Improving the reliability and throughput of Halal products testing

Importance of the Topic

The global Halal market requires rigorous verification of food, feed and cosmetic products to ensure they are free of prohibited substances such as pork, alcohol and certain by-products. Reliable, high-throughput analytical methods are essential to meet growing demand, maintain consumer trust and comply with religious and regulatory standards.

Objectives and Study Overview

This application note presents a comprehensive workflow for Halal compliance testing, showcasing a suite of chemical, biological and spectroscopic techniques. The goal is to improve analytical reliability and sample throughput while addressing challenges posed by complex matrices and trace contaminants.

Methodology

Testing strategies combine chromatographic separation, mass spectrometric detection, molecular spectroscopy and genetic assays. Alcohol and lipid profiling is achieved by gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrometry (MS). Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) with MS/MS is employed for hormone and antibiotic residues. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and UV-Vis/NIR spectroscopy provide rapid fingerprinting of fats and feedstocks. Inductively coupled plasma techniques (ICP-OES, ICP-MS) deliver elemental analyses. Bioanalytical platforms like the 2100 Bioanalyzer and qPCR enable sensitive detection of allergens and porcine DNA down to 0.0005% w/v.

Used Instrumentation

• Gas Chromatography (GC) and Headspace-GC
• GC-MS and GC-MS/MS
• HPLC and UHPLC coupled to Mass Spectrometry
• LC-MS and GC-MS Application Kits for pesticide and veterinary drug screening
• FTIR, UV-Vis/NIR and Fluorescence Spectrometers
• ICP-OES and ICP-MS for elemental analysis
• Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer for protein and nucleic acid profiling
• qPCR systems with Porcine Detection Kit

Main Results and Discussion

Alcohol detection in beverages and cosmetics achieved precise quantitation. Lipid fingerprinting by GC-MS distinguished animal-derived fats at trace levels with library match scores above 0.99 for porcine markers. Application kits reduced method development time for pesticide and drug residue analysis, covering hundreds of compounds with optimized parameters. FTIR successfully identified the origin of nutritional supplements. The Porcine Detection Kit demonstrated excellent sensitivity (300 fg to 30 ng) and specificity, reliably detecting contaminated samples across diverse food matrices.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• High confidence in Halal compliance through multi-modal analysis
• Streamlined workflows reduce method development and run times
• Lower cost per analysis and improved laboratory productivity
• Adaptable solutions for food, feed, supplements and cosmetics
• Support for QA/QC, authenticity screening and regulatory reporting

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Advances in automation, miniaturized lab-on-chip devices and machine learning-driven spectral libraries are expected to further accelerate Halal testing. Integrated multi-omics platforms and portable instrumentation will enable on-site screening. Expanded databases and multiplex assays will support broader standards, including emerging dietary restrictions and traceability requirements.

Conclusion

Agilent’s integrated suite of chromatographic, spectroscopic and bioanalytical technologies offers a robust, high-throughput solution for comprehensive Halal product verification. By combining sensitive detection with streamlined workflows, laboratories can achieve reliable compliance while optimizing resources.

Reference

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