HALAL FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN INTEGRITY: THE INFLUENCE OF HALAL TRACEABILITY SYSTEM ADOPTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IN MALAYSIA

Abstract

Cross-contamination issues in the halal food have make Muslim consumers aware and put more effort into ensuring the integrity of the halal status. Food integrity distresses closely more on the health, safety, religious and cultural matters rather than just focusing on the good quality of the food products. In order to achieve the untainted halal food supply chain integrity (HFSCIn), the halal food firms have to adopt the halal traceability system (HTS) as to meet the expectations of halal qualities and protected from any risk of cross-contamination. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the HTS and environmental factors on HFSCIn. Based on a survey with 127 Halal food producers specifically in food and beverages category, the study found that there is a significant relationship between halal traceability system adoption (HTSA) and halal industry environmental factors (HIEF) on halal food supply chain integrity (HFSCIn). The study also found that the highest adoptions of halal traceability system are among the producer and end user while the highest contributions in influencing the HIEF are the economic and sociocultural factors. These findings have given some thoughts on the development of a theoretical framework specifically on the food supply chain integrity in the context of the halal industry.