Halal Food Verification Using Blockchain Technology: A Proposed Framework for Saudi Arabia

The process of verifying whether foods meet Halal standards according to Islamic Sharia law has strained many Islamic countries. This is especially important due to an increased variety of processed and imported foods. This research proposes a Halal Food Verification Framework for importing food to the Saudi food market. The framework uses blockchain technology to trace food imported to Saudi Arabia from its origin and to detect whether it is Halal. It can be used by authorities to enhance the integrity of Halal verification. The paper represents the results of testing a prototype developed using the framework and comparing its functionality and effectiveness to the currently used traditional verification method. The results show that blockchain in Halal food tracking is more effective when compared to traditional methods, as it increases the integrity and availability of Halal Authentication. If used effectively by the different stakeholders, it provides faster, safer, and more accurate results, as it decreases the time needed from days to seconds for the consumer to check authenticity, and is fraudulent-safe and tamper-proof, resulting in higher stakeholder trust.