Hazards In Poultry Feed Production: An Appraisal From The Halal Perspective

Abstract

Animal feed is any processed, semi-processed of raw materials or compound which are fed to animals. Poultry feed are food for farm poultry, including chickens, ducks, geese and other domestic birds (Gallus domesticus), whether it is in mash, crumbles or pellets form. Feed supply is central to all animal production systems and any factor that affects the security of the feed supply is a significant constraint to production. In Malaysia, most of the poultry feed comprises of 95% of the sources that are imported and only 5% are obtained locally. In this situation, feed producers are responsible to communicate with crop producers and at the same time connected with primary food producers involved, such as poultry breeders. These phenomena are crucial in maintaining the halal integrity along the supply chain. To produce halal food materials, it is important to make sure that the feed fed to edible animals are Ḥalālan ṭoyyiban. This paper reviews the hazards presence in poultry feed and its production which include biohazards, chemical hazards and physical hazards. In so doing, it employs library research methodology by reviewing the relevant literatures and analysed using content analysis method. Further to that, it also appraises the presence of the respective hazards from the halal perspective. From the halal point of view, the sources of human food shall not only be halal, but shall also be safe for human consumption, non-poisonous and non-hazardous to human health. In the context of poultry feed, the usage of antibiotics, GMOs with hazardous issue or potential toxicity or allergenicity, toxin contamination and presence of physical contaminants in poultry feed, if not properly controlled and regulated seriously, adverse effects might take place in human and this is indeed not in line with the goal of the Shariah to safeguard the interests of human and the universe, to protect life and lineage, and to bring benefits and repelling harms. Nevertheless, considering that contaminants are present everywhere, and that total elimination is almost impossible, taking proactive actions to reduce their presence to the minimum level possible is in compliance with the spirit of Maqasid Shariah. This could be done by putting in place a comprehensive legislation for the control of several of these chemical compounds, pathogens and physical contaminants in poultry feed, or by implementing feed safety management system such as HACCP in feed plants. In addition, to protect the interest of the Muslim consumers particularly in Malaysia, it is also recommended that a Halal standard for Poultry Feed Production should be developed.