Volume 13, Issue 9 (September 2026), Pages: 67-80

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 Original Research Paper

Halal food safety on campus: Regulatory contexts, institutional responses, and consumer trust

 Author(s): 

Muhammad Remy Othman ^1, *, Sayidah Asma Basir ², Norhidayah Pauzi ³, Norazmi Anas ⁴, Amran Abdul Halim ⁵, Mohd Erfino Johari ⁶, Madihatun Zainuddin ⁶, Muhammad Fakhrur Razi Shahabudin ¹

 Affiliation(s):

¹Academy of Contemporary Islamic Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
²Faculty of Law, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
³Department of Fiqh-Usul and Applied Sciences, Academy of Islamic Studies, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
⁴Academy of Contemporary Islamic Studies, UiTM Perak Branch, Tapah Campus, Perak, Malaysia
⁵Faculty of Quranic and Sunnah Studies, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
⁶Centre for Islamic, General, and Language Studies, Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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 * Corresponding Author. 

   Corresponding author's ORCID profile:  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5397-148X

 Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

 
https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2026.09.007

 Abstract

This study examines how institutional and regulatory contexts shape responses to halal food safety incidents on university campuses. Using a qualitative comparative document analysis approach, the study compares incidents at Universiti Malaya (Malaysia) and Northwestern University (United States). Data were obtained from official statements, media reports, and policy documents and analyzed using institutional analysis and the International Risk Governance Council (IRGC) Risk Governance Framework. The findings reveal notable differences in governance approaches. The Universiti Malaya case involved the alleged misuse of a halal logo on non-halal food, prompting immediate enforcement actions, outlet closures, and regulatory intervention. In contrast, the Northwestern University case involved halal mislabeling and cross-contamination concerns that were addressed mainly through internal corrective measures, staff retraining, and stakeholder engagement. These differences demonstrate how a centralized halal governance system can support coordinated risk management and stronger regulatory oversight, while less formal regulatory environments may face greater challenges in maintaining compliance and consumer trust. The study highlights the importance of clear halal standards, staff training, stakeholder engagement, and transparent communication in strengthening halal risk governance. The findings contribute to the literature on halal governance and provide practical insights for universities seeking to enhance consumer protection and trust in diverse campus environments.

 © 2026 The Authors. Published by IASE.

 This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

 Keywords

Halal food safety, Risk governance, Regulatory compliance, Consumer trust, University campuses

 Article history

Received 24 April 2026, Received in revised form 11 July 2026, Accepted 10 September 2026

 Acknowledgment

This research project was funded under the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme–Early Career (FRGS-EC), Grant No. FRGS-EC/1/2024/SSI03/UITM/02/12. The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by MOHE and the facilities and institutional support provided by Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. 

 Compliance with ethical standards

 Citation:

Othman MR, Basir SA, Pauzi N, Anas N, Halim AA, Johari ME, Zainuddin M, and Shahabudin MFR (2026). Halal food safety on campus: Regulatory contexts, institutional responses, and consumer trust. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 13(9): 67-80

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