(July 2): The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) has certified Secret Recipe as halal once more, the cafe chain said today, nearly two months after its certificate was revoked over cleanliness and good manufacturing practices.

"We are proud to announce that Secret Recipe is now being certified halal by Jakim after our recent completion of the renovation and upgrading works at our central kitchen at Taman Mayang and the new plant in Kota Damansara," Secret Recipe said in a statement.

The chain said it had set up a team of Quality & Hygiene Assurance and Halal Compliance Officers to ensure that its source of ingredients, preparation and processes complied with Malaysia's Halal certification standards and the Malaysia Standard 1500:2009.

"We reassure that food safety and quality control are of our main priority, as we have been following rigorous processes and standards to maintain our certification for the last 15 years and we will continue to uphold our promise to you."

Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, the minister in charge of religious affairs, said Jakim revoked the halal certificate of Secret Recipe on May 7 as its central kitchen failed to adhere to cleanliness and good manufacturing practices.

He said the entire chain was affected because the kitchen supplied goods to all 297 of Secret Recipe’s outlets across Malaysia.

Jamil denied that Secret Recipe's halal certificate was withdrawn due to the ingredients it used. – The Malaysian Insider