Certain types of Wrigley's contain Pork

Wrigley Chewing Gum Co.'s response to a sister's email:

Thank you for contacting us about animal ingredients and our products.

To answer to your question, the vast majority of Wrigley products sold in the U.S. are free from ingredients of animal origin, including egg and dairy products. At present, the only chewing gum exceptions are Extra® Polar Ice stick gum and Juicy Fruit® pellet gums.

Extra® Polar Ice gum and Orbit® Crystal Mint contain tiny flavor beads encased in a microscopic layer of gelatin, which is animal based. We have requested the development of a gelatin-free flavor bead that is currently being worked on by our supplier. Juicy Fruit Grapermelon and Strappleberry gums use shellac as a coating agent.

The different varieties of our ALTOIDS mints do contain very small quantities of gelatin which is derived from pork. Gelatin does not impart any flavor to ALTOIDS, but it's a necessary ingredient for the texture of the mint. When we use gelatin it is thoroughly purified and dried during its manufacturing process. Our staff is continually looking at alternatives to animal gelatin, but at the moment we've not been able to find a substitute that produces the same quality you've come to love with ALTOIDS.

Our LifeSaver gummies do contain small quantities of gelatin, which is also derived from pork. It follows the same drying and purifying process as with the Altoids.

If your diet does not allow you to consume animal byproducts such as dairy, our CremeSaver line does contain cream, which is a dairy byproduct. On the same note, our LifeSaver Fusions and LifeSaver gummies are produced on the same line as our CremeSavers, so there is a chance that they may contain trace amounts of dairy as well. Our CremeSaver soft chews also contain a small amount of gelatin, which is pork based.

We hope this information has been helpful. If you have any additional questions or comments please feel free to contact us at 1-800-WRIGLEY Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST.

Sincerely,

Anie Jones
Consumer Affairs Representative

Cancer risk of 'fake' holy water

Cancer risk of 'fake' holy water

Zam Zam is sold as coming from a sacred well in Mecca

Bottled water that claims to come from Mecca has been found to contain high levels of cancer-causing chemicals.

People have been told not to buy Zam Zam water after tests showed three times the permitted level of arsenic.

The water is advertised as coming from the sacred well of Zam Zam in Mecca, which is the most holy city in Islam, and demand increases during Ramadan.

Westminster City Council said the water cannot legally be exported, so any on sale is unlikely to be authentic.

The tests, carried out by the London council last year during the Islamic festival of Ramadan, found Zam Zam also contained twice the legal level of nitrates, which can affect infants.

"If you do see Zam Zam water on sale anywhere please inform your local Environmental Health team," said a Westminster City Council spokesman.

He added: "This advice does not relate to the genuine Zam Zam water being brought into UK by returning pilgrims, as an accompanied or unaccompanied ¿personal import¿."

Modern living to blame for cancer epidemic

09.08.07

Binge drinking, reckless sunbathing and overeating are fuelling a massive rise in cancer, experts warn.

In a shocking report, they have laid bare the deadly consequences of increasingly hedonistic modern lifestyles.

Burger King

Please beware of fish sandwich, hash browns and onion rings from Burger King. As mentioned in BK's online handbook to their products, the BK Fish sandwich, onion rings and hash browns are fried in the same fryer as the Pork sausage and pork fritters.

Burger King's website (http://www.bk.com/#menu=3,3,-1),

The Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) said, “Whoever avoids the doubtful safeguards their religion and honor.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

Frito Lay

This may be old news for some, but the latest from Frito-Lay potato chips:

Frito lay no longer has pork enzymes in their products:

http://fritolay.com/fl/flstore/cgi-bin/ProdDetEv_Cat_306_SubCat_351852_NavRoot_361689_ProdID_564690.htm

Haagen-Dazs

I spoke with a Haagen Daaz representative (1800 767 0120) who mentioned the following (may) contain remnants of alcohol and should be avoided:

natural vanilla
vanilla extract
natural flavors

She mentioned we would be safer if we stick with flavors such as chocolate, coffee, etc (except the flavors that mention rum or any other clear, alcoholic ingredient on their packaging)

Choc. chips are fine to have (ex: choc choc chip) since they do not contain alcohol.
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May Allah swt make it easy for us and increase us in taqwa. Ameen

Was'salaam

Sargento Cheeses

Assalamualaykum wa Rahmatullah

For those of us who are cautious in regards to which cheeses we eat (due to the presence of animal derived ingredients, enzymes, rennet, etc) I was able to find out from the Sargento Cheese company (1-800-cheeses) that all of their cheeses use purely vegetable based or synthetic derivatives, except for the following four which do contain animal derived ingredients:

We should avoid these cheeses from Sargento:

1. Romano cheese
2. Provolone cheese
3. Assiago cheese (sp?)
4. Yarlsburg cheese (sp?)

May Allah (swt) increase us in Taqwa and Tawfiq. Ameen!

Was'salaam.

Jamba Juice?!

Muslim Consumer Group :: Events

Title	NOT ALL JAMBA JUICE PRODUCTS ARE HALAL
Event Date	Mon May 01 14:20:41 CDT 2006
Type	News
	04/26/06 All Jamba Juice products are not Halal except All fruit Smoothies Grape Escape, Mega Mongo and Raspberry Rainbow. Strawberry whirl all fruit smoothies is not Halal because due to presence of Non Halal or Kosher certified apple juice. All other products are made with non Halal or Kosher certified ingredients according to the company. I spoke with the webmaster of the Muslim Consumer groups website and asked him why does apple juice have to be halal or kosher certified?! He said because sometimes they use gelatin in one of their processing steps, so you must look for an "o" or "u" symbol on any apple juice that you buy (which indicates its kosher so its okay). Subhan'Allah! May Allah swt increase us in taqwa and in doing such deeds which please Him and may He grant us abundant tawfiq and accept it from us! May Allah swt protect us all. Ameen!

Pork & Tootsie Roll Industries

Please send this warning to those who will be collecting candy and sweets tomorrow (Oct. 31st)...

(although we do not personally endorse trick-or-treating)

Pork-Based Ingredients in Popular Candy Products An employee of Tootsie Roll Industries has recently confirmed that several of their popular candy products contain beef-based or pork-based ingredients. Products with Beef-Based Ingredients Charms Blow Pops Products with Pork-Based Ingredients Sugar Daddy Pops Sugar Babies Tootsie Rolls Frooties Tootsie Fruit Rolls Tootsie Pops Caramel Apple Pops Junior Mints Junior Caramels Fruit Smoothie... Source: http://www.linguaislamica.com/2006/10/pork-based-ingredients-in-popular.html

Haagen-Dazs?! What next??

The latest info I found out today: Besides possible Baskin Robbins and definite Krispy Kreme Donuts, Most Nestle ice creams contain alcohol in flavourings, too! http://www.muslimconsumergroup.com/

(June 1, 2003) A concerned Muslim has tipped off eat-halal.com about
the fact that the flavourings in the majority of Nestle ice creams in
Canada contain alcohol. Nestle has confirmed that all their ice creams
in Canada (including Häagen-Dazs) have alcohol present in their
flavourings, except for Nestle Parlour "Chocolate". While eat-halal.com
is planning to review with scholars the issue of alcohol in flavourings
in the near future, it is still suggested that products containing even
small amounts of alcohol be avoided by Muslims. (Web posted 06.04.03 @
12.15 am EDT)

>> Nestle Canada : (800) 387-4636

In reply:

SubhanAllah...everything is tainted with haraam! Mufti Abdurrahman just went over a hadith with us in Bukhari saying something like "there will come a time when people will try to justify haraam things..such as wearing silk, alcohol, music, etc"..but then he said just because it is prevalent in society, it does not make it lawful. It's impermissibility still remains and we must try our best to avoid it..

May Allah Ta'ala help us! May we be of the people of taqwa in this life and rewarded in the next! I am still shocked that my toothpaste had beef products in it!!

Was'salaam
Shamira

Aquafresh Mixed with Meat?!

SubhanAllah! I was completely shocked today to find out that numerous, common household names use animal derivatives in things that should be animal-free! Toothpastes, shampoos, deodorants are just a few. I don't know why the vegetarians of America, let alone the Orthodox Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists don't kick up a fuss.

My quest to find out the truth started yesterday when I decided to search the 'personal care items' on the Muslim Consumer Group website.

Most of the toothpastes read "made from animal derived products" so I thought I might as well call the Aquafresh company up myself because it didn't seem like it could be true. After holding on for quite some time the operator answers and I ask "Hello, I was wondering if your Aquafresh Extreme Clean contains any animal products or by-products?" After less than a second, and without hesitation or sounding apologetic, she responds: "Yes, all of our toothpastes contain animal derived products....except one: Aquafresh CAVITY protection in the squeeze tube." I was taken aback. I asked "What kind of animal by-products do you use?" She replied "Beef" and I semi-hopefully asked "Is it at least kosher beef?" from which she quickly replied in the negative. Subhan'Allah (!!)

What I can't believe is that this information has not spread like wild fire. Where are the concerned Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Vegetarians of America? If England and South Africa can have a vegetarian and halaal certified council that stamps each and every food and personal care product, why can't America--the country that is supposed to be the "leader" in technology and in every field ? If we are trying to minimally claim that title, we should at least start progressing in the sphere of our daily lives. If not, we may all be labelled as "the melting pot civilization that prefers meat in its toothpaste" May God save us all.

Was'salaam,
Shamira

New Info: A friend called the AIM and Crest companies and found out the following toothpastes are fine to use:

Okay to use- No animal by-products or alcohol in them:

Crest Anti-Cavity Regular Paste

Crest Cravity Protection Cool Mint Gel

Crest Cavity Protection Regular Paste

Crest Cavity Control Icey Mint Strips

AIM (Gel or Paste) toothpastes