São Paulo – The Brazilian branch of Kerry, a maker of food products headquartered in Ireland, obtained halal certification in the first half of this year for condiments used in beef, chicken, roast beef and meatballs. The company sought certification at the request of one of its clients, beef company Minerva, which exports to 14 countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Now, it is open to new orders from clients interested in exporting to the Muslim countries, among them the 22 Arab nations.
Halal certification shows that certain products or food were made according to Islamic regulations and do not contain products that are illegal for consumption by Muslims, like pork products, for example. In the case of Kerry, certification was issued by the Brazilian Halal Food Centre (Cibal Halal), which belongs to the Federation of Muslim Associations of Brazil (Fambras).
According to João Paulo Rossi, the account manager at Kerry, to get halal certification all that was necessary was some change to the composition of the products, but not to production. "The [production] process already follows all sanitary and environmental standards," explained the executive.
Condiments for meats were the company’s first products to receive certification. According to Rossi, the company is prepared to seek the halal stamp for other ingredients if there is demand from other food processors it supplies. We adapt to the client’s needs. We are open to any client interested in supplying the [Muslim] market, we are a partner," he pointed out.
Apart from condiments for meats, Kerry also produces ingredients for sweets, dairy, snacks, sauces, soup and beverages, among other products. In Brazil alone the company produces 100,000 tonnes a year of products like scents, emulsifiers, sauces, extracts, bases, fillings and coverings, among others. With regard to certified ingredients, Rossi shows that, since April, four tonnes of the products have been made.
Kerry operations in Latin America, including Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Chile, include 1,300 employees. In Brazil, its factory is located in Campinas, in the interior of the state of São Paulo. In 2009, the company’s global revenues totalled 4.5 billion euros.
Contact
Kerry
Tel.: (+55 19) 3765 5032
E-mail.: joao.rossi@kerry.com
Site: http://www.kerry.com/americas/latin/default.aspx?LangType=1046
*Translated by Mark Ament
