UNAIR NEWS- Eating halal food is an obligation for Muslims. However, fraudulent practices in processing food products may still occur.
Because of the caused uneasiness, five students from Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) initiated a detection app called “Haltect”. The students are Estit Raca Alda Nur Wakhid, a Public Health student class of 2019; Sulthan Fathi Nur Alauddin, Environmental Engineering student class of 2019; Ardelia Bertha Prastika, Midwifery student class of 2019; Muhammad Rizky Widodo, a Public Health student class of 2018; and Salsabila Farah Rafidah, a Public Health student class of 2018.
Estit Raca Alda Nur Wakhid as the team leader explained, “Haltect” can be used to test or check for pork contamination in processed meats. The UNP technology-based app provides some interesting additional features. “The app is not only for checking, but there are features in the form of education related to halalness and others,” said Alda.
According to Alda, the halalness of processed food products is a very serious problem. Some fraudulent traders often replace or add production materials with pork which at first glance looks similar.
Therefore, she continued, in order to minimize this risk, supervision is needed to ensure that processed products remain halal, safe, and healthy for consumption by the public. “The app that we call ‘Haltect Detector’ will be very useful for the community to detect early and independently when buying processed meat products as it can be directly installed in smartphones,” said Alda.
Furthermore, their idea won a bronze medal at the International Invention Competition for Young Moslem Scientist (IICYMS) held from Thursday to Sunday, July 1-4, 2021.
In the competition held online via Zoom Meeting, Alda and his team managed to compete with 155 teams from 13 countries in the world. She revealed that “Haltect” also received a tremendous amount of support from the international judges.
“Alhamdulillah, we are very grateful to Allah SWT, very happy, and very proud to have been entrusted with this achievement. What we have fought for, we got a good reward and a blessing,” concluded Alda.
Meanwhile, said Alda, “Haltect” is in the process of developing and preparing prototype designs. She and her team hoped that the app can be complete soon so that the innovation can be used by the wider community.
“In short term, we want to include the app for the PKM program. The long-term goal is that “Haltect” can become a startup that facilitates Muslims in their halal lifestyle,” hoped Alda (*).
Author: Erika Eight Novanty
Editor : Khefti Al Mawalia (AC/AP)
