pork products and Muslims.?

Question

muslims living in the U.S. know that pork products are used in many consumables [potato chips etc.] and in the preparation of food in most resturants. most cooking oil used commercially is made w/animal fats, pork being one of them. how do the muslims not consume any of these products. do they have a list of foods to avoid in the rest of the world?

Answer 1

Obviously you've never noticed the tiny "K" or the word "parve" on products have you?

These products tell Muslims and Jews alike that these are dietarily "Safe" products.

Answer 2

Many Muslims have learned to look for the (U) in a circle (and vartious other codes and words, like "Parve") which means that the product meets Kashrut norms and does not contain pork (or anything else Orthodox Jews won't eat).

Kosher food is acceptable to many or most Muslims, although not the other way 'round. It may have something to do with the origins of the Halal rules.

As you may recall, McDo got in real hot water when it came out they used beef abstract in their French fries: this offended many Hindus.

As with Jews, there are Muslims who refrain from pork but do not worry too much about detail when eating away from home. If they did, they would be relegated to their own communities. As indeed the most orthodox of Jews are.

(Years ago I had a Muslim driver who had come late to being devout. He told me the story of when he'd been in Spain and bought and paid for a hamburger he liked so much he ordered another. He then thought to ask what it was made of. When told pork, he got up and left, abandoning the second hamburger on the grill.)

Sad that two groups with so much in common -- and given that Mohammed preferred Judaism to Christianity -- have so much to divide them and make them hostile to each other today.

Answer 3

I've known some Muslims as well as some Hebrews that do not live strictly by their food preparation rules.

I have a Jewish friend that eats bacon, and I used to know a Muslim who not only consummed alcohol but also enjoyed pork rinds and the occasional pork chop.

So, not everything you see, hear, and for that matter believe to be true, is in fact TRUTH.

Answer 4

Well before you eat at a place you have to know what types of food they serve adn what types of oil are used. Muslims genarelly stick to restaurnats which are halal and serve food which is prepared in a way which is suited to their beliefs. However pork and any pig product is not allowed to be consumed. When eating food that are packaged e.g potato chips the ingredients have to be read and have to be clear form any animal fat or ingredients that are not allowed to be eaten.

Answer 5

I was actually taught a lesson in this area...my daughter had to make something from her ancestral country as a dish that they would serve in that country.

She chose a Bavarian Strawberry Creme dessert. There were a few Muslims in her class and they informed her that they would not be able to eat her dish...stupid me, I had not even considered the backgrounds of the children who would be in this class...one girl informed my daughter that gelatin, one of the ingredients necessary to make this dish come together, had pork in it...I never realized this (duh) and thus was an ingredient that made the entire dessert untouchable.

Since then I watch every ingredient if my kids have to take any foods in to the school.

They seem to be extensively knowledgeable in what has and hasn't got certain ingredients in it so this is why most of their main diet is purchased from others within their culture...through stores they may have specifically to serve their population. Fruits,veggies etc are another story and are not a part of this restriction that I know of.

Many grocery stores in my area now carry foods acceptable to the Muslim, Jewish communities etc. and they have full sections that cater to their needs. Quite convenient for those who have no easy transportation and may find the corner grocery store perfect...and acceptable to shop from.

Answer 6

If you look on a lot of food products you will see a

(O) or a (U) which means the food is orthodox or unorthdox...

But there are lists of approved foods used by the jewish community that would also be used by the muslim community.

Although not many christians take their religon
that seriously any more, many did not eat pork or
shellfish as the bible commands..

Answer 7

Actually most of them do become cautious if they buying food in the west. If they did eat or use something with pork product in it without knowing it, then it is forgivable.

Answer 8

I think they don't use lots of products because of that and they have been that way all their life so they are well educated on that matter. They would be pretty used to not eating or using things with pork in them.

Answer 9

Most muslims outside of the US do not have this problem because they will get their food in places that cater to them.

Answer 10

LIST OF HALAL
AND HARAM FOOD INGREDIENTS

The lists below have been taken with permission from the book 'Islamic Dietary Laws and Practices by Mohammad Mazhar Hussaini and M S Ahmad Hussein Sakr, Ph.D .

It should be noted that a product being imported from a Muslim country is not necessarily a guarantee that it is completely Halal. In fact, food is often imported from abroad into Muslim countries without proper checking of ingredients.

1. AN ALPHABETICAL DEFINITION GUIDE

An alphabetical list of Halal and Haram ingredients to look out for:

Bacon: A side of pig meat (pork).

Choletsorol: type of fat always of animal origin. If extracted from Zabiha animal, it is Halal.

Diglyceride: Emulsifier. If of animal origin it should be suspected till the source is known.

Gelatin (Jello Gelatin): Usually of animal origin, mostly from pig. If extracted from a dhabiha animal, then it is halal/

Glycerol (Glycerine): It could be of animal, plant or Glyceryl-Stearate synthetic origin. If animal source is used, it is suspected.

Hormones: Usually animal hormones are used for human consumption. One has to find out the source before passing a judgement.

Lard: Fat from swine particulaly found in the abdominal cavity. Totally Haram for us.

Magnesium Stearate (stearic acid): Used as an active ingredient in medicine tablets. Haram when derived from animal source.

Mono Glycerides: When derived from animal source. (Halal when the source is plant).

Pepsin: A digestive enzyme mostly from pig stomach.

Rennin (Rennet): A protein Enzyme. Usually not labeled. (In most cheeses).

Shortening: Fats and oils of animal origin. Animal/Lard

Vanilla: Extracted using alcohol.

Vitamins: Haram when from animal source. Mostly the source is synthetic or plant and are Halal.

Whey: Used in ice creams and yogurt. Haram when from animal source.

2. A PARTIAL LIST OF HALAL INGREDIENTS
S/N Name of Ingredients Code No Brief Description

Antioxidants: Chemical compounds used to protect certain food components from being destroyed or lost through oxidation.

Ascorbic acid: Vitamin C.

Benzoate (Benzoic acid): Benzoic acid and sodium benzoate are used for food preservation.

Biotin: A member of the B complex vitamins.

BHA: An antioxidant, preservative.

BHT: An antioxidant, preservative.

Citric acid: Sources are plant, usually of the citrus family. (e.g. orange, lime, lemon).

Cobalamine: Synthetically prepared Vitamin B12.

Dextrin: An emulsifying, sizing, and thickening agent.

Fiber: Sources are plant. Provide roughage to diet.

Fructose: Fruit sugar.

Gliadin (Gluten): Ptotein found in wheat and rye.

Hydrogenated oil: Vegetable oil being hydrogenated making it solid at room temperature.

Iodine: A nutrient for thyroid gland.

Lecithin: Emulsifier of fat. In the USA, sources are mainly soyabean and egg yolk.

Lipids : Essential fatty acids found in fish, plant and animals. If source is animal; it is suspected.

Malt: A kind of fermented grain.

Molasses: Syrup liquid obtained in refining sugar.

MSG: Flavoring. Imparts meat flavor to foods.

Niacin: One of the B complex vitamins.

PABA: A food supplement.

Pectin: A gelatinous substance extracted from fruits.

Propionic acid: A preservative.

Riboflavin: One of the B complex vitamins. Usually the source is synthetic.

Pure vegetable shortening: Source of this kind of shortening is plant.

100% vegetable shortening: Source of this kind of shortening is plant.

Sweetener: Substance that gives a sweet taste.

Thiamin: One of the B complex vitamins.

Vanillin: Flavoring agent, extracted from vanilla.

Vitamin A: If source are plant and synthetic, it is halal.

Vitamin C: Natural sources are from plant. (e.g. citrus fruit, tomatoes, etc).

Vitamin D: Natural sources are yeast and fish liver oil. Also synthetically produced.

Vitamin E: Rich sources of Vitamin E are vegetable oils. When source is synthetic, it is halal. If source is animal, it is suspected.

Water: The nutrient most vital to man's existence.

Food yeast: Microscopic, unicellular, fungal plant used for fermentation process and in baking bread.