayali -the people of Kerala in south INDIA, where his father came from.
At university in Singapore, Mahathir was listed as an INDIAN.
Perhaps this explains why Mahathir became MORE Malay than many Malays, all the while pursuing a politics which had scant time for Malay instincts for consensus and compromise.
(Note: Mahathir was born and named as Mahathir s/o Iskandar Kutty @Mahathir Mohamed. Mahathir's father, (Iskandar Kutty) was a school teacher of Indian origin, specifically Malayalee (people who speak Malayalam), NOT to be confused with Malay, having migrated from the southern state of Kerala, while his mother was a Malay. - Malaysian Unplug)
Mahathir is full of paradoxes on racial issues. Many of his policies have had the effect of reducing the racial element in government decisions, watering down the agenda to advance Malay interests. As a result he is well regarded by many in the Chinese business community.
Mahathir has been quick to promote himself as the embodiment of "Asian" identity and values, with diatribes against the west, usually couched in racial terms.
Yet, despite his trumpeting of Asian identity, Mahathir appears ashamed to admit his Indian heritage.
In his new book, A New Deal for Asia, he writes about his father in such a way as to imply that he was a Malay dedicated to the improvement of his fellow Malays rather than the hard-working Indian immigrant and government servant that he was.
No mention of Mahathir's Indian Muslim background ever appears in the media. The subject is taboo.
Philip Bowring.
Salam to all.
ReplyDeleteEven with the useful clarification on the usage of the term "Tapai" to mean the drink, it still does not allay the concerns on the presence of trace alcohol in the tapai-the-food variety.
When in doubt, i guess the best is to just leave the food/drink alone because there are plenty of other halal alternatives.
and i tend to disagree with the "witch-hunt" comment on foodstuff which contains alcohol. no one can deny that it's every Muslim's responsibility to highlight something which there are reasons for doubt. Such are the positive contributions by our sister who wanted to know more about the Haagan Daaz, or others on Ben n Jerry's, Frito Lay Chips, and scores of other products which may be contentious to the Muslim diet. and to a large extent even Ridzwan has pointed out a valid concern with tapai, tau-chou, cencalok, and other Malay favourites and may Allah reward him for that. but it doesnt make him a haram-ingredient-hunting Witch. It makes him and the others responsible Muslims beacuse they are using knowledge to make people more aware of their surrounding.
I dont't think the concept of Halal and haram, especially with food/drinks, should be taken lightly. What we eat or drink will be part of our flesh and blood, and will accompany us in our deeds. It best to keep it as pure and with least doubt as possible.
I don't think its some kind of paranoia to make life difficult, its about making sure that we stay as close to our religion as possible. Not everything decreed upon us by Allah Azzawajal and his Messenger p.b.u.h has to be completely logical or have complete rationale. I believe a lot of it is a test of faith. If its Haram, leave it. And i dun think we should take it lightly, neither should we question its rationale, for there are too many things which escapes our feeble understanding. Wallahu a'alam.
Massalamah.