Food labeling system prone to manipulation<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): The government's plan to appoint a private
\ncompany to issue halal (permitted in Islam) and non-halal labels
\non food, beverages, medicine and cosmetic products has baffled
\nmany.<\/p>\n
Among them is Dr. Tri Susanto, a food technology professor,
\nwhose 1988 survey on halal food created a national uproar after
\nhis findings showed that many food products were non-halal.<\/p>\n
\"I can't understand why certified companies are not allowed to
\nput the halal label on their products themselves,\" Tri told The
\nJakarta Post, referring to the current system in which
\ncertification of halal food is issued by the Indonesian Ulemas
\nCouncil (MUI) following a recommendation from the Ministry of
\nHealth to companies voluntarily asking for the certificates.<\/p>\n
\"Haven't they gotten the certificates of halal from MUI
\nalready? Why can't they stamp the labels on themselves?\" he
\nasked.<\/p>\n
If a company which has received a halal certificate from MUI
\nis allowed to put halal labels on by itself it would be much
\neasier, practical and efficient, he said.<\/p>\n
\"If a company having the sole labeling right is set up
\nseparately it would be technically more difficult to do the
\nlabeling and has risks of higher product prices as well as
\nmanipulation,\" said the professor from Brawijaya University,
\nMalang, East Java.<\/p>\n
Tri sees the danger that when a private company has the
\nspecial right of labeling, it would sell labels to uncertified
\ncompanies.<\/p>\n
\"There would be a lot non-halal food having the halal label.
\nHow do we control this?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
But isn't the current system equally prone to manipulation?<\/p>\n
\"If certified companies fake their halal registration numbers
\nthey can be sued,\" he said.<\/p>\n
But the professor is glad that many manufacturers now realize
\nthe importance of halal labeling.<\/p>\n
\"They are eager to get halal certificates from the Directorate
\nGeneral of Food and Drugs and MUI even though it's not obligatory
\nas yet. I guess they understand that they will have bigger sales
\nby putting halal labels on their products,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged that among the hundreds of companies now
\npossessing the halal certificates, most are big companies.<\/p>\n
Like other observers, Tri also questioned the commercial
\nmotive behind the labeling business once the government ruling
\ncomes into effect.<\/p>\n
\"We are speaking about trillions of rupiah because there are
\nmillions of products. Putting a label on means another Rp 10 (4
\nU.S. cents) on each package that should be paid by the
\nmanufacturers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the whole issue boiled down to a suspicion that
\ncertain parties might want to take advantage of the halal
\nlabeling process. (26)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/food-labeling-system-prone-to-manipulation-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}