Halal Food Science not Only Benefits Muslims :Tahi Expert

By Indra Arief Pribadi Jakarta (Antara) - The halal food science would not only benefit muslim society but all communities in the world, Winai Dahlan, a food scientist of the Chulalongkorn University of Thailand said. "Based on Koran (Islamic holy book), 'halal' (Islamic law on food) foods are not only good for muslims, but are also useful for all mankind on this earth," he stated during his persentation at the Prof. Dr. Hamka University of Muhammadiyah here on Tuesday evening. Winai Dahlan, a grandchild from the founder of Muhamadiyah Ahmad Dahlan, explained that scientists might know the result found in the contents of animals' meat. "People should know how animals have been slaughtered and how animals have been feeded and others," said Dahlan, the founder of Halal Science Center of the Thai Chulalongkorn University. Dahlan and his team at the Halal Science Center have been researching halal food together with the concept of "tayyib" as described in the koran. The "tayyib" refers to good, safe, healthy and hygienic products, so that halal is a top safety for food, and many non Muslims are eager to know and ask about the result of the halal food science, he said. Based on his research at his laboratory, there are some food ingredients which are considered as "haram" (forbidden for muslim) could be replaced with some halal ingredients. "I have had a discussion with western food company in Thailand on how to replace the haram ingredients such as pig's enzym in several foods. They just did not know how to replace it and what the good replacement," he said. In view of that, he said, the muslim scientists should be increased in number not only in Thailand, but in other parts of world in a bid to develop the halal food science and to apply the result of science at industry. Representing his college to strengthen the cooperation with Prof. Dr. Hamka University of Muhammadiyah in areas of farmacy, he wished to materialize the cooperation into action.