SGS Testing in Dubai to Ensure Halal Integrity of Food

In the UAE, where adherence to Islamic principles is paramount, guaranteeing the halal status of food items becomes a crucial aspect of daily life. Understanding the process of obtaining a Halal certification is essential to maintaining the integrity of the food supply chain.

The term "Halal" itself signifies "permitted" or "permissible" in Arabic, and foods falling under this category are deemed lawful under Islamic law due to their ingredients and manufacturing processes. To qualify for Halal certification, products or services must adhere to specific requirements, including the absence of prohibited ingredients such as pork or alcohol, compliance with Islamic law in their preparation, and certification by a recognized Halal certification body.

Why is Halal Certification important?

It is important to keep in mind that the concern for halal integrity extends well beyond meats, as various food items and food packaging material are susceptible to not meeting these standards. High-profile food fraud or contamination incidents raise significant concerns within the global food ecosystem.

Halal food is vulnerable to cross-contamination from other products. Aside from the risk of pathogenic cross-contamination, non-pathogenic substances, such as pig derivatives (e.g., pork, blood, gelatin, or lard), pose a considerable threat to the integrity of Halal food. 

Case Study

Contaminated food contact packaging is a growing concern that threatens the halal integrity of manufactured food. In one such case, halal samples that were sent for testing came out positive for pork residue and was traced back to contaminated stearates (or lubricants) used in food packaging. Some stearates are made from bovine derivates and thus often contain pork traces that then can leak into the food leading to cross-contamination. 

Maintaining halal food integrity requires rigorous testing, encompassing the entire journey from ingredient sourcing to consumption.

How can SGS help?

Our labs in Dubai are ISO/IEC 17025 accredited and play a pivotal role in ensuring that food items entering the country are halal. Equipped with the latest testing methods, such as RT-PCR, we can swiftly and accurately detect even trace amounts of pork. Notably, our labs hold a halal certification by the GCC Accreditation Center (GAC), signifying our commitment to upholding halal standards.