Food safety market access concerns the livelihood of the people, because food safety is directly related to health. In Halal consumers' daily dietary culture, differences in the degree of adherence to Halal regulations have caused misunderstandings about Halal dietary culture—people think they just don't eat pork and there is nothing else different. In fact, the two words 'Halal' are easy to write but not easy to achieve; producing Halal food has very high requirements for raw materials, tools, premises, personnel and more. Here are a few examples.

1. Can we eat gelatin?

Gelatin is a protein product obtained through hydrolysis from the collagen of vertebrates (such as pigs, cattle and fish). The main raw materials used now are pig skin, cattle bones and cowhide. Of course, pig skin is the most common source.

Gelatin is used in the production of baked goods, such as ice cream, yogurt and jelly, and is also used in the pharmaceutical industry. Gelatin can also be used in other non-food applications, such as photographic film and carbonless copy paper.

If the word 'gelatin' appears on the label but the source is not indicated, it is generally derived from pig skin and cattle bones, which must be avoided. Halal-certified gelatin is made from fish bones and Halal-slaughtered cattle, and this gelatin can be used in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

2. Can animals slaughtered by electric shock be eaten?

First, if the animal died from an electric current shock before slaughter, then it is already dead, and eating it is unlawful.

Second, shocking an animal with a high-voltage current before slaughter is torturing the animal. This is prohibited; Islam is merciful to animals.

Third, if a food animal is shocked by an electric current and then its slaughter is completed while it is still alive, then such slaughter is lawful, and eating it is also lawful.

Fourth, if it is a low-voltage current and the weak shock does not cause torture to the animal, then it is beneficial. For example, it relieves the pain during slaughter and calms the animal's neck to reduce struggling. So from the perspective of benefit, Halal regulations permit this.

3. Can alcohol be used as medicine to treat illness?

As for whether alcohol can be used as medicine to treat illness, the answer to this question is no. Halal prohibits using alcohol and other forbidden substances as medicine to treat illness, because prohibiting a certain thing means that one should use every means to avoid it and stay away from it. Allowing alcohol to be used as medicine would encourage people to come into contact with alcohol. This would violate the purpose of Halal.

4. Can medicines containing non-Halal ingredients be used?

In principle, they cannot be used. The reason is that medicines, like food, allow multiple choices, and walking on the lawful path is the most secure. The question lies only with the patient.

FAQ

Can gelatin be eaten, and how to judge its Halal status?
Gelatin is a protein product obtained through hydrolysis from the collagen of vertebrates (pigs, cattle, fish, etc.); the main raw materials now are pig skin, cattle bones and cowhide (pig skin is most common), used in ice cream, yogurt, jelly and pharmaceuticals. If the label only says 'gelatin' without indicating the source, it is generally derived from pig skin and cattle bones and must be avoided. Halal-certified gelatin is made from fish bones and Halal-slaughtered cattle, and can be used in food and pharmaceuticals.
Can animals slaughtered by electric shock be eaten?
It depends: if the animal died from the electric shock before slaughter, it becomes dead meat and is unlawful to eat; shocking with high-voltage current is torture and prohibited; if the animal is shocked but slaughter is completed while it is still alive, the slaughter and eating are lawful; if a low-voltage weak shock causes no torture (e.g. relieving the pain of slaughter, calming the neck to reduce struggling), then from the perspective of benefit, Halal regulations permit it.
Can alcohol and medicines containing non-Halal ingredients be used to treat illness?
Alcohol cannot be used as medicine to treat illness. Halal prohibits using alcohol and other forbidden substances as medicine, because prohibiting something means one should use every means to avoid and stay away from it; allowing alcohol as medicine would encourage contact with alcohol, violating the purpose of Halal. Medicines containing non-Halal ingredients in principle also cannot be used, because medicines, like food, allow multiple choices, and the lawful path is most secure—the question lies only with the patient (whether alternatives exist).