One way to overcome the problem of materials that come from, or that are contaminated by illicit materials, is to take samples and then conduct laboratory tests on these samples.
Basically all legal foods are kosher, except those that are declared haram. According to the Qur'an, the so-called illegitimate food is carrion, blood, pork and meat of animals slaughtered by mentioning names other than Allah.
Halal haramnya a material or product is absolute (zero tolerance). This is different from other standards or quality systems that recognize a certain threshold (threshold). In terms of food safety, for example, it is still possible to have hazardous materials or microbial contamination in foodstuffs as long as they are still below a certain threshold.
However, in the halal conception, it is not allowed to enter illicit materials at any level (zero tolerance). The choice is simply halal or haram. "If the halal status is not or unclear (syubhat), then it must be clarified through halal certification by competent and authorized institutions," said the Head of the Center for Halal Science Studies of IPB University, Prof. Khaswar Syamsu, Ph.D.
In addition to food, the Qur'an in Sura Al-Maidah verse 90 also explains that it is forbidden to drink khamar or intoxicating drinks. In a number of hadiths it is also explained the prohibition of eating wild animals, animals that are forbidden to be killed, animals that are told to be killed and disgusting animals.
According to Khaswar Syamsu, the development of science and technology in processing has made the products of the food, beverage, medicine and cosmetics industry become syubhat aka the opportunity to become illegitimate. The source of nutrients can come from its own raw materials , additives or processing aids in industry. Many raw materials, additives and auxiliary materials derived from pigs (porcine materials), or from slaughtered animals are not in accordance with Islamic law.
For example, lard, which is a byproduct of the pork processing industry, can be made for emulsifiers that are commonly used in the food industry. From the skin and bones of pigs can also be made collagen as a cosmetic ingredient as well as gelatin which is commonly used as an ingredient in capsule shells, soft candies, and thickening agents. These materials certainly cannot be seen by the naked eye when they have been mixed with other materials.
One way to overcome the problem of materials derived from, or contaminated by, pig materials or derivatives is to take samples and laboratory tests (authentication) before the syubhat material is decided to be able to use it as an ingredient in the halal-certified food, beverage, medicine, and cosmetics industries.
A laboratory is a place where experimental, measuring, research or scientific research activities are carried out related to science (chemistry, physics, biology) and other sciences.
Although it has an important role in the success of the halal certification process, especially in terms of product analysis with animal ingredients, according to the President Director of LPPOM MUI, Ir. Muti Arintawati, M.Si., in practice the results of laboratory analysis are not the only determinants in the halal certification process. "The results of the laboratory analysis are used as supporting documents for fatwa decisions and are not halal certificates," said Muti Arintawati.
(Also read: Here are LPPOM MUI Laboratory Services)
LPPOM MUI Laboratory Service Manager, Heryani, S.Si., M.TP., added, the LPPOM MUI laboratory which is supported by cutting-edge equipment such as real-time PCR, GC-FID, GC-MS, UHPLC, ICP-MS, is also supported by competent and experienced analysts. To complement the quality and food safety testing of products, in the near future the LPPOM MUI laboratory will open microbiology test services and sampling services.
"Of the many services provided, the most is pig DNA testing for both pharmaceutical materials and products and other products. This is because DNA testing is the first test service in the LPPOM MUI laboratory which is widely known by customers," explained Heryani.
The LPPOM MUI Laboratory is the first pig DNA testing laboratory in Indonesia that has been iso17025 certified for the scope of pharmaceutical preparations and seasonings. This laboratory also offers analysis services and research development to detect other non-halal materials commonly found in everyday life and also analysis related to the fulfillment of SNI.
The addition of the scope of pig DNA detection according to the SNI ISO / IEC 17025: 2017 accreditation scheme which was approved on November 5, 2020 is urgently needed to support the implementation of Law Number 33 of 2014 concerning Halal Product Guarantee (JPH Law) related to the certification of useful goods derived from animal materials.
(Also read: Re-Accreditation of LPPOM MUI Laboratory Services with Additional Scope)
Previously, the LPPOM MUI Laboratory had accredited the testing of Porcine DNA Detection using real-time PCR with the scope of meat and processed products, medicinal / pharmaceutical preparations, and seasonings with accreditation number LP-1040-IDN.
Then, on November 7-8, 2018, the LPPOM MUI Laboratory successfully maintained the accreditation certificate through the second survey and adjustments to the latest standard SNI ISO / IEC 17025: 2017. This is in accordance with technological developments and digitalization in the latest laboratory fields, including the addition of a risk management clause to identify risks in laboratory services.
The LPPOM MUI laboratory also plays a role in the national arena in the development of halal test methods, such as involvement in SNI ethanol content testing with gas chromatography and SNI testing pig DNA content with real time PCR.
In the international realm, the LPPOM MUI Laboratory is also involved in technical committee 1 related to halal testing in the organization The Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) based in Turkey. The organization is part of the Organization of the Islamic Conference which houses the issue of standardization and conformity assessment. (HU)
