Assalamu Alaikum

The awareness of halal in America was non-existent, just a couple of decades ago. Today, major media outlets cover halal issues regularly. Conferences on halal as an economic opportunity are occurring all over the world. There are innumerable blogs, YouTube videos and Facebook pages about halal. New and diverse businesses catering to the halal consumer are on the rise.

The awareness of halal has contributed to the global commoditization of food. It has impacted food formulations in ways that would have been unimaginable in the 60’s in America. To make a unique food product that you purchase at the grocery store, food ingredients are often sourced from varied nations, assembled in another country, packaged in still another and often sold internationally. The awareness of halal has meant that multinationals in the food business have tried to ensure that their ingredients, and end products, are fit for consumption by halal consumers. Yes, Western companies such as Pepsi, Coke, Nestle, Unilever and ConAgra offer halal products the world over, in order to gain access to several markets.

Halal Consumer magazine brings you insights as to how far halal has come. Halal’s continuing visibility and awareness will create consistent customer demand. Over the next few years, we will witness the transformation of halal consumer voices into powerful sources of influence.

Sincerely,

Muhammad Munir Chaudry, president, IFANCA