From toothpastes to bar soaps, gelatine capsules to animal feeds, mouthwash to shampoos to food emulsifiers and food ingredients, the Halal concept practised in Islam has never been more tested and stretched as it is today.

We are living in a world where the sources for ingredients used in many of today’s consumer products are ambiguously disguised, driven largely by cost effectiveness and functionality.

The line of difference between what is Halal and what is Haram is becoming thinner. Modern Muslim consumers especially need to know and understand the sources of these ingredients and thoroughly scrutinise the labelling on all consumer products they buy off the supermarket shelves.

Any Halal product today goes beyond the simple challenge of knowing whether or not it is made from swine or any other meat not slaughtered according to the principles of Shariah. As consumer products get more ‘sophisticated’ and have a myriad of items in their ingredients list, how sure are we that all of the ingredients stated are in fact Halal?

The oleochemicals industry, which started in Malaysia during the early eighties, deserves a spotlight in the extended debate over what is Halal and what are ambiguous ingredients. Fatty acids, from which stearic acid is derived from, as well as glycerine, are two examples of oleochemicals that can be formed as basic building blocks for food emulsifiers, food esters, cosmetics and toiletries.

Oleochemicals are therefore perfect as a Halal substitute and are in a good position to dispel any doubts in the constant debate of what is Halal or Haram in ingredients for food, cosmetics and toiletries. By making full use of Malaysia’s abundantly available and indigenous palm kernel oils, palm oil and its derivatives, the oleochemicals industry is able to produce the fatty acids and glycerines needed to ensure any ingredients are indeed wholly vegetable-based and will therefore be 100% Halal.

The NatOleo Group of Companies, located on a 10-hectare site in Pasir Gudang Industrial Estate in the State of Johor, Malaysia produces these fatty acids, glycerines, cosmetic and food esters as well as soap noodles for the merchant market. The company’s production facility, along with its 54,000 metric tons of stainless steel storage space, are also certified Halal by the Malaysian Department of Islamic Development and is subsequently MS1500:2004 compliant.

With strict Halal compliance on the production line, NatOleo’s commitment in ensuring a total Halal supply-chain extends from its production to storage to shipping. Even the bulking facility onto shipping vessels that NatOleo uses at the Pasir Gudang port caters solely for vegetable oils, thus ensuring no contamination would occur between NatOleo’s end products and that of other products, the likes of tallow or any other animal-based fats and oils.

NatOleo’s strategic location in Pasir Gudang, just a stone throw away from the port facilities, further cements their commitment to deliver its products and services on time anywhere in the world whilst ensuring that all the products they supply remain Halal throughout its entire supply chain process.

Based on customer’s feedback, NatOleo is also continually researching and producing new products and services to make available a larger base of products to cater to a wider range of applications whilst remaining true and adhering strictly to the concept of Halal and tayyib.

NatOleo Sdn. Bhd. produces:
• Fractionated fatty acids
• Distilled/topped fatty acids
• Hydrogenated fatty acids
• Blends based on client requirement
• Glycerine BP/USP
• Hydrogenated triglycerides

Dubois-Naturals Esters Sdn. Bhd. (DNE) produces:
• IsoPropyl palmitate (IPP)
• IsoPropyl myristate (IPM)
• Caprylic/Capric triglycerides (MCT)

Natural Soaps Sdn. Bhd. (NatSoaps) produces:
• Soap noodles

For more information about NatOleo, please log on to www.natoleo.com

Top of Page