25% of Italian Buffalo Mozzarella Is Sold to the Halal Market

Creamy buffalo mozzarella has become a popular food among Muslim consumers in the Gulf region and Europe.

Producers of Italy's prized buffalo mozzarella—a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet—are increasingly turning their attention to the Muslim market due to the hot sales of Halal cheese.

In 2011, the sales of Halal cheese launched by Naples mozzarella manufacturers had increased to more than ten million tons last year, meaning that a quarter of buffalo mozzarella is now sold to the Halal market.

Mozzarella cheese is made from cow's milk, while the creamier and more expensive buffalo mozzarella is made from the milk of buffaloes usually grazed on the watery meadows of Naples.

The head of the Italian producers' association said that as demand from Muslim consumers in the Gulf region and Europe surges, 20% of Italian producers are now producing Halal products. A spokesperson said that cheese demand in the UAE has risen by 50% over the past two years.

Mr. Raimondo said the Halal recipe is the same as regular mozzarella, but the products used to clean the machinery contain no alcohol, and the animal rennet used to make the cheese comes from Halal-certified animals.

The imam of the Naples mosque sent commissioners to the producers to certify that Halal regulations were enforced before the cheese left the factory. Gulf consumers queue to buy Halal cheese, even though once exported it costs up to US$80 per kilogram, while in Naples it is about 12 euros per kilogram.

Germany and France together account for half of buffalo mozzarella exports, while the UK accounts for 13% of exports.

The cheese must be refrigerated overseas, which is questioned by Italian purists. They claim the cheese is best eaten as soon as possible without being put in the refrigerator. 'We are now developing a cheese specifically for export that you can refrigerate without ruining it,' the spokesperson said.

It is said that the buffalo mozzarella sector targeting Muslim consumers was first introduced to Italy by the Arab rulers of Sicily more than 1,000 years ago.

Muslim demand will only increase, Mr. Raimondo said. 'There are about 2 billion Halal consumers in the world, and by 2030 they will make up about 26% of the world's consumption.'