Do you know that almost 90% of people are consuming Haram Food Products unknowingly?

Pakistan is the 5th largest country in the world in terms of population. According to the worldometer report, 35.1% of the population in Pakistan is urban and among that around 64% population of the country comprises youth aged between 15 and 33.

People of Pakistan are very fond of eating and they love to try new food which is being introduced to them. When it comes to fast-food, they love to try new flavors. This is the major reason for which many international fast-food brands have established their outlets in the major cities of Pakistan and running successfully. Amongst them, McDonald’s, KFC, Hardees, PapaJohn’s, Domino’s, and California Pizza are a few of the renowned fast-food chains.

Pakistan is a land of various co-existing cultures and this disparity is reflected in the eating habits of the general population as well. The arrival of Islam within South Asia influenced the local cuisine to a great degree.

Stats show that in 2021 the fast-food industry is the 2nd largest flourishing industry in Pakistan is growing 25% annually.

What is the reason behind this dramatic shift of the youth towards fast-food more than anything else?

In today’s fast-paced situation of life with hungry stomach, something quick and delicious is no less than a blessing. That’s why people(specifically the youth) prefer the convenience and good taste as it saves time and is handier while travelling.

Do you love that delicious and cheesy lava with juicy toppings and delicious sauces melting in your mouth and appetising huge pizzas and burgers?

Even sounds yummyyy…

But…

Wait a minute…!

Being a Muslim, have you ever been concerned about the food that you are eating is 100% “Halal”?

Obviously, Muslims observe the halal dietary guidelines strictly.

But…!

Are you sure that you are not eating “Haram” indirectly or unintentionally?

Let me tell you how?

But most of the renowned fast-food brands use banned products to maintain their special taste to keep their customers lined out at their door.

Can you imagine there are many hidden Haram ingredients and invisible processes?

Be cautious while choosing the fast-food brand.

Being a Muslim country, Pakistanis abide by the Islamic laws of slaughtering. Hence the international brands have to source the meat from within Pakistan. So it is not a huge an issue. Being a foreign recipe such as Chinese or Italian…etc, still, there are some problematic things that fall into the category of Haram and you should not only be well aware of them but also avoid them strictly.

In foreign recipes such as Chinese or Italian…etc., some problematic things fall into the category of Haram. Most commonly consumed haram products are animal ingredients like gelatin, whey powder glycerin and all its derivatives, rennet, wine, and wine derived ingredients and pepsin, lard, insects-derived food colors, and the use of fermentation which creates the alcohol…etc. You need to go into a lot of depth.

a. NCBI research shows that Gelatin and its by-products are haram.

b. PFA banned Ajinomoto as it causes asthma, headaches, and even brain damage.

Do you bother what you’re ingesting in the name of food?

An attractive deal from a top fast-food brand and we rush to grab it without thinking that it’s an international brand and there is a strong possibility of the infusion of “Haram” ingredients in food processing such as meat, slaughtering of the animal, marination, and frying of the meat or other vegetables used in the fast-food or French fries, etc.

Being Muslims, distinguishing between halal and haram is our obligation.

7 prerequisites you should be knowing while choosing a fast-food brand.

Whenever there is an attractive deal from a top brand, we rush to grab it without thinking that it’s an international brand and there is a strong possibility of the infusion of “Haram” ingredients in food processing such as meat, slaughtering of the animal, marination, and frying of the meat or other vegetables used in the fast-food or French fries, etc.

While choosing a fast-food brand you should be aware of whether the…

1. Meat used in the fast-food meets the Islamic standards of “Halal”. There cannot be any blood left in the meat, the animal must not be a pig and it must not be carrion.

2. The animal has been slaughtered by a Muslim or the people of the book according to the Islamic dhabihah rules.

3. The ingredients used to marinate and prepare the meat are in line with the Islamic dietary laws and commandments.

4. Meat and other items must also be fried without using pig fat such as lard or oil.

5. Make sure that not only is the meat thoroughly sourced and halal, but also that the machines and other products are not tainted with non-halal meat.

6. Use of flavor enhancers that are extremely hazardous to human health such as Gelatin and Ajinomoto aka Chinese Salt etc.

7. Use of pork or the byproducts of pig and blood is absolutely haram in Islam.

If a brand meets these requirements, can be considered halal fast-food.

Conclusion

What to do in such a drastic situation?

In such a serious situation when many of the top fast-food brand outlets are being fined or sealed by the government because of their suspicious ingredients, what we seriously need to do is to focus on our product sourcing and we have to make sure that the raw material and all other ingredients are being sourced from a Halal certified company.

It’s our moral and religious obligation to acknowledge people about eating Halal.

In order to ensure Halal food products, the fast-food brands must be registered and certified lawfully and must conduct routine audits under a highly organized system to maintain the quality and keep an eye on every step of food processing from raw material to the final product.

Being Muslims, choose wisely if you are a fast-food lover.

When there is an option of “Halal” fast-food,

don’t opt for it,

Prefer it!