Coffee Bean drinks are halal

By CT Hj Mahmod

This slandering remarks has caused great concern not only to the "Muslim customers of the popular café, who are having second thoughts of going there, but also to the management of the Coffebean & Tea Leaf, as this is not good for business," explained Awg Rano Iskandar, Director of Coffeebean & Tea Leaf.

Such rumours have happened before in Kuala Lumpur before the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf branch opened in Brunei last 2001, but the public ignored the rumours and business went on as usual.

"However, the affect of this rumour is evident since customers are more cautious and are now asking us whether our drinks are Halal or not," he added.

Kalvana, District Manager of Coffeebean & Tea Leaf, noticed that in the past two weeks, the Malay Muslim customers have lessened especially during the night.

The management would like to assure all customers that all the drinks are Halal, in which they have a letter from the Regional Franchise and Product Development Manager Asia Pacific to prove it.

The letter states that, "Mono Di-glycerides can be extracted from both soya bean or animal extract. The E471 Mono Di-Glycerides contained in Coffee Bean's chocolate and vanilla powder is in fact derived from hydrogenated soya bean oil."

For further evidence, a research was commissioned and has in fact been certified by an Independent laboratory that 'Mono and Diglycerides in the creamers used for the international coffee and tea chocolate and vanilla products do not contain any animal fat or animal bi-products.

Thus, the management assures all customers that all the ingredients used in the preparation of the beverages are safe for consumption and not in conflict with any local or religious laws or prohibition.

Currently, the certification of Halal is in the process from the Science Lab under the Ministry of Health.

"Hopefully, business will resume as usual once these rumours stops," added Kalvana.