Identification of porcine-based source in capsule by using FTIR-ATR and awareness of muslim consumer about the halal authentication

Abstract

The demand for pharmaceutical products is growing and this development requires an effective method for detecting porcine (pork-based sources) in the products. This study has three main objectives. First, to investigate the halal issue in pharmaceutical products. Second, to find out the porcine-based sources in the samples using the scientific method in combination with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) and finally to determine the level of awareness, understanding and knowledge about the use of porcine-based sources in the pharmaceutical products from the respondents among biology students. The main method of this study used was the FTIR-ATR, and supported by quantitative data. FTIR-ATR was used to study porcine sources inside the capsule. Meanwhile, the quantitative data was used to assess the consumers’ level of awareness, knowledge and understanding of halal aunthentication. A total of 13 samples of gelatin from different sources were used in this study. Background samples were determined in the infrared region between 400-650cm-1 at 32 times the wavelength of the examination and resolution of 4 cm-1. The study had found that the major functional groups in spectroscopy were the amino group (NH) and carbonyl group (C=O). All the spectra samples showed the same kind due to the similarity of key components, namely gelatin. The study had also found that level of awareness, knowledge and understanding of the majority of respondents about halal pharmaceutical products was high. This was evidenced by the mean level awareness of 3.52 and mean level knowledge and understanding of 3.55. Instrument for ancillary method was a questionnaire which was adapted from the 'Dimension of Halal Purchase Intention' questionnaire. Data collected from the questionnaires of 91 respondents were analyzed descriptively using (SPSS) software version 16.0.