The Branded Foods and Beverages Group, Clover, will no longer be halaal certified starting in August. This decision comes as the Muslim Judicial Council Halaal Trust takes a stance against the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Israeli goods and services.
The Trust made it public that since January 1st, they have not certified any Clover products as halaal, but the stock bearing the halaal logo will be phased out by August.
The Chief Operations Officer of the Trust, Moulana Zakariyah Philander, explained that their decision was not made overnight.
They allocated nine months to phase out the halaal logos on Clover products. In their public notice, the Trust stated that as of January 1st, 2024, they would no longer be certifying Clover products as halaal.
Philander clarified that they already have a spreadsheet of product logos that have been removed.
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Philander further explained that the Trust made a policy decision last year regarding the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. They released a clear statement at that time, indicating their position.
Towards the end of the year, they began the process of not renewing certifications for the new year. Philander mentioned that they met with the executives of Clover, who understood and agreed with the decision. They decided to give Clover a period of time to phase out the logos.
Clover is expected to comment on the matter in due course. Philander emphasized that if everything goes according to Clover’s plan, the halaal logo will be removed from all their products by the end of August.
He explained that the decision affects the food supply chain, and once a decision is made, it requires coordination and adjustments in the production process. Philander mentioned that they have an agreement in place with Clover and have received a rollout plan from them.
The decision to remove the Halaal logo from Clover products is part of a larger concern about the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza. The Trust wants to contribute to peace in the region and advocate for a democratic society where all citizens, both Arabs and Israelis, are equal. Philander referred to this move as their “bit of activism.”
Ten years ago, the Trust announced that they would be certifying new Clover products following queries and concerns about why they did not bear the Halaal logo.
Previously, there were concerns raised about the gelatine content in Clover fresh creams. However, after a full manufacturing investigation, it was confirmed that the product was certified as halaal.
The National Consumer Commission stated that this matter is not within their scope of comment.
