Islamic council certifies products from giant Indofood

Islamic council certifies products from giant Indofood

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) yesterday
certified as halal (fit for consumption by Moslems) a wide range
of products from giant food manufacturer PT Indofood Sukses
Makmur.

MUI Chairman Hasan Basri presented to company representatives
the halal certificates for 19 Indofood products, ranging from
instant noodles, to snacks including the best selling Chiki, baby
food, soy sauce, various sauces, flavor enhancers, biscuits and
cereal drinks.

"Given that the majority of Indonesians are Moslems, the
provision of halal food is non-negotiable," said Darwies Ibrahim,
an Indofood director, during the ceremony at the Grand Istiqlal
Mosque.

"Now that Indofood products are also reaching foreign shores,
it is our policy to make halal products wherever they are
produced or marketed," Darwies said.

The certificates were given after a long and intensive
inspection by the MUI's Agency for the Inspection of Food,
Medicines and Cosmetics.

Aisjah Girindra, the agency's chief, said the process lasted
over a month and involved 11 personnel who inspected, audited and
carried out field and laboratory surveys.

Then the MUI's Fatwa Board, whose members issued the council's
rulings, were brought in to discuss the findings.

"We realize that Indofood's products are reaching even the
most remote areas of the country," Aisjah said. "We feel that we
should extend our appreciation to PT Indofood for its willingness
to open its doors to our inspection, because they even disclosed
some classified information."

Monopoly

Indofood is a publicly-listed company which is majority-owned
by the powerful Salim Group of Liem Sioe Liong. The company has a
virtual monopoly on the lucrative and expanding Indonesian
instant noodle market.

In the last eight years, the company has managed to weather
two crises. In 1988, there were allegations that its noodle
products used pork shortening.

Last month, the company was forced to launch a massive public
relations exercise after allegations that five people died and
dozens others were hospitalized after consuming its instant
noodle products. The government later determined that the
allegations were unfounded.

In a press statement yesterday, the company said that the MUI
inspectors also checked the plant and equipment to ensure that
they are truly hygienic and not contaminated.

The company has taken steps to contract only suppliers who
strictly observe the halal ruling. Indofood also requires them to
sign a statement that none of the material they supply contains
pork shortening.

The company ensures that animals are slaughtered in accordance
with Islamic teaching.

The MUI beginning this year has taken on the task of issuing
halal certificates after it became apparent that the Ministry of
Health was restricted to solely the health aspects.

Aisjah urged Indofood yesterday to publicize as widely as
possible the granting of the halal certificates.

"Some people might consider this an attempt to `commercialize
the MUI certificates' and that it is therefore unethical. We
believe otherwise." (emb)