'Halal' labels

'Halal' labels

From Republika

Moslem society has for years recognized halal products only by
looking at the word "halal" written on the package. This halal
mark is OK, because the Indonesian Council of Ulemas must have
examined the products.

However, lately, the issue of halal products has come to the
fore again because of the plan to put halal stickers on the
packages of products. This plan is analogous to a virus. This is
because viruses, being extremely small, could cause a great deal
of damage to the human body. So commercialization of halal
stickers would only tarnish religious values. Islam is a
blessing, and halal labeling should not cause an additional
financial burden to the people. The producers should raise the
prices of their products to compensate for the cost they bear to
have the halal labels.

SOESILANTO

Jakarta