History
IFANCA (Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America) was founded in 1982 as a not-for-profit organization committed to helping consumers and industry source authentic halal products [2]. The organization’s roots began in publishing, and it continues to invest in publications that provide halal resources, including producing a quarterly Halal Consumer magazine [2].
Certification Process
IFANCA empowers organizations to produce halal products by training client teams in certification standards and assisting research and development teams with scientific and religious guidance to develop new halal products [2]. The organization uses its network of affiliates and experts to solve problems that arise during the certification process [2].
Accreditations
IFANCA’s certification services are supported by accreditations and recognitions, though the specific accrediting bodies are not detailed in the provided sources [2]. The organization’s registered Crescent-M halal service mark assures consumers that a product is halal [2].
Crescent M Logo
The Crescent-M logo is IFANCA’s registered halal service mark, described as globally accepted and trusted [2]. The logo signifies to consumers that a product is “halal without a doubt” [2]. IFANCA promotes its clients’ halal-certified products to consumers and makes it easy for people to find and use IFANCA-certified products [2].
Global Reach
IFANCA is described as a global leader in halal services, with its halal certification meaning products meet the dietary requirements of over 1.8 billion consumers [2]. The organization’s head office is located at 2004 Miner St., Des Plaines, Illinois 60016, USA [2]. IFANCA promotes food and health security and nutrition equity through local and global partnerships, empowering other established institutions and uplifting religious and scientific voices [2].
Criticism
The provided sources do not contain any information regarding criticism of IFANCA or its halal certification processes. The Wikipedia article on halal certification notes that criticism exists regarding halal certification generally, but does not specifically address IFANCA [1].