South Africa – For the longest time, halal food was exclusively savoured by the Muslim communities in South Africa. If this were just a few years ago, it would have been difficult for Muslim people to fathom the widespread demand for halal food and products beyond their neighbourhoods.
Even more astonishing is that the demand is not limited to only Muslims. It extends to people of diverse faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds as well. This surge in interest may stem from halaal products offering a distinct level of flavour, hygiene and quality compared to other food sources.
This curiosity and longing may even be driven by the rich cultural mosaic of the nation and the people’s eagerness to explore each other’s traditions and culinary delights.
Consequently, halal has evolved over the years into a local and global phenomenon. In South Africa, one can readily find many halal options in restaurants, supermarkets, and fast-food chains.
However, despite this general awareness and availability, many individuals are still unfamiliar with the concept of halal, often due to societal barriers which limit their interactions with Muslims. This is where social gatherings like the Halaal Goods Market play a crucial role, offering opportunities for people who might not otherwise cross paths to come together.
According to Dilshad Parker, the creator of the renowned Hungry for Halaal website, events such as the Halaal Goods Market serve a broader purpose beyond catering solely to Muslims. They promote an inclusive environment which fosters a keen awareness of Islamic culture, attire, and cuisine among individuals from diverse faith backgrounds.
“The Halal Goods Market hasn’t only been aimed at Muslim people. You go to any Halal Market, and you’ll find many non-Muslim people attending because the variety and quality of food you can get is so good. I think that has attracted a lot of non-Muslim patrons, and I think that has done a lot to bring the concept of halal and halal food into focus.”
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The Want for Halal in the Food Industry
Despite the sincere efforts of Muslim individuals and communities to promote inclusivity and hospitality, numerous misconceptions exist surrounding halal food. Some erroneously believe as long as a dish excludes pork or alcohol, it qualifies as halal, which is not the case.
For this reason, Parker began her website, Hungry for Halaal, to enlighten individuals about the principles and criteria governing halal food.
Parker explained that before the existence of her website, which provides South Africans with reviews and information on halal restaurants, products, and services across the country, there was a substantial amount of misinformation online regarding the distinction between fully halal establishments and those that are merely labelled as “halal friendly.”
“I realised that there was a need in the digital space for information that served the Muslim people with information they could trust by people who understood the Halaal landscape.”
Regardless of the shortcomings and misunderstandings of halal’s fundamental principles and prerequisites, Parker pointed out a growing trend among local and global food producers and distributors towards the evident economic prospects and perceived value of the international halal market.
“The franchise space is seeing the need and the value of bringing halal food into their business and their franchises, and the same is going in general.”
Due to the demand of halal, there is a notable transformation happening within the food industry, with well-known food chains, restaurants, and providers of meat, vegetables, and various other raw materials and products increasingly opting for halal certification. Therefore, it is conceivable that South Africa’s food industry may eventually embrace halal practices entirely.
