A routine journey on the Vande Bharat Express took an unexpected turn when a passenger voiced his concerns over being served a tea with Halal certification, especially during the Hindu holy month of Shravan, know what is the meaning of halal certified tea
This created a Halal Certification tea controversy on Vande Bharat Express. Here is all you need to know about this incident.
Explained what is the meaning of halal certified tea as video of it being served by Indian Railways on train goes viral
The passenger, identifying as a devout Hindu, was notably disturbed by the Halal certification on a ‘Chaizup’ tea premix, even though it was touted as being “100% vegetarian”. His concerns amplified due to the ongoing month of Shravan, a period significant to many Hindus.
ट्रैन या फ्लाइट में हलाल सर्टिफाइड खानपान के सामान का विरोध करे। Shocking as always
Halal certified Chai packet in Trains & flights..
This kattar Hindu strongly protested..This is Major issue which should be solved ..
Either have separate packing..
All companies .. pic.twitter.com/MLIhTlzUXu— AstroCounselKK🇮🇳 (@AstroCounselKK) July 19, 2023
Reacting to the growing sentiment, the IRCTC clarified via a tweet. The tea, besides having the obligatory FSSAI Certification for its vegetarian nature, had a Halal certification because it is also exported to countries that mandate such a certification for products.
Halal Certification for non meat products
Most people think that only meat items can be certified as Halal, but that’s not true. People have said that the way the Halal meat business works could put non-Muslims out of work in order to meet the Halal requirements. But certification of non-meat products like vegetarian food, cosmetics, and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) has become a hot topic lately.
Companies and people who support Halal say that the certification for non-meat things is proof that they are “pure and real.” But for many people, this certification, even for goods that don’t come from animals, shows that they follow their religious beliefs. In particular, they look at whether a product has ingredients that are forbidden in Islam.
Economic and employment implications
Halal certification has deeper economic ramifications. For products sold with this certification, a portion of the revenue goes to certification authorities predominantly employing individuals from the Muslim community. This monopolization of the certification process is viewed by some as a way to channel funds towards a specific religious group, making it a concern beyond mere dietary preferences.
Furthermore, while non-Muslims can be involved in the production of non-animal products, the certification process remains in the hands of Muslim employees, further fueling the debate around Halal’s economic and employment implications.
A global perspective on Halal Certification
One important question still needs to be answered: Why do companies, even in countries with a small Muslim population, want Halal approval so badly? Nassim Nicolas Taleb says this is because of the idea that “The Most Intolerant Wins.”
If a small group of people will only buy Halal goods no matter what, and the rest of the people aren’t sure what to do, then the market will have to shift towards Halal to serve this small group.
Conclusion
The thing that happened on the Vande Bharat Express brings up a bigger argument about religious certifications in the modern market and what effect they have.
As secular values become more popular, it is important to find a balance and make sure that business and production decisions respect different views without accidentally putting one group ahead of another or giving it more attention.
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