If many of you have followed my previous blog posts... they have been about halal haram stuff relating to health and fitness supplements, such as the GNC Protein Powder, and also the halal certified Ultimate Nutrition Prostar Whey Protein.
Today, I would still like to talk a bit more about some halal and haram related issues... but this time... a more localized version of the problem. A few weeks back, I went to TESCO Penang (the one in Gelugor... not the Sungai Dua one) and was delighted to see an IFANCA sign on one of the Baskin 31 Robbins stalls. Great... even B31R have the awareness of halal and haram :D Good for them.
But to my dismay, after careful inspection of the scanned and (color) printed certificate... it was not certification for the B31R booth that displayed it. The certificate was for branches in CANADA! I think there were two branches named on that certificate saying that they were certified halal. It was definitely NOT for the Baskin 31 Robbins at TESCO Gelugor, Penang!
Some may argue... "Ok, Canada has already issued a halal statement for the Canadian branch. Then why should the Tesco Penang booth be doubtful?"...
For me... I would eat the ice cream served at those Canadian branches without an ounce of a doubt! :) That's because... IFANCA has already given the green light for those branches to be halal. And, when you think about it... why has IFANCA only given halal certs. to only those two named branches? Why wasn't it for the whole range of Baskin 31 Robbins throughout the world?
This, I strongly believe is because of the locality issue :) I mean, even if you're a big franchise, you still get some of your ingredients locally (relatively near to where the branches are located). You won't import eggs, or gelatin from the States right? So, end up, you must buy some raw ingredients locally. As for the case of these Canadian branches, I believe that IFANCA has already inspected the raw materials as well as how all the stuffs has been prepared THERE... once satisfied and according to strict Islamic rules, the Halal certification is awarded.
So, how is it... that a branch of Baskin 31 Robbins, in TESCO Penang Malaysia... owns a halal certification for two Canadian branches... and not one for itself? Why has the branch not asked for certification saying that they are halal, too? Certainly gets you doubting doesn't it.... Or... maybe the whole process is too leceh?... so an easy way out is to scan a cert. obtained from Canada... :-? Hmmmmm.... If anyone knows why, please do share the info...
Anywayz... just some info I thought I'd share :D
Oh... and just got off the phone with one Ustazah Maznah from Jabatan Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Pulau Pinang. According to her... for a booth/food court stall etc. to be halal... one of the requirements is for at least TWO of the workers be Muslims... and not just that... LOCAL Muslims. This is one of the less-strong requirements la... I say less strong, because who are they to ask their employers to buy halal-greade raw materials rite :P E.g.:
Tukang Masak: Boss aa.. lu make sure lu beli itu kicap ada cop halal, itu ayam ada cop halal, itu oyster sos ada cop halal ...
Boss: Who are you ha to tell me all this? (In Donald Trump fashion)... You're fired!
To me... hmmmm.... who ever came up with this idea. Kind'a pelik pon ada :( To be 'spies' ok la. But to enforce? Kalau hantar ketua pengawas Hendry Gurney pon tak jalan I think...
And... from my observation... Can't find that many (not even 2 :P) Malaysian Muslims working at the stalls at hypermarket food courts... Mostly I see foreigners...
Now I am just wondering... what the other requirements are.... Hopefully better and de BEST la :) For the sake of halal thoiyyiba food :D
Okes. Mari buat PhD. Man... Now I'm starting to think I'm in the wrong field! Should have done research relating to Halal Haram in Malaysia. Hahahaha!!!
Okes.. Selamaat
