Halal refers to anything that complies with Islamic dietary laws, while achieving halal certification means all aspects of production–from beans to brew–have been conducted according to these standards. This article will trace the journey of one such product – coffee beans – along their journey toward attaining this certification.

Coffee beans are at the core of every cup of java consumed around the globe, and millions of people around the globe depend on them daily for their morning beverage. From seed to cup, these delicate seeds undergo an arduous journey before being transformed into the aromatic elixir we all appreciate – yet many don’t realize this delicious beverage must first meet Islamic guidelines before becoming halal-certified.

As demand for halal-certified foods has increased, so have producers’ struggles in meeting that demand. Through our work as a halal certificate agency, we have discovered an array of products containing non-halal ingredients–often hidden by scientific names and confusing industry jargon–ranging from bread at breakfast tables to candy in your child’s lunchboxes.

Animal-derived ingredients have become an increasingly common issue during our certification work, from dairy products to candy bars, with these components used to add flavor and color to food products and drinks. Unfortunately, some of these components have detrimental health implications that should be taken seriously.

Carmine, a red dye made from crushed cochineal insects, stands out as an alarming example of this problem. Producing one kilogram of dye requires crushing 70,000 insects – an amount that would likely shock most consumers – yet can be found in products as diverse as fruit juices such as cranberry and ruby red grapefruit, yogurt with strawberry and berry flavors, candy bars and chocolates, frozen treats like red velvet cakes or colored cookies, pharmaceutical drugs or cosmetics.

Since 2013, we have witnessed tremendous advancement in the halal food industry, thanks to a surge of companies offering certified halal foods and beverages for consumers’ values and religious beliefs. As this sector expands further, more companies hope to share this commitment to their customers.