Clover's ties with Israel prompt break-up with Muslim Judicial Council Halaal Trust
The council says it will not support companies that support the bombardment and continued attacks on Gaza.
Clover products / Images: pnp.co.za
JOHANNESBURG - The Muslim Judicial Council Halaal Trust (MJCHT) says it’s continuing surveillance on the production of Clover products until the branding runs out.
Clover is associated with the Central Bottling Company of Israel.
The prominent food and beverages group is set to lose its Halaal certification in August, after the council's decision nine months ago.
The council says the move is part of its policy to certify goods from Israeli-occupied territories or companies owned by Israeli entities operating in those territories.
It’s the end of an era for branded food and beverages group Clover, following MJCHT’s decision to remove its logo from its products.
Ten years ago, the council certified new Clover products after the dairy giant was questioned about its products not bearing the Halaal logo.
But now, a decade later, the MJCHT has severed ties with Clover citing its support for Israel.
The council says it will not support companies that support the bombardment and continued attacks on Gaza.
“The MJC will decline the certification of any Israeli-based companies or their directly controlled foreign subsidiaries and the company in question folds into this category,” said the council’s spokesperson Zakariyya Philander.
Negotiations between the two parties have resulted in an agreement to gradually phase out branded products until the logo is removed from the shelves officially in August.