By LPPOM MUI

Ensuring Halal Integrity Starts at the Processing Stage

Meat grinding services play a critical role in determining whether meatball products are genuinely halal. Because grinding is part of the production process, halal compliance cannot stop at the final product, it must include the facilities, tools, and ingredients used along the way. For this reason, LPH LPPOM encourages meat grinding businesses to obtain halal certification from BPJPH to support meatball traders in certifying their products more efficiently.

Halal certification covers both materials and processes. This is especially important for meatball sellers who rely on third-party grinding services, as these services become part of their halal supply chain.

Risks of Non-Certified Grinding Facilities

According to Dr. Ir. Sugiarto, M.Si, a senior auditor at LPPOM, using grinding services that are not halal-certified poses potential risks. Additional ingredients mixed during grinding may not be halal, and without proper documentation, it is difficult to verify their status. Even if most ingredients are halal, the absence of systematic records undermines traceability.

Equipment cleanliness is another major concern. If grinding tools are used interchangeably for halal and non-halal meats, such as pork or wild boar, they can become contaminated with severe (najis mughallazah) impurities. In such cases, the equipment cannot be reused for halal production and must be separated entirely.

Cleaning Standards and Environmental Contamination

For moderate impurities, cleaning with water until all traces of odor, color, and taste disappear may be sufficient. However, this method does not apply to contamination from pork, which requires dedicated facilities.

Environmental factors also matter, particularly in traditional markets. Flies and unsanitary surroundings can contaminate meat or equipment. Once contamination occurs, the meat’s status becomes mutannajis, rendering it haram for consumption. This highlights the importance of hygiene control alongside halal compliance.

Documentation and Traceability as Core Requirements

To obtain BPJPH halal certification, grinding business operators must provide written evidence of all materials used, including meat sources and additional ingredients. They must also maintain production records that allow for quick and accurate traceability.

Although halal audits are conducted once and the certificate is valid for life, consistency is key. Auditors do not continuously monitor changes in materials or processes after certification. Therefore, business owners bear full responsibility for maintaining halal integrity and proving ongoing compliance.

Building Trust Through Halal Certification

Halal certification for meat grinding services offers more than regulatory compliance, it strengthens consumer confidence and supports meatball traders in meeting halal requirements. With certified grinding facilities, traders can ensure that their products comply with Islamic law from raw materials to final processing.

LPH LPPOM emphasizes that halal certification reflects a genuine commitment to food quality, safety, and religious responsibility. By prioritizing halal standards, grinding service providers contribute to a trustworthy halal ecosystem that benefits traders, consumers, and the wider community.

LPH LPPOM also provides support for business actors through customer service channels, regular halal certification introduction classes, and laboratory testing services accredited under ISO/IEC 17025:2017. These initiatives aim to make halal assurance accessible, practical, and reliable across the food production chain.

Original Article:

Halal MUI. (2025). Why do meat grinding businesses need halal certification? Halal MUI. https://halalmui.org/en/why-do-meat-grinding-businesses-need-halal-certification/