Beyond the Label: Why ‘No Pork, No Lard’ Isn’t Enough for Halal Assurance

Jakarta – The increasingly popular “no pork, no lard” signs displayed across various restaurants and culinary stalls in Jakarta are being called into question. Experts warn that such labels do not necessarily guarantee a product’s halal integrity, urging the public to look beyond the mere absence of pork and scrutinize the entire production process and secondary ingredients.

Halal content creator Dian Widayanti noted that public understanding of halal consumption is often limited to the exclusion of pork. However, she stressed that the concept of halal is significantly broader than the informal “no pork, no lard” claim suggests.

“When we talk about halal, it isn’t just about what we eat or drink,” Dian said during a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) titled “Beyond Awareness: From Lifestyle to Inclusion,” held by Republika and FoSSEI in Jakarta on Wednesday. The event served as a precursor to the 2026 Indonesia Sharia Festival (ISF).

Dian highlighted a common oversight: the use of non-halal additives in seemingly permissible dishes. Many consumers remain unaware that food items appearing “safe” may actually contain ingredients like mirin, angciu (red rice wine), or specific types of gelatin that do not meet halal standards. This gap in knowledge, she argued, indicates a pressing need to bolster halal literacy among the general public.

“Often, people see a ‘no pork, no lard’ sign and immediately assume the food is halal,” she remarked, pointing out that such assumptions can be misleading.

Data from the Financial Services Authority (OJK) suggests that a growing interest in Sharia- compliant lifestyles is a primary driver of Indonesia’s Sharia economy. Yet, Dian believes this

trend must be accompanied by a more holistic understanding so that consumers do not rely solely on superficial labels. According to her, the halal ecosystem also encompasses cosmetics, health, fashion, and Islamic finance. One of the major barriers to this deeper understanding is the technical nature of religious rulings. Dian observed that the language used in official fatwas (Islamic legal opinions) and regulations is often too complex for the average person to grasp. While the documentation is exhaustive, its academic and legal tone makes it inaccessible.

“If you’ve ever read a fatwa, you know how complicated it can be. A single ruling can span dozens of pages,” Dian explained. This complexity often leaves the public confused about the practical differences between Sharia-compliant and conventional services, particularly in the banking sector.

To bridge this gap, she emphasized the role of educators in “humanizing” the language of fatwas —translating technical jargon into relatable, everyday terms. She noted that while the public is becoming more conscious of halal lifestyles, this hasn’t yet translated into a full comprehension of the Sharia financial system, with many still erroneously viewing Sharia services as identical to conventional ones.

Echoing these concerns, Sutan Emir Hidayat, Director of Sharia Ecosystem Infrastructure at the National Sharia Economy and Finance Committee (KNEKS), underscored the importance of a singular, authoritative reference for Sharia rulings. He pointed to the National Sharia Board of the Indonesian Ulema Council (DSN-MUI) as the official authority in the country.

“When there are too many conflicting opinions, it only creates confusion for the public,” Sutan Emir concluded.

Indonesianpost.com | Republika