Knowledge on Halal Food amongst Food Industry Entrepreneurs in Malaysia

Asyraf Hj. Ab. Rahman,Mohd Yusoff Mohamad,Wan Ibrahim Wan Ahmad,Zainab Ismail

doi:10.5539/ass.v7n12p216

Abstract

Food industry becomes one of the main sources of income for local community in Malaysia. Thus knowledge on halal food is so crucial to be studied. This paper tends to investigate some types of traditional halal food and to analyse the entrepreneurs’ knowledge on the subject. To meet these objectives, a set of questionnaire was then constructed to gather information on the issue. Using the non-probability sampling techniques, about 300 food industry entrepreneurs from the State of Terengganu and Kelantan were selected. The research indicates that there are 10 types of foods identified as traditional foods such as fish cracker, traditional Malay dessert, ketchup, fish sauce, chilli sauce, canned food, mee hoon, Malay traditional noodles, rice, and flying bread. Analysis on these traditional food industries shows that the most popular types of food industries out of 10 are rice dishes of its various kind followed by mee hoon and traditional Malay dessert as well as fish cracker. In addition, majority of the respondents have a good knowledge on halal food concept in Islam. More than half of the respondents have experiences and some exposure about halal food. Almost all of the respondents have a good knowledge on the concept of Al-Tayyibat (all kinds of lawful food) mentioned by the Quran. They were also able to differentiate between good and bad food as well as giving their full concerns over hygiene foods in terms of ways of preparing, processing and marketing.

Highlights

Two food outlets operating in Kuala Lumpur were asked to stop and temporarily close their operation as they have displayed invalid halal signs that make Muslim consumers confused
Most of them completed their education at Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (Malaysia Certificate of Education) which is at secondary school level
The study revealed some knowledge on halal food amongst food industry entrepreneur in Kelantan and Terengganu

Summary

Introduction

Two food outlets operating in Kuala Lumpur were asked to stop and temporarily close their operation as they have displayed invalid halal signs that make Muslim consumers confused. This unfortunate scenario represents one of the various situations faced by common Muslim consumers in Malaysia and become a challenge for the Malaysian Department of Religious Development (JAKIM) to investigate food product that satisfy Muslims’ daily needs and provide them ‘peace of mind’ that fulfil religious teachings. Malaysia states that there still have some imported food products in the markets which are not in line with what is prescribed under halalan and thoyiban (relating to cleanliness, nutrition, and free from toxins) (Berita Minggu, 5 Jun 2011). The recent development and growth on the need for halal foods amongst Muslims consumers in particular, has led to the establishment of various organizations and agencies whose missions are to promote halal food, and to create halal awareness amongst Muslim consumers, as well as providing solutions to the latter’s needs

Methods

Results

Conclusion