Despite many being aware that the phrase ‘no pork, no lard‘ displayed at food premises does not necessarily mean the food is Halal, the term cannot be used arbitrarily.
According to a report by Sinar Harian, the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) shared that the use of terms such as ‘no pork, no lard‘ and ‘Muslim-friendly‘ is strictly prohibited for any party that does not have a Malaysian Halal Verification Certificate (SPHM).
“These terms give the impression that the food or service has complied with Halal standards. Meanwhile, without a valid Halal certificate from the authorities, there is no guarantee that the product or service complies with Halal requirements, including in terms of raw materials, processing and cleanliness,” they explained.
It’s against the law!
JAIS added that the Trade Descriptions Act 2011 prohibits any use of terms or labels that may mislead consumers.
“Only SPHM holders are allowed to use these terms. The phrase ‘no pork, no lard‘ only emphasises the absence of pork in a product or food, but does not emphasise other ingredients such as alcohol, cross-contamination or non-Halal gelatin,”
“So, these terms are used incorrectly if they are not SPHM holders, and it can cause confusion and violate regulations,” they added.
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