“A string of internationally recognised halal certifications at key production plants allows the ingredient company to supply a broad range of halal cultures for cheese and yogurt production and halal cheese coagulants,” according to a company statement.
Danisco says it wants to give dairy manufacturers increased flexibility when producing foods acceptable to the 25 per cent of the world’s population who are Muslim.
The company’s halal certifications are said to be recognised by MUI, Indonesia’s top clerical body, which sets the global halal standards.
Global market
The global market for halal products estimated at US$ 632bn – and growing, according to the market news service, HalalFocus.
Caroline de Lamarlière, global product manager for cheese ripening cultures, said: “Halal cultures are a prerequisite of halal whey, enabling cheese manufacturers to capture opportunities when selling whey to the growing halal food market.”
Strong market opportunities exist in Indonesia, Africa and the Middle East, believes the company.
In Indonesia, the Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates the year-on-year value growth of whey imports at more than 20 per cent.
In North Africa and the Middle East, the halal certification of Danisco’s YO-MIX Yogurt Cultures is also a major opportunity for the fermented dairy products sector, said Sonia Huppert, YO-MIX global business director.
“We are now better equipped to help manufacturers meet the traditionally high demand for yogurt and drinking yogurt products in the growing halal markets of North Africa, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and not forgetting western countries, where we see significant growth,” she said.
Danisco’s halal range includes CHOOZIT Cheese Cultures, YO-MIX Yogurt Cultures, TEXEL Meat Cultures and Carlina and Marzyme coagulants.
Certification
The company’s plant at Dangé Saint Romain in France is the latest to obtain halal certification. Other certified plants are at Vinay, Sassenage and Epernon in France and Niebüll in Germany.
The cultures plant in Madison, USA, is in the certification process.
Halal foods are those that are allowed under Islamic dietary guidelines. The word halal in Arabic means permitted or lawful.
Meanwhile in September, Euro-Canadian biotechnical corporation, Fytozimus BioTech launched a new milk-clotting enzyme to make cheeses from low fat and skimmed milk, including milk from camels, goats and buffalos, which it claimed are suitable for halal and kosher consumers.