Assalaamu alaikum, 

Many things have changed in the years since IFANCA was founded. Forty years ago, our focus was on selecting good products from what was already available in the marketplace. We increased consumers’ awareness of certain ingredients and encouraged them to read food labels.  

For halal consumers, supermarkets became like libraries. Grocery trips weren’t just a quick chore; you’d often catch us standing in the aisles scrutinizing product labels to ensure they didn’t contain haram ingredients.  

Forty years ago, there were hardly any halal meat shops. The globalization of franchised foodservice created opportunities for industries within the U.S. and abroad, and the halal market began to grow. In the last thirty years, halal meat shops have mushroomed around cities, big and small. 

More changes arose with the beginning of the health food movement. Labels became cleaner and simpler. The growing awareness of the harmful effects of fat on health forced the food industry to switch from tallow to vegetable fats.  

With this increased health consciousness came a revolution in food supplements. Companies started to recognize the existence of halal consumers and began offering halal products from food to nutraceuticals. Now, supplements make up the largest group of halal-certified products.  

From our inception, IFANCA’s mission has been to address hunger, food security, and nutrition equity at a grassroots level. Since 2020, IFANCA has partnered with international agencies to promote nutrition through vitamins and health through vaccinations.  

We’ve also worked with companies like Impossible Foods and Oatly that are trying to decrease our collective carbon footprint. Partnerships like these allow us to advance our mission of doing good and maximize the number of people we help.  

Halal certification has always been a way to improve food security for halal consumers around the world. Everyone deserves the right to a nutritious meal, and IFANCA strives to make that a reality. 

Sincerely, 

Muhammad Munir Chaudry, president