Delivering kosher and halal foods

The food industry that had been limited in the domestic market is expanding as global brands. The confidence to advance to the global market is growing. What are the ways to encourage the soft-landing as global brands? Overseas food certification can boost expansion in the global market. Most notable certifications are kosher and halal.

Halal is the food and drink that Muslims are allowed to consume, excluding haram, or forbidden food. Pork, blood, intoxicants and alcoholic beverages, reptiles and insect are not to be used as ingredients, and animals not slaughtered in the name of “Allah” are not to be consumed. In the process of cooking, packaging, storing and delivering, it must not be in contact with haram. What Muslims are allowed to consume is called “halal.”

If Islamic food culture is defined as halal, Kosher is the food allowed in Jewish religion. It follows the rules of kashrut based on Torah and Jewish tradition and refers to the set of dietary restrictions for the Jews. While vegetables and fruits are allowed, wild birds, birds of prey and pork are strictly forbidden. While kosher and halal overlap for considerable parts, kosher has stricter choices. Muslims can eat kosher food while there are halal options that Jews are not allowed to consume.

In the Korean food industry, kosher certification is little acknowledged compared to halal certification. Islamic tourists are expected to increase, and more Muslims marrying Koreans and immigrant workers would expand the religious dietary certifications. Experts are optimistic about the future of kosher products since they coincide with the “well-being” trends in lifestyle and consumer culture and the potential of Muslims consuming kosher food.

The market sizes of kosher and halal foods are estimated to be $250 billion and $1.7 trillion respectively. While it is still in early stage, I hope to deliver the taste and quality of Korean cuisine to the tables around the world.

by Lee Sang-chul CEO of Daesang FNF Corporation