Cottage cheese, the ingredient for divorce? |
From: Public Relations [mailto:pro-kzn@sanha.org.za]
Dear Sir/Mam
We refer to your report in the Sunday Times 21/11/2010 titled ?Couple split after row over ham?.
We expressed our doubts on the veracity of this information as we have had no contact from this ?phantom? couple bar the story carried only in the Majlis. It appears to be a fabrication.
We urge you as an important medium that carried this story, to establish the whereabouts of this couple and the accuracy of the information. Your failure to do this will give credence to those that regard the religion of Islam as intolerant and extremist as well as provide fuel for those that are proposing limitations to the freedom of the press.
As a matter of information we forward our most recent article on labeling. Click here
We await your response.
Kind regards Yours sincerely
For South African National Halaal Authority
EBI Lockhat
Tel: +27 (31) 207 5768 Website: www.sanha.org.za
Public Relations [mailto:pro-kzn@sanha.org.za]
Dear Teneshia,
A labelling error occurred when our Halaal logo was appended on a ham flavoured cottage cheese by a SANHA certified supplier. The error occurred on the part of the printer during the switch over to the new labelling by the recently certified plant. They had not realised that the logo had to be omitted on the ham flavoured item.
The ham flavour is technically free from any non Halal raw materials which renders it compliant with Halal dietary requirement. It does not contain any pork. However due to the pork connotation Sanha does not allow the use of its logo in these instances. Given the Islamic position on pork and the aversion to it by the community, it is unthinkable to even contemplate that we would approve any products with such offensive connotation. We have explained this principle on numerous talk shows and in articles one of which we have reproduced below.
The error was acknowledged by the plant, an apology was tendered and action has been taken to cover the logos. Some 40,000 tubs went out in the market place. Fortunately muslims do not seek out products, purchase and consume those with a Haraam connotation. Also with this being a perishable item with short a shelf life, we envisage it disappearing off the shelves with relative swiftness. Consumers were notified via our website, our electronic newsletters and on Radio Islam and our member organisations.
We had not heard of the incident prior to reading the Majlis?s ludicrous allegation, nor been contacted by the couple mentioned. We are very keen to get to the bottom of the story and establish its authenticity and veracity. None of our associate organisations in PE have heard of this incident bar the report in the Majlis. We are mystified as to why the lady would deviate from her usual pattern to wilfully purchase and feed her husband the product with the offensive connotation and why the husband took the action that he did? This indeed, if true is unIslamic, unacceptable and fuels the false notion that this kind of extremism is inherent and compatible with Islam itself.
We also find it too much of a coincidence that this incident is reported by the Majlis whose proprietor is Molvi AS Desai who in his capacity as the Chairman of the Scholars of the Truth has brought a court action against SANHA on poultry slaughter and has been vilifying us and many mainstream Islamic institutions such as Islamic Radio Stations, Islamic banks, Islamic Schools. Halaal certifying bodies etc.
Kind regards,
Yours sincerely For South African National Halaal Authority
EBI
Lockhat
Tel:
+27 (31) 207 5768
______________________________ From: Teneshia Naidoo Sent: 17 November 2010 10:45 AM Subject: Sunday Times
Hi Ebhi
Hope you doing well and had a great Eid.
Please can you assist me with this query.
I saw on your website that there was a labeling error regarding a ham flavoured cottage cheese product. On the Halal talk website a husband posted a message that he broke up with his wife because she made the mistake of including it in his lunch. He further asks what legal action he can take against Sanha.
I understand that Sanha believes that this is a gimmick from the Port Elizabeth based group, the Majlis.
Please can you comment.
Was there a labeling error on the ham flavoured cottage cheese?
If so, was this on all the products?
How did this mistake occur?
Has this been rectified, have consumers been alerted that this was an error?
Has the Port Elizabeth man- who claims he broke up with his wife over this issue-contacted Sanha?
If so what has he asked for?
Why does Sanha believe that this is a smear campaign by the Majlis?
Please can you get back to me as soon as possible.
thanks so much feel free to call me if you have any queries. kind regards
Teneshia Naidoo Sunday Times office-031 250 8621
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