Canned meat became an alternative to packaging. In addition to preservation, canned meat is also very useful when there is an abundant availability of meat. This method is able to preserve meat for quite a long time. In addition, its practical presentation and delicious taste also make this product in demand by many people.
Generally, meat packaged in canned form is processed beef and fish. The 144th edition of the Halal Journal will explore the critical point of halalness, one of which is canned beef or what we familiarly call corned beef.
Speaking of halal tipping points, there are three things that should be highlighted in canned meat. First, the packaging process with the canning technique. Namely, a way of preserving food ingredients that are hermetically packaged and then sterilized.
In this technique, the meat is heated in a tightly closed container to inactivate enzymes, kill mycoorganism, and turn the meat in its raw form into a ready-to-serve product. Products that are packed with a very tight lid cannot be penetrated by air, water, oxidation damage, or changes in taste. This is what makes meat have a longer resistance.
In each packaging and sterilization process, it must be ensured that the tools and containers used are not polluted by unclean. This needs to be of particular concern, considering that not only beef can be packaged in cans, but other meats, including illegitimate animals such as pigs.
Secondly, the raw materials of canned meat. The meat used must be ensured to be purely beef. This needs to be a special concern because to this day there are still many cases of kosher beef that is dioplosed with meat from illegitimate animals, such as pigs.
“All meat distributed, both imported and local, must be declared halal. If the main ingredients are already dubious, the halalness is also in doubt,” said the Director of the Institute for the Study of Food, Medicines, and Cosmetics of the Indonesian Ulema Council (LPPOM MUI) for the 2009-2020 period, Dr. Ir. Lukmanul Hakim, M.Si.
Not only the purity that determines the halalness of meat, the process of slaughtering animals must also be ensured in accordance with Islamic law, one of which is by mentioning the name of Allah Swt. In addition, the handling of post-slaughter meat must also be ensured that it is not mixed or polluted with things that are forbidden.
“In the context of research support for halal certification, until now there has not been found a technique or method that can distinguish between syar’i slaughter and reading Basmalah with non-syar’i slaughter without reading Basmalah or slaughter for offerings to idols,” said Prof. Ir. Khaswar Syamsu, MSc. PhD, Professor of the Department of Agricultural Industrial Technology IPB, Head of the IPB Halal Science Study Center, and Coordinator of LPPOM MUI Experts.
It was further explained that in the halal certification process, slaughterhouses must implement the Halal Assurance System (SJH) which one of the criteria requires the existence of a Halal Management Team. This team serves to oversee the implementation of halal slaughter internally. More broadly, this team plays a role in internal audits to evaluate the implementation of SJH periodically in order to ensure consistency and continuity of the implementation of syar’i slaughter standards in the RPH.
Third, mixed ingredients or seasonings used in canned meat. All spices used must be ensured to be halal. This could mean seasonings are included in the list of non-critical ingredients, such as spices. It can also mean that the seasoning is obtained from suppliers who have obtained halal certification in their products.
As Muslim consumers, we are obliged to pay attention to the following. Lukmanul said that now there is an easy and safe way to choose halal canned meat, namely by choosing MUI halal certified products. This can be seen in the list of halal products on the official lppom MUI website, Halal Journal, and the MUI Halal mobile application.
“When buying, don’t forget the halal aspect. Make sure that the product you buy has pocketed a halal certificate issued by an authorized institution,” said Lukmanul. (YN)
