Food labeling system prone to manipulation

Food labeling system prone to manipulation

SURABAYA (JP): The government's plan to appoint a private
company to issue halal (permitted in Islam) and non-halal labels
on food, beverages, medicine and cosmetic products has baffled
many.

Among them is Dr. Tri Susanto, a food technology professor,
whose 1988 survey on halal food created a national uproar after
his findings showed that many food products were non-halal.

"I can't understand why certified companies are not allowed to
put the halal label on their products themselves," Tri told The
Jakarta Post, referring to the current system in which
certification of halal food is issued by the Indonesian Ulemas
Council (MUI) following a recommendation from the Ministry of
Health to companies voluntarily asking for the certificates.

"Haven't they gotten the certificates of halal from MUI
already? Why can't they stamp the labels on themselves?" he
asked.

If a company which has received a halal certificate from MUI
is allowed to put halal labels on by itself it would be much
easier, practical and efficient, he said.

"If a company having the sole labeling right is set up
separately it would be technically more difficult to do the
labeling and has risks of higher product prices as well as
manipulation," said the professor from Brawijaya University,
Malang, East Java.

Tri sees the danger that when a private company has the
special right of labeling, it would sell labels to uncertified
companies.

"There would be a lot non-halal food having the halal label.
How do we control this?" he asked.

But isn't the current system equally prone to manipulation?

"If certified companies fake their halal registration numbers
they can be sued," he said.

But the professor is glad that many manufacturers now realize
the importance of halal labeling.

"They are eager to get halal certificates from the Directorate
General of Food and Drugs and MUI even though it's not obligatory
as yet. I guess they understand that they will have bigger sales
by putting halal labels on their products," he said.

He acknowledged that among the hundreds of companies now
possessing the halal certificates, most are big companies.

Like other observers, Tri also questioned the commercial
motive behind the labeling business once the government ruling
comes into effect.

"We are speaking about trillions of rupiah because there are
millions of products. Putting a label on means another Rp 10 (4
U.S. cents) on each package that should be paid by the
manufacturers," he said.

He said the whole issue boiled down to a suspicion that
certain parties might want to take advantage of the halal
labeling process. (26)