Halal Sugar In Japan

Sugar has played an important role throughout human history and continues to enrich people’s lives. It comes in different shapes and forms including white soft sugar, granulated and liquid or syrup sugars, with usage from cooking to confectionery to medicine.

The process of refining sugar usually utilizes bone char from animals, a method which is not compliant with Islamic dietary laws. As a Muslim or a vegan living in Japan, where you can find sugar without animal by-products?

Halal Sugar In Japan (Burnt bone-free)

Generally, refineries filter sugar through burnt and powdered cattle bones known as bone char, in a process that puts many including Muslims and vegans off refined sugar products. The bone char is used for the removal of pigments, ash and other impurities in the sugar.

In Japan the demand for sugar has decreased due to consumers in a society with good health knowledge, as becoming more educated about some of the sweetener’s adverse health effects. Despite the decreased domestic sale which is also the result of population decline, the growing number of Muslim visitors and residents in Japan has drawn attention to a need for more Halal and Muslim-friendly options at food service establishments and supermarkets.

In 2018, Mitsui Sugar Company eliminated bone char from the refining process in 10 of their Fukuoka refinery units. This step not only made the products suitable for Muslims and vegan’s consumption, it provided the opportunity to export, as the global demand for Halal products are growing rapidly.

Even though the change has cost the company around 850,000,000 yen, but the new method of filtration (the use of activated carbon), has reduced sugar production cost by about 100,000,000 yen per year; a reason all by itself, to prompt others in the sugar production sector to follow the banner.

Where To Buy

According to Mitsui Sugar Company, Fukuoka Factories’ products can be purchased in some of local supermarkets, and in part from their online shop.

The products from Fukuoka factories are labeled as "福岡工場" (Fukuoka kōjō = Fukuoka Factory), on the back of the product; the two links below:
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• White Soft Sugar
• Brown Soft Sugar

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Other products that do not contain animal-derived raw materials are as follows:

• Okinawa Powdered Sugar Cane
• Okinawa Yanbaru Sugar
• Hokkaido Beet Sugar
• Okinawa Brown Sugar

4 items can be purchased from Mitsui sugar Rakuten shop in packages with bigger quantities and slightly cheaper prices, which usually are sold with free-shipping. This option suits big families. You can also buy bigger quantity and divide among friends who are looking for sugar that does not contain animal by-products:

1. Okinawa Powdered Sugar Cane
2. Okinawa Brown Sugar
3. Okinawa Yanbaru Sugar Lumps
4. Okinawa Yanbaru Sugar

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Sources

• Japanese Sugar Firm Mitsui Invests $7.6m In Halal Production Drive​