Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

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Prof. Hamid Ahmad

Member since
Organization: Pakistan Society of Food Scientists & Technologists (PSFST),Lahore Chapter,
Country: Pakistan
Field(s) of expertise:
I am working on:

Human Right to Religious / Ritual Food under the existing UN resolutions and covenats,

This member contributed to:

    • Prof. Hamid Ahmad

      Pakistan Society of Food Scientists & Technologists (PSFST),Lahore Chapter,
      Pakistan

      Dear Sir,

       A brief is written below for FSN.

      INTRODUCTION

       Human Right to Adequately Certified Religious Food to about quarter of the world population is jeopardized under current prevailing situation in the world. About 2 billion Muslim population spread over 57 Islamic countries (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation-OIC) and otherwise as minority migrants in other countries like Europe, EU, USA ,Australia, Canada etc. require availability, continuityand affordability of certified Halal food for the faithful & purified  observance of their religion. According to UNO charter, it is a stated responsibility of all countries, nation states to provide adequate, nutritious, safe and secure food supply at affordable price to its citizens as articulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and several other international instruments. However, about a quarter of the world’s Muslim population (~1.8 Billion) need that their food be religiously Halal (pure) compliant. Halal Food is is certified  that the food products purchased are fit for Muslim consumption. The certifying bodies are organizations that generally charge a certification fee to certify a product as Halal. Basically the certification ensures food item has been prepared, handled, processed, truthfully labelled, packaged and transported as per the Islamic and Sharia laws for Muslim consumption. The consumers has to fully rely on the certification of the product, especially when, due to globalization, supply chains are long and not always completely transparent for the religious consumer. In most religious food consuming societies, the religious food production & consumption is considered as a pious way of life to wash sins and a practice of religious compliance. Therefore provision of Halal food does not only touch upon the consumer rights as such but also upon their human rights, where the right to practice religion is important and one of them. It has been noticed over the years that religiously prepared food can be rejected because of lack in transparency of countries related to the religious requirements and sometimes also due to more strict interpretations (Tafseer) of religiously prepared food. These circumstances can prevent food from reaching its destination, and on occasions even lead to the death of people in need of religious food. Below are two diagrams showing the distribution of different important religions worldwide and the comparative growth rates of religions in the world.  

      Fig. 1. RELIGIONS STATICS -DISTRIBUTION OF RELIGIONS IN THE WORLD

      Fig. 2. COMPARATIVE GROWTH RATES OF RELIGIONS IN THE WORLD.

        THE  ISSUE- Human Right to Adequate Religious Food and Nutrition,

       Provision of certified credible religious food to all religious performing persons in the world is at stake which amounts to the denial of their human rights. Factors related to and affecting the provision of religious food across the board are varied. There are Sunni and Shia sects among Muslims which may have  further subdivision and variations in Tafseer/Explanations.  Tafseer in Arabic means a scholarly discussion and consensus building of disputed matters  of Islam which have arisen due to modern science or philosophical thought in the world. Like Genetically Modified Foods (GMF) with genetic transfer across species is controversial issue.

       Halal Muslim Food Certifying Bodies (HCB) are either derived directly from the government organisations or can be government-regulated or accredited entities. Most of the Islamic countries are food deficient and need to import their food from other countries as “HalalCertified Food” but most food imported into the Muslim countries is coming from non-Muslim foreign countries like Thailand, The Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, India etc. about which Halal meat is most contested food.

      The commercial scale of global Halal food trade, about 13 % of global food trade (~3 trillion US Dollars), with fast annual growth has created huge interest in this business. Therefore an effective resolution of the issue is badly needed. ISO Geneve has established a Technical Committee (TC 425 Halal) to deal with Halal trade and compliance matters at international level. The Committee is considering the Halal Food Rules, prepared by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Jeddah. Myself has been Pakistan expert member in this program.

      Halal meat has to be from permitted animals via Halal slaughter method, without the preslaughter stunning procedure for immobilization. But it is not acceptable to animal welfare lobbies as it confronts European animal welfare laws. Procedure also adds extra cultural and commercial burden on food trade regulatory regimes. It may be noted that pig and blood in any form is prohibited in Islam.

       

    • Prof. Hamid Ahmad

      Pakistan Society of Food Scientists & Technologists (PSFST),Lahore Chapter,
      Pakistan

       

      Human Right to Adequately Certified Religious Food to about quarter of the world population is jeopardized under current prevailing situation in the world. About 2 billion Muslim population spread over 57 Islamic countries (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation-OIC) and otherwise as minority migrants in other places like Europe, EU, USA ,Australia, Canada etc. require availability, continuity and affordability of certified ritual Halal food for the faithful, purified  and credibly certified observance of their religion. According to UNO charter, it is a stated responsibility of all countries, nation states to provide adequate, nutritious, safe and secure food supply at affordable price to its citizens as articulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and several other international instruments. These UNO conventions about right to food are not being implemented due to variety of reasons thus causing hunger, disease or even death in some cases. The issue of the provision of ritual Halal food needs to be discussed in detail and to be taken care of, by the UNO, global humanitarian, financial,  commercial, regulatory and trade organisations to assess, identify, recognise and address the implications for a way out at national & international level. 

      I can make a full and detailed presentation on the topic / issue , if required.

    • Prof. Hamid Ahmad

      Pakistan Society of Food Scientists & Technologists (PSFST),Lahore Chapter,
      Pakistan

      Dear Sir,

      I would like to add that serious, high and deep focus for all international institutions & food/nutrition related think-tanks, in the matter needs to be a comparison between the amount of total global food production as compared to requirements of total global population (mouths to eat). To me there  is more than sufficient food available (but not reachable) for each mouth in the world. This fact is not entering the minds of most of the people in the world.

      Keeping this point in view at all levels, all stages, in all strategies, in all plans, so much so in every way of thought process would be very helpful. Rather a slogan should be effectively and promptly be promoted & propagated internationally saying that,

      “ It is not global food production rather food deliverance to every human on earth is the cause of hunger, malnutrition, all other food/nutrition related problems of the world.”

      I sincerely believe that it will payback / add heavily & effectively toward any / all efforts made for better food / nutrition in the world.

      Yours Sincerely,

       

      Hamid Ahmad

      Ex-Chairman,

      Pakistan Society of Food Scientists & Technologists (PSFST),

      Lahore Chapter,

      Islamabad, Pakistan.

       

    • Prof. Hamid Ahmad

      Pakistan Society of Food Scientists & Technologists (PSFST),Lahore Chapter,
      Pakistan

      Dear Sir,

      No doubt street foods offer multiple choices and benefits for the poor daily wagers or low salary earners yet it appears that any cost addition by way of improving by mainstreaming or for quality / food safety / availability, any official  intervention would be at a cost to the health / promotion of street food industry anywhere. What I mean is that in the developing country scenario any official interventions for any kind of controls are likely to impact negatively towards the well- being & the growth of street foods. Because it is such a market domain where rules are drawn only by market forces related to any prevailing socio-economic situation, local tastes, staples, city, region or a country parameters. In this small sector civic, social pressure and table talk on the spot by routine consumers matters and affects  much more than drawing any lines for monitoring and evaluation. Nearby availability and cost range are most important in this street industry of developing countries.

      In rich countries like USA, however, the street food (in New York), for example, is eaten more for variety , fun, long shopping hauls or picnic but in developing. In the poor countries it is the option due to price and quantity to fill the belly with appetizing local taste. Similarly going by packaging/labeling/cleanliness it is more presentable, safe, nutritious and hygienic in NY where the cost is almost near to eating food in a average / common restaurant which is not the case in developing countries of Asia or Africa. People in rich countries eat street food more for variety or picnic but in developing poor countries it is option due to price and quantity to fill the belly with local taste.

      Keeping this in mind it can certainly be said that the promotion of urban and peri-urban agriculture and horticulture by helpful intervention of local authorities is likely to improve health and strength of street foods. Urban & Peri-urban agriculture is source of fresh and economic ingredients for street foods, Quality in these ingredients means  better and nutrition implements for the consumers of these street foods. The good and healthy thing about street foods is that most street foods use plenty of greens , salads , colored vegies all of which are very well known for their nutritious properties. In the modern day busy and hard working life people do not bother about buying these items separately for their home made foods due to cost and non-realisation of their nutritional importance.  

      So, I am all for the support of urban and periurban agriculture and horticulture: perspectives for a strategic coalition towards food security. Positive interventions in these aspects would improve  health and food security of people. However any intervention to improve quality / nutrition in the street food system would may not be of any benefit.

    • Prof. Hamid Ahmad

      Pakistan Society of Food Scientists & Technologists (PSFST),Lahore Chapter,
      Pakistan

      About 3  decades ago a process of development of Appropriate Technologies entities in most of the developing countries was initiated. It often included the food and nutrition sector. It was an highly positive direction for researchers to tap and use processes and technologies based on traditional wisdoms and to filter or polish these for more effective use in policy making mechanisms.

      Slowly the entities may have faded away and now coming up with different nomenclatures. So, surely the approach has a weight of knowledge base and traditions to fit in more appropriately in development countries. I would like to reinforce this line of approach and further action.