Question
Dear Sheikh.
I am asking this question on behalf of a parent whose child is in hospital.
The parent is requesting to know whether the following product is halal or not. As far as I can determined the issue related to the permissibility of the enzyme Trypsin which is sourced from pork. The information sheet mentions no trace of the enzyme is detected in the final product and the product is Kosher certified. If there is no other suitable alternative, would this product be permissible? Additionally, if there is a suitable alternative, would this product remain permissible.
If you could provide some clarity on this issue quite soon, I would be most grateful.
JazakAllah khayran
https://www.aptaclub.co.uk/products/is-aptamil-halal.html
Answer
After consulting with experts in the field and contacting Aptamil, we have discovered the following:
- The milk is an extensively hydrolysed milk, where the milk proteins are broken down.
- Pork trypsin enzyme is used in the process of breaking down the proteins.
- Trypsin itself does not transfer into the final product. Rather, trypsin exits the reaction, ready to be used again.
- Trypsin enzyme is not present in the final product.
If the information we have received above is correct then it would be permissible to utilise infant formula developed using pork trypsin provided that there are not other unlawful ingredients contained within the final product. You may act on this ruling for as long as there is no evidence proving that pork trypsin is present in the final product.
If it is proven that pork trypsin remains in the final product then it would not be permissible to use the infant formula, except in cases of emergency. This would be for instance, where the baby’s life or vital organ would be in danger if they do not use this infant feed and there is no other lawful alternative.
Answered by:
Ifta Research Fellow
Checked & Approved by:
Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel