Recently, it has become a topic of discussion among netizens, one of the all you can eat (AYCE) restaurants because it is suspected of serving non-kosher ingredients in its dishes. Actually, what do Muslim consumers need to pay attention to when dining at AYCE restaurants?
All you can eat (AYCE) restaurants are trending among Indonesians, including Muslims. The reason is, this restaurant provides a distinctive service. By paying a certain price, consumers can consume a variety of menus served within a predetermined period of time.
Consumers can choose the ingredients along with the favorite sauce they want, then cook it themselves. Generally, this type of restaurant that adopts a menu of dishes from Japan serves a variety of meats, seafood, and processed foods.
At the dining table, the restaurant has prepared a grill and also a stove along with a pot with an appetizing soup filling (shabu). That way, consumers will get a special dining experience and more time to chat with colleagues or family at the dinner table.
Unfortunately, the choice of MUI halal-certified AYCE restaurants, especially in Indonesia, is not much. Even so, many restaurants claim their products do not contain pork by raising the tagline "No Pork No Lard". With this tagline, has the halalness of the restaurant been guaranteed?
"No Pork No Lard" means the restaurant does not serve meat or lard. Generally, the meat served is seafood, beef, chicken, and processed. Let's review them one by one.
Seafood (fish, already, squid, shellfish, etc.) is included in the list of non-critical ingredients (positive list). This means that it can be ascertained that it is halal without the need to go through a series of halal inspection processes. This will be different if the seafood has undergone a processing process, such as making meatballs, crab sticks, fish cakes, and so on.
"Halal materials that undergo a processing process must have been mixed with additional materials and other auxiliary materials. It is this material that needs to be traced to its halalness. However, currently there are many processed seafood that have MUI halal certificates," explained the President Director of LPPOM MUI, Ir. Muti Arintawati, M.Si.
While beef and chicken, in addition to processed products such as seafood, the critical point is in the slaughter process. Animals must be ensured to be slaughtered in accordance with Islamic law. In addition, the process of storing and distributing meat should be separate from the forbidden material.
"Japanese cuisine uses a lot of meat. This is a critical one. Generally in Indonesia, chicken and beef are used. But if it is in his home country, there is a third chance, that is, pork. We must know how to slaughter chicken and beef according to Islamic sharia or not," Muti emphasized.
What about the marinade?
Since the majority of AYCE restaurants adopt a menu of dishes from abroad, it is likely to use recipes, including seasonings, from the country of origin. This is a tipping point that consumers often go unaware of.
As is known, the taste of Japanese cuisine is synonymous with the use of sake and mirin. Both belong to the khamr group. In addition to the high alcohol content, the purpose for which sake and mirin are produced is for alcoholic beverages.
"Therefore, in cooking even if the use is only a little, even one drop, it is still not kosher. Because khamr is illegitimate and unclean," Muti said.
(Also read: Here's Why Mirin and Sake Are Haram)
It is important for consumers to be critical of everything that will be consumed or used. Especially for Muslim consumers, halal and haram are very important things to pay attention to.
LPPOM MUI makes it easy for the public to check halal products through the www.halalmui.org website or the HalalMUI application which can be downloaded on the Playstore. Good luck. (YN)
