The Quad Cafe loses halal certification

By Sophia Tan

SINCE early September, Muslim students have had one less option for meals on campus.

Popular eating spot The Quad Cafe put up notifications two months ago informing diners that the establishment “is seeking halal certification and is currently not halal-certified”.

The eatery, located at the School of Biological Sciences, used to be the only canteen in the University to be fully halal-certified.

But on 7 Sep, members of the NTU and National Institute of Education (NIE) Muslim Society were notified of The Quad Cafe’s temporary closure “due to the suspension of halal certification of the food court”, a post on the society’s Facebook group said.

The Nanyang Chronicle checked with the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) and was told that The Quad Cafe lost its halal certification on 5 Sep.

A check by the Chronicle also verified that The Quad Cafe is no longer listed in the registry of halal-certified establishments.

The Quad Cafe closed for a few days in September. When it reopened, students noticed the signs saying the canteen was now seeking halal certification.

A stallholder from the claypot dishes stall, who declined to be named, said that the loss of halal certification could be due to possible cross contamination.

Under the Muis food preparation area scheme, halal food and raw materials should be segregated from non-halal items when food is being prepared.

An establishment loses certification if any raw material used is not halal or unsubstantiated with supporting documents.

It can also lose its licence over failing to meet the minimum employment of two or three Muslim staff, or failing to comply with the 10 principles in the Singapore Muis Quality Management System.

Muslim students the Chronicle spoke to said they were disappointed by the suspension of the establishment’s halal certification, as they liked the establishment’s dining options.

“I feel that I have lost a gem in school,” Adam Mudrik, 22, a second-year School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering student said. “The Quad is a one-stop place for its variety of halal food choices and is conveniently located between North and South Spine.”

Mudrik, who used to eat lunch at The Quad at least once a week, now goes to the North Spine Food Court and NIE canteen for meals.

For others, finding alternative eating spots in school has been difficult and inconvenient.
Other locations on campus for halal dining establishments include stalls in the North Spine Food Court, McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut and Koufu at the South Spine.

“I eat all of my meals at Canteen 16’s Indian food stall, which is not halal-certified but at least the stallholders are Muslim,” said Widad Darke, 20, a second-year School of Art, Design and Media student.

First-year School of Humanities and Social Sciences student Nadhira Putri, 19, said: “It is a pity as my hall is near The Quad. It would be more convenient if there are more halal food options in the other canteens on campus.”