ENZYMES Our Link To Survival

Written by Ibrahim Kazi

"O ye people! Eat of what is on earth, lawful and good; and do not follow the footsteps of Satan for he is to you an avowed enemy." (2:168)
0 ye who believe! Eat of the good things we have provided for you, and be grateful to Allah, if it is Him ye worship." (2:172)

There are three sources of enzymes: vegetable, animal and microbial... The common animal source is either beef or pork...

By definition, enzymes are unique proteins that convert proteins, fats and carbohy­drates into structures that facilitate proper bodily functions. In the digestive process, enzymes break down and process proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The human body contains over 1,300 different enzymes that perform the fine tune-up that keeps our body engine running smoothly.

There are three sources of enzymes: vegetable, animal and microbial. Among vegetable sources are papaya, which provides us Papain, pineapple (a source of Bromelain), and malt, which is used in a variety of bakery products. The common animal source is either beef or pork, derived from the ani­mal's stomach or pancreas. The microbial source is either fungal or bacterial.

Enzymes derived from animal sources are known as Pancreatin or Tripsin. In bakery appli­cations, enzymes increase the volume of bread, improve crumb structure and retard spoilage. Most enzymes used in the food industry are fun­gal, derived from plant sources such as Aspergillus, or otherwise bacterial. Contrary to common belief, enzymes derived of animal sources are seldom used in the bakery industry.

For your reference, the names and phone num­bers of companies that manufacture enzymes are listed below. If you are in doubt concerning enzy­matic ingredients in the foods your family con­sumes, feel free to call the technical services of any enzyme manufacturer and inquire if it is a plant or animal source, and in which products is it used. You might represent yourself as a "halal-con­scious Muslim", which will serve to educate that company of the dietary needs of Muslims.

A common questionable enzyme source

We should bear in mind that neither all enzymes are Haram or Halal. Cheese is the best example of an enzyme-efficient food product that is question­able with respect to the Muslim consumer. Enzymes are used in cheese manufacturing to form the curd. Most cheese companies claim that they are using microbial rennet. However, in order to make the microbial rennet they use cul­ture media, mother culture (created from milk, whey, Pancreatin, Lactose and dried autolyzed yeast) and enzymes such as Lipases derived from pork or beef animal sources. Most cheese manu­facturers cannot guarantee that the source of the culture is not pork, creating significant concern for Muslim consumers regarding cheese production.

American Ingredients Co.
Uni- Malt- Cereal Malt
Eversoft , Eversoft Plus-Bacterial Fungal Amylase
800-669-4092

Cain Foods
Amflex- Fungal Amylase
214-630-4511

Enzyme Development Corp.
Fresh-N- Bacterial Amylase
212-736-1580

Novo Nordisk
Fungamyl, BAN, Novamyl- Fungal Amylase
800-879-6686

Quest International
Biobake- Fungal Amylase
847-645-7000

Rohm
Veron- Fungal Amylase
732-560-6845

Lallemand
Fermaid- Protease, Pentosenase Fungal Amylase
603-432-4006

J.R.Short
Sunlite 1102-Fungal Amylase, Wytase
Soy Flour- Protase, Fungal Amylase
800-544-8734

Again, the solution is to call the cheese manu­facturer and speak to their technical services or consumer affairs department. If they are unable to provide a clear answer regarding the source of the enzyme, ask them to research your inquiry and contact you, explaining that this issue is of con­cern to many people.

When in doubt ...
Righteously speaking, if you have any doubt in your mind about the food you plan to eat; then the best course of action is to postpone its con­sumption until your research is complete. Enzymes are important for our bodies, and sufficient enzyme level is a vital factor that leads to overall good health. But if we are doubtful regarding synthetic enzymes, we should put our trust in Allah (SWT), Who created varieties of foods for our sustenance. Through His Mercy, all creatures have been provided with nutrition spe­cific to their individual needs. He "Almighty" has provided us with naturally occurring enzymes in the many fruits and vegetables we consume daily. So let's enjoy the good that He has provided us and be thankful for His bounties.