Assalamu alaikum and Greetings of Peace!

Once upon a time – more accurately, twenty five years ago – a group of concerned Muslim food scientists decided to create an organization that would inform their community whether ingredients in food were halal or not. They began with a vision and five years later, a toothpaste manufacturer approached them for halal certification. That began the foray into halal certification. 25 years later, with over 2000 clients worldwide, IFANCA has made an indelible mark on the halal food industry. Inside these pages, we share some of our history and milestones with you.

We are equally delighted to introduce our readers to IFANCA clients who won awards at the IFANCA 9th International Halal Food Conference and Banquet, in April 2007. We’ve also included a selection of presentations made at the conference. As you will discover, everything begins with an idea, a vision of the possibilities, and the will to keep going, with the grace of God.

With Ramadan approaching, it’s never too early to begin paying more attention to the Quran, sunnah, or practices of the Prophet Muhammad (s) and hadith. We discuss the prophetic diet to get reacquainted with the practices of the Prophet(s) regarding food. We also introduce you to the secrets of whey protein. We dispel misconceptions about root beer and chocolate or cocoa liquor, while offering substitutes when a recipe calls for cooking with wine. Our regular feature includes profiles of select clients, some of whom offer retail halal products, while others cater to the food manufacturing or food services industry. We have plenty in here to keep you turning pages. Tell us what you think.

Happy reading and Ramadan Mubarak!

Naazish YarKhan
Managing Editor, Halal Consumer