Midamar, a US-based halal food company, has invited Islamic scholars and designated community leaders in the US, Asia, Middle East and GCC countries, to visit its facilities and witness the processes for themselves.

The firm will engage in discussion on the true nature of the US halal industry, its practices, challenges and opportunities.

The invitation follows recent news reports that falsely claimed that the company sold millions of dollars in meat to the GCC countries which allegedly did not follow halal practices as promised in it labelling and advertising.

The allegation are simply incorrect and have been made without fully considering the context and diversity of the halal market, the company said in a statement.

In 2010, there was a USDA administrative infraction regarding facility numbers that were incorrect for product destined to South East Asia, not to the Middle East or GCC as reported in the media, it said.

This infraction was never a halal issue, with the product exported verified as halal. It was an exporting issue involving facility numbers.

It would be irrational, immoral, and counterproductive for the company, which only produces halal food for sale in the US and for export, to decide to produce and sell non-halal food to halal consumers, the statement said.

The company seeks to assure all consumers that while the halal food industry and scholars may not agree on all aspects of halal definitions, Midamar is among the minority in the US that remains clear about its halal practices and thus seeks to dispel the suspicions and rumours that have surfaced over the past week, it added. - TradeArabia News Service