Fonterra To Continue Adopting Halalan Toyyiban Concept

By Nurul Hanis Izmir KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 (Bernama) -- Fonterra Brands (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, a New Zealand-based multinational dairy company, will continue adopting the halalan toyyiban concept in its business worldwide as it is in line with its quest to provide high-quality and safe products to consumers. Its Co-operative Affairs Manager, Manisya Ismail said by practising the concept, it did not mean the company was targeting only Muslim consumers, instead the products catered well for all. “Halalan toyyiban does not only means that our products are free from alcohol and pork, but are also of good quality, especially in terms of hygiene and safety,” she told Bernama. The halalan toyyiban means allowed and permissible for consumption with relation to the Muslim syariah law, as long as they are safe. Manisya said since its set up in Malaysia 40 years ago, Fonterra had gained the trust of consumers for high-quality products at affordable prices, without compromising on taste. Citing one of Fonterra brands, Anmum Essential, a milk powder formulated for child’s growth, as an example, she said, “It has no added sugar as the company thinks it is the right thing to do”. She said that the company’s cultured drink, CalciYum, did not use any artificial colours to avoid any negative effects on children in the long run. “A study showed that food dyes could cause several disadvantages such as hyperactive and allergic reactions to cancer and we at Fonterra are totally against it,” she said. Manisya said although the company did not have a specific allocation for halal research and development, the whole organisation from the management to the production line was implementing a holistic halal practice. “Even our non-Muslim workers are very cooperative and are not bringing any non-halal food into the building,” she said. Fonterra has committed to invest US$4.61 million (RM20 million) this year in its Malaysian manufacturing operations this year, which included its on-going commitment to food safety and quality, and improving manufacturing efficiencies at the Susumas dairy products plant in Shah Alam. The company established its first Malaysian manufacturing facility, Susumas, in 1992 and its second, Dairymas, in 1999. Both plants met international and local industry standards including the Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point, ISO 9001, FSSC 22000 and Veterinary Health Mark, as certified by independent certification bodies, the Ministry of Health and DVS. All products are also certified halal by the department of Islamic Development Malaysia. Over the last six years, Fonterra had invested close to US$13.84 million (RM60 million) into upgrading the infrastructure for both sites of its plants. Fonterra’s Susumas site has the capacity to process and pack 30,000 metric tonnes of milk powder every year. It produces Anlene, Anchor, Anmum and Fernleaf products which are supplied to about 20,000 local retail outlets and exported to 13 countries across the region. Fonterra, which currently supplies dairy products to 21 billion Muslim consumers, is a farmer-owned co-op and the largest processor of milk in the world, producing more than two million tonnes of dairy ingredients, value-added dairy ingredients, speciality ingredients and consumer products for 140 markets. -- BERNAMA