In the faith of Muslims, an important aspect of their daily lives is the consumption of food that is considered halal or permissible. Halal-certified foods do not contain ingredients that are considered haram or forbidden according to their beliefs.
For a food item to be considered halal, there is a required process that animals to be butchered must undergo, ensuring minimal suffering on the part of the creature. In the Philippines, the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB) is the body that determines if a certain kind of food or drink is halal-certified.
Despite Islam being the second-largest religion in the country, finding halal-certified food is still a bit tedious for many Muslims, as there is a noticeable lack of awareness and inclusivity among brands and establishments. This is partly due to the prevalent idea that halal-certified food is exclusive to the Muslim faith.
Eager to cater to Muslims looking for halal-certified food, businesswoman Ameera Tamundong has launched AlBarakah, a food brand that offers authentic halal food, ranging from corned beef, coffee, snacks, and many others. Speaking about what inspired her to venture into launching the brand, Tamundong shared her personal struggles about looking for halal products with Manila Standard Life.
“As a Muslim, I have firsthand experience with the difficulty of looking for halal-certified food in the local market. I noticed the lack of trusted and accessible halal options, so I opted to start a brand that could meet this need among both Muslim and non-Muslim consumers,” said Tamundong.
The AlBarakah CEO added, “We aim to offer premium quality, ethical, and healthy food that can benefit not only Muslims but also health-conscious consumers.”
According to Tamundong, the name of the brand comes from the Arabic term “Al Barakah,” which means “blessings.” This word mirrors the brand’s aim to give blessings to every table, not only through its taste and quality but also through the peace of mind it offers Muslims.
“We believe that food is not only about nutrition but is also an important aspect of culture and faith. In every product, we wish to give a blessing that shows respect and care to our community,” said Tamundong.
While its intentions are noble, the brand faced numerous challenges when it was first being established. One of them was the task of ensuring that each product is authentically halal. Tamundong said that they had to receive certification from halal certifiers to ensure that every ingredient and process in the production of each product aligned with the rules of the Islamic faith. Logistics were also a challenge, as creating a consistent and high-quality supply chain was difficult in the country’s local market due to the limited number of halal-certified facilities.
Despite the difficulties, AlBarakah managed to push forward with its goal of serving both Muslim and non-Muslim communities in the country.
“Halal food is not only something you consume; it is also a representation of integrity and commitment to quality that people from all walks of life can benefit from,” said Tamundong.
Starting in the first quarter of 2025, AlBarakah products will be available on its official Facebook page. For more information about the brand, visit their website at https://albarakahph.com.
