Some time ago, the people of Depok and the National were shocked by the status shared on social media that mentioned a toothbrush that was thought to be made of sea urchins. What is of concern to consumers is that there is the word "Bristle" on the packaging. Suddenly, the question about the halalness of tooth brushing bristles was questioned by the general public.
This stems from an article about a previously circulated pig bristle brush, which can be seen on the LPPOM MUI website:
In the article, it was written that “on the handle of a boar-bristle brush the words: Bristle, PureBristle, 100% China Bristle, and others are often written. One of the meanings of the word Bristle is Pig Hair (Webster's Dictionary) which is unclean when wet."
The choice of the word ONE in the article turned out to be misunderstood by some netizens who generalized the notion of "bristle" with sea urchins. In fact, if we explore further, the notion of "bristle" is much more general than just sea urchins. Bristle is a stiff/strong fiber or fur, either natural derived from plant fibers and animal hair or artificial (synthetic). From this definition, the word "bristle" on the toothbrush packaging does not necessarily make the toothbrush come from sea urchins. This means that the toothbrush could have come from other animal hair, plant fibers or even synthetic bristles.
If we look back at the history and development of toothbrushes, the bristles found on toothbrushes originally came from wild boar bristles (Siberian). However, along with the development of technology, in 1938 toothbrushes were produced with nylon bristles which still dominate today. However, it is undeniable that there are still around 10% worldwide of toothbrush products whose bristles come from pig bristles.
After we understand the true definition of bristle, then how do we know whether the toothbrush comes from non-halal fibers/bristles? A simple way is to look for information on the official website of the toothbrush manufacturer, or even ask directly to the customer service center.
The rapid flow of information on social media makes us have to be more careful in disseminating information. If we have not been able to find valid information, it would be better if the information is asked in a forum that is related to the information. Information about the halalness of a product, of course, not only food/beverage/cosmetic but also lifestyle and thought, becomes a very important part in the life of a Muslim because it has an impact on matters of worship and the hereafter. Indeed, halal and haram matters are not only the responsibility of the MUI or the government but our business as Muslims.
Therefore, Halal Corner invites Muslims to join the community of halal fighters. Halal Corner is a community that was established as a forum for active communication / sharing about various halal products, especially in the local area as well as providing halal counseling and education for Muslims in the form of training, halal campaigns, and educational activities that build public awareness of the importance of halal products.