IFANCA® Connects Halal Consumers to Halal Education Services and American Halal-Certified Companies at Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) Annual Convention 2011
ROSEMONT, Illinois (June 30, 2011) The Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA®) will be exhibiting its halal education services and halal-certified products at the 48th Annual Convention of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), in Rosemont, Illinois. Attendees, from July 1 to July 4, 2011, can stop by for free educational materials, Halal Consumer magazines, and samples of halal-certified food at booth #1602.
ISNA is the largest American Islamic organization in North America that has served the region’s Muslims for over 40 years. Every year, ISNA conventions draw over 10,000 attendees. In response to popular demand, IFANCA will be presenting its halal educational information and halal-certified product information at its exhibit booth.
American Muslims, 8 to 9 million, constitute the majority of U.S halal consumers searching for halal-certified products. Metropolitan areas such as New York, Los Angeles, Michigan, Chicago, Minneapolis, Houston, and Dallas, form the main hubs of halal-certified product and foodservice demands. American halal food and beverage consumption is estimated at US $20 billion per annum. Every year, American Muslims’ collective purchasing power exceeds US $170 billion, which includes spending on halal consumables, foodservice and personal care products.
As one of the leading halal education and certification not-for-profits in the world, IFANCA has received numerous requests in recent years from halal consumers, asking where they can find halal-certified food companies. “American Muslims are loyal halal consumers avidly looking for companies that are going the extra mile with third-party halal certification,” says Dr. Farhat Quadri, Director of IFANCA’s Community Relations. He added, “American halal companies really care about halal consumers by ensuring, year after year, that their product retains a high, quality halal certification standard. We are extremely proud to connect American halal consumers to such extraordinary companies.”
While IFANCA certifies more than 2,500 companies worldwide, it is featuring selected companies at its ISNA booth that have global or U.S. halal certification. Here are some of these participating companies and their products:
Abbott received its first halal certificate in 2003. From 2006 onwards, they maintain global halal certification for selected products, such as PediaSure®, Ensure®, Similac® and Glucerna®. Additionally, Abbott is the first company to receive IFANCA recognition for best global halal initiatives for 2011. All of Abbott’s halal-certified products carry the IFANCA halal certification symbol, the Crescent ‘M’, and can be found in all major U.S. pharmacies and supermarkets. During the event, IFANCA will hold a raffle of Abbott’s halal-certified gift packages at its booth.
Vermont-based Cabot Creamery Cooperative’s cheeses have been halal-certified since 2003. Having already won several awards for “World’s Best Cheddar”, Cabot wanted to bring their high quality cheeses to the halal consumer with a third party endorsement. All halal-certified Cabot cheeses carry IFANCA’s halal certification symbol, the Crescent ‘M’, and can be bought in specialty stores, major U.S. supermarkets, and online. IFANCA will hold a raffle of Cabot’s halal-certified gift packages at its booth.
Kontos is the premier baker of halal certified hand-stretched flatbread, fillo dough, and fillo products (for example spanakopita and baklava). Described in the food industry as the “Rolls-Royce of Flatbreads”, Kontos’ halal Mediterranean and South-Central Asian products carry IFANCA’s halal certification symbol, the Crescent ‘M’ since 2001. Their products are readily available at major US and Canadian supermarkets and online. IFANCA will hold a raffle of Kontos halal-certified gift packages at its booth, as well as giveaway packets of halal-certified Kontos Cocktail Flatbread.
China Mist’s premium gourmet iced and hot tea lines first received IFANCA halal certification in 2001. The company has won numerous accolades, including the 2011 Platinum Award from the World Beverage Competition, the world’s largest beverage competition, for the bottled tea line, China Mist® Pure Bottled Organic Teas. All of China Mist’s halal-certified teas carry IFANCA’s halal certification symbol, the Crescent ‘M’. IFANCA will be giving away halal-certified China Mist® Leaves Pure Teas® Hot Tea samples at their booth, as well as holding raffles for China Mist gift baskets.
IFANCA has certified Tastes of Asia® products since 2008, with all of these products carrying IFANCA’s halal certification symbol, the Crescent ‘M’. As an example of a premium on-the-go halal food product for a busy halal consumer, Tastes of Asia® noodle and soup products will be shared during the Muslim Student Association National Continental Conference, at a presentation entitled Increasing the Availability of Halal on Campuses.
Paramount Farms’ nuts and pistachios have been globally halal-certified by IFANCA for more than a decade. Paramount Farms nut products can be found in U.S. grocery stores nationwide; they are sold under the brand name of Wonderful® Pistachios. IFANCA will distribute Wonderful® Pistachio 100 calorie sample packs at its booth throughout the convention.
Saffron Road Foods launched its first halal-certified frozen product line in 2010. Since then they expanded to a total of 12 frozen snacks and entrées; all carrying IFANCA’s halal certification symbol, the Crescent ‘M’. As an exciting and innovative new company, Saffron Road Foods was also recognized as the “Top Ten Brands to Watch” during the 2011 Winter Fancy Food Show. Throughout the convention, IFANCA will be distributing Saffron Road Foods coupons for the company’s frozen products, which can be found in Whole Foods stores.
Besides educating ISNA attendees on available halal-certified products in USA, IFANCA will also educate attendees on the technical process behind halal certification. IFANCA will be distributing its free halal educational resources throughout four days. These include the Halal Shoppers’ Guide; Halal Consumer magazines; the online IFANCA Halal-Certified Product Directory; and the online Halal Foodservice Kit. The Halal Foodservice Kit will also be shared by the President of Halal Healthy Division of Med-Diet, Inc., Don Tymchuck, during his July 2nd presentation: Increasing the Availability of Halal on Campuses; at the Muslim Student Association National Continental Conference during the convention.
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA®) is one of the world’s leading and well-respected not-for-profit halal certification organizations. Featured in various media such as the Wall Street Journal, Prepared Foods, CNBC, and CNN, IFANCA has been promoting halal since 1982. IFANCA was recognized in the “Best Halal Related Service Provider Award” by the Halal Journal at World Halal Forum 2007. IFANCA certified halal products are recognized by Indonesia (MUI), Malaysia (JAKIM), Singapore (MUIS), and the United Arab Emirates (GSM) and are sold in nearly every country of the world. IFANCA’s halal certification expertise covers all food industry categories.
For more information about IFANCA, visit www.ifanca.org.
Contact:
Maria Omar
(773) 283-3708
m.omar@ifanca.org
For more than 85 years, Abbott Nutrition has been developing and marketing science-based nutritional products to support the growth, health and wellness of people of all ages. Internationally recognized brands include the Similac® brand of infant formulas; the Gain® brand of growing-up milks; the PediaSure® line of nutritionals for children; and the Ensure® brand of complete and balanced nutrition for adults. The company is a leader in nutritional products clinically shown to address the distinct dietary needs of people with serious health conditions or special nutrient requirements, such as the Glucerna® brand of nutrition shakes, bars and cereal for people with diabetes. Abbott Nutrition also offers EAS® specialized products to meet the unique nutritional needs of athletes, as well as ZonePerfect® all-natural nutrition bars for busy, active lifestyles.
More information about Abbott Nutrition’s products is available at www.AbbottNutrition.com.
Contact:
Julie Ferguson
(847) 936-6116
Cabot Creamery Cooperative has been in continuous operation in Vermont since 1919, and we make a full line of cheeses, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, and butter. Best known as makers of “The World’s Best Cheddar,” Cabot is owned by 1275 dairy farm families located throughout New England and upstate New York.
For additional information on Cabot Creamery, visit www.cabotcheese.coop.
Contact:
Bob Schiers
(609) 267-4861
Kontos Foods Inc of Paterson, New Jersey is a manufacturer of flatbread and is considered by many as ‘the Premier Baker of Hand Stretched Ethnic Flatbread’, manufacturing a full range of flatbread (nan, pita, roti, and pan plano). As well as called the ‘First Family of Fillo Dough’, for Mr. Kontos created the first machinery to mechanically stretch dough into fillo and strudel leaves. Kontos distributes over 37 varieties of flatbread, and a full range of Mediterranean Specialty Food Products, throughout the US, Canada, and overseas including Singapore, Panama, and Argentina.
For detailed information, visit Kontos at www.kontos.com or contact them at info@kontos.com.
Since 1982, China Mist Brands, Inc. has provided quality gourmet iced tea and hot tea to the food service industry. China Mist® Iced Teas, China Mist® Pure Bottled Organic Teas and Leaves Pure Teas® Hot Teas are available through an international distributor network, as well as online at ChinaMist.com. China Mist’s iced and hot teas are available in a variety of blends including black, green, white and herbal teas. China Mist® Fresh Brewed Iced Tea includes signature flavored tea blends such as passion fruit, blackberry jasmine green and orange blossom ginger white, among others. China Mist Brands’ iced and hot teas are certified Halal by the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America, certified Kosher by Kosher Supervision of America, and gluten-free with varieties Certified Organic by the USDA and Certified Fair Trade by TransFair USA. China Mist corporate headquarters and its manufacturing plant are located in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Contact:
Kiley Biggins
(661) 526-7491
kiley@chinamist.com
Tastes of Asia® has specialized in the production of Asian Noodles and other specialty food items. Following long kept traditional recipes, our sauces and seasonings capture the full character and flavor of the Far East. Our authentic fresh wheat noodles are exported from China and are formulated with the highest grade wheat flour. Our sauces are custom blended in batches using only superior grade ingredients and fresh spices, all combined to make our Asian Noodles and experience worth exploring.
For detailed information, visit Tastes of Asia at www.tastesofasia.com.
American Halal Co. markets All Natural Halal Certified food under the Saffron Road brand. Adnan Durrani, the CEO, and Jack Acree, the EVP, are serial entrepreneurs having been involved in companies like Vermont Pure Spring Water, Stonyfield Farms, Inc., Alexia Foods, and Terra Chips. The Company’s management and Board represent a team of proven entrepreneurs at building premium food brands. Saffron Road’s mission is to offer All Natural Halal Certified and Gluten Free foods, which are also holistic, sustainably farmed, and antibiotic free. Saffron Road’s products are sourced from livestock which is fed only 100% vegetarian feed and are humanely treated. The Company seeks to bring its mission to a higher awakening with the local and global community, embodying a socially conscious company ethic as well as setting the standard for premium quality Halal Cuisine.
Contact:
Kate Tayloe