Imported food-items and question of 'halal' / 'haram'

ISLAMABAD: It has been revealed by Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Mian Ijaz in a National Assembly committee on Monday that there are ‘Haram’ ingredients in most of the imported packed food items being sold in the country. He presented a list of 19 such items containing ‘Haram’ ingredients.

The products are:

Two brands of Chicken Tonight (imported from Holland)
Bubblicious (UK)
Chupa Bubble (Holland)
Pascual Yogikids (Spain)
Three brands of Skittle Fruit (UK)
Picnic Chicken (USA)
Slima Soup (UK)
Knorr Chicken Soup (France)
Cup A Soup (UK)
Tulip Chicken (Denmark)
Rice Chicken Broccoli (USA)
Pasta Chicken Broccoli (USA)
Pasta Creamy Chicken (US)
Heinz Dinner Chicken (England)
Jell-O (US)
Pop Tarts (USA)


Data gathered by the ministry reveals that there is presence of ingredients like white and red wine, gelatin and E120 (animal-based food colour) in the items. Moreover, some food items containing chicken have been placed in the list also due to “prohibited slaughtering procedure” like stunning. Due to lack of traceability to ascertain the Halal/Haram status, some products have also been placed in the list.

It was stressed that an institution like Pakistan ‘Halal’ authority should be established through an act of parliament to regulate and promote imports and exports apart from inter-provincial trade and commerce in ‘Halal’ processes and items.

To ensure that items containing ‘Haram’ ingredients are not sold in the country, a draft of the bill seeking foundation of the authority has been forwarded to the cabinet and the Council of Common Interests for approval. After this the ministry will be in a position to take concrete measures in this regard.
The issue of buying and selling of prohibited edible items in the country was raised with the ministry’s officials in a session headed by Tariq Bashir Cheema of PML-Q after a briefing on a notice moved by JUI-F MNA Shahida Akhtar and other party members in the assembly in November last year. Shahida Akhtar told the reporters that it seemed no one was ready to take responsibility for the sale of ‘haram’ imported food items.