Nagita Slavina , the wife of celebrity Raffi Ahmad, has recently been in the public spotlight after a culinary video she uploaded in South Korea caused controversy. In the vlog uploaded on the RANS Entertainment YouTube channel, she is seen enjoying various types of bagels at the London Bagel Museum, a famous shop in Seoul. However, this menu choice has sparked heated discussion among netizens because it is considered non-halal.
The restaurant Nagita visited is indeed popular among international tourists, but the halalness of the menu offered is still questionable. Several netizens expressed concerns about the ingredients used, including the possibility of contamination from non-halal ingredients. Although she seemed to enjoy the food, criticism of Nagita continued to emerge on various social media platforms.
This incident has sparked a wider discussion about the importance of celebrity awareness in choosing food while abroad, especially in non-Muslim majority countries. The question that arises is, "What exactly makes this bagel menu questionable?"
Nagita Slavina traveled to South Korea to undergo beauty treatments and experience unique culinary experiences. One of the destinations she visited was the London Bagel Museum, located in the Dosan area. In the video shown, Nagita looks very excited when choosing various types of bagels such as Jalapeno Cheese, Blueberry, and Truffle Butter. She even praised the soft texture of the bagel she tried, which she said was significantly different from the bagels she usually finds. However, behind the fun moment, the video upload actually received negative reactions from several netizens.
After a number of netizens questioned the halalness of the ingredients used by the store, the issue became a concern. The London Bagel Museum then responded by providing a statement that the products they offered were not included in the halal category. They stated that "the use of butter made from animal fat and other ingredients that do not meet halal standards" was the main reason for their product status. This of course caused various reactions from people who care about the issue of halalness in food consumption.
Netizens criticized Nagita for her lack of attention to detail in choosing food. The criticism sparked a debate about the importance of celebrities setting a good example in paying attention to the halal status of food, especially when they are abroad. However, there were also fans who defended Nagita, arguing that the situation was the result of a misunderstanding and not entirely her fault. Some people reminded that not all countries have the same halal standards as Indonesia, so a deeper understanding of the differences is needed.
In general, bagels are made from basic ingredients such as flour, water, yeast, and salt, all of which are considered halal. However, there are some additional ingredients used in the bagel-making process that may make them non-halal. For example, enzymes used in dough are often derived from non-halal animals, and cheeses used as toppings may contain animal rennet. Additionally, shops like the London Bagel Museum do not have clear separation of equipment or cooking areas for halal and non-halal menus, potentially creating a risk of cross-contamination with ingredients such as bacon or butter that are derived from animals. Therefore, it is important for consumers to be more careful and consider the source of the ingredients used in the bagels they consume.
Unnie From Seoul, a vlogger from South Korea, once discussed the London Bagel Museum in one of her videos. In her explanation, she emphasized that although there are several types of bagels that do not contain pork, the risk of contamination can still occur. "This is due to the way they are stored and the use of the same cooking utensils," she said. The vlogger also revealed that several ingredients such as butter and cheese used at the place have questionable halal status. She warned Muslims to be more careful in choosing food when they are in restaurants that are not halal certified.
Bagels are not always halal, especially those with toppings or ingredients derived from non-halal meats or cheeses. Therefore, it is important to check the label or ask the seller about the ingredients used. Some types of bagels may contain ingredients that do not meet halal standards. For example, "toppings or ingredients such as non-halal meats or cheeses" may make the bagel non-halal for consumption by those following the rules.
It is always important to ensure that the food we consume meets halal standards. Therefore, check for halal certification, ask about the ingredients used in the dishes, and choose restaurants that have positive reviews from other Muslim communities.
(brl/red)
