"S. Africa Coke alcohol starts halal controversy"
By Fakir Hassen
Johannesburg, July 24: The Coca-Cola company has
placed full-page advertisements in South African
newspapers to reassure Muslim consumers and avoid a
backlash after a doctor found traces of alcohol in the
drink.
Doctor Haroun Dindar had laboratory tests conducted on
a sample from a bottle of the drink after his daughter
complained at a family barbecue that it did not taste
normal. Dindar said the analysis found the Coca-Cola
sample to contain one gram of alcohol per 100
millilitres of the liquid.
An irate Mr Dinadar informed the Coca-Cola company,
which, through the advertisement, apologised to the
doctor for "the unfortunate isolated incident".
The company reaffirmed that in the manufacture of its
products, including Coca-Cola, no alcohol is added and
no fermentation takes place. "In this particular case,
independent laboratory tests have confirmed that the
alcohol in the doctors Coca-Cola was caused through a
natural process, involving fermentation of the sugar
content that was due to a specific and unique set of
environmental conditions.
This is a rare occurrence and no other incidents have
been reported," the advertisement read. "The Coca-Cola
enjoyed in South Africa is no different to the Coke
enjoyed in many markets where Islam is the main
religion, such as Egypt, Malaysia, Palestine and Saudi
Arabia. The same ingredients are used. As in all these
markets, Coca-Cola in South Africa maintains positive
relations with the Muslim community through dialogue
and community-based interventions."
Coca-Cola has invited senior Muslim leaders to inspect
bottling plants across the country for themselves. The
National Independent Halaal Trust, a body that
certifies products as "halal (lawful for consumption
under Islamic principles)" has indicated that it will
conduct further tests to verify the status of
Coca-Cola as a non-alcoholic beverage.
While this process continues, some staunch Muslims
here are eschewing Coca-Cola until it is pronounced
halal, while others have written off the controversy
as a "non-event".
"We believe that while there is any doubt about any
product, it is safer to rather not eat or drink it,"
Ebrahim Moosa said after Friday prayers here as the
congregation veered around to discussing the issue.
But his cousins Abdul Wahab Hoosen and Javed Carrim
were less sceptical. "Its a big storm in a teacup
over nothing," said Carrim. "In any event, there are
so many products, even bread, which contain small
traces of alcohol. As long as we dont get intoxicated
by it, there should not be any problem." (IANS)
Faruq Saniyasnain
(Manchester)
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