No Choco Pie for Muslims

SEOUL, Jan. 19 (Yonhap) -- Practicing Muslims in South Korea will soon see restrictions on a local web site detailing which foodstuffs they need to avoid under Islamic law, a local organization said Monday.

South Korea has about 100,000 Muslim faithfuls, including 35,000 South Koreans, according to the Korea Muslim Federation. Many of them, it says, have difficulty determining which processed foods contains pork, the consumption of which is prohibited under Islamic law.

"Many newcomers from Pakistan and Bangladesh have been asking us which foods are
OK for them to eat," the federation said in a press release. "Many processed
snacks, including Choco Pie, contain gelatin extracted from pork and should be
banned for Muslims."
Choco Pie is the brand name for one of the most widely-consumed snacks here sold
since 1974.
Muslims in the country have a very limited choice of cuisine as few restaurants
specialize in "halal (permissible)" foodstuffs in line with Muslim dietary laws.
Many frequent the butcher shop near Seoul's main mosque in Hannamdong, central
Seoul, and avoid buying meat and snacks from regular markets.
hayney@yna.co.kr
(END)