Ayam Widuran Solo Temporarily Closed Over Non-Halal Label

Light House Denver – The Mayor of Solo, Respati Ahmad Ardianto, has decided to temporarily close the legendary Ayam Goreng Widuran restaurant. This follows controversy over the unclear halal status of their products. The closure aims to give the restaurant owners time to reassess and clarify whether their menu items are halal or non-halal.

“Today, thankfully, I was received well by the on-duty staff and also communicated with the business owner over the phone. I offered that if they want to declare their products halal, they should apply for halal certification. If not, then they should openly state that their products are non-halal,” said Respati after personally inspecting the restaurant in Solo.

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A Culinary Icon Facing Transparency Issues

Ayam Goreng Widuran is known as one of Solo’s culinary icons with a history spanning over 50 years. However, Mayor Respati expressed disappointment over the restaurant’s lack of transparency regarding the use of non-halal ingredients. “This is part of Solo’s culinary heritage, but the lack of openness harms consumers. Consumers have the right to know what they are purchasing,” he emphasized.

Official Statement from the Restaurant

The restaurant management has confirmed that they do use non-halal ingredients, including pork fat for frying the chicken. They claim to have clearly labeled “NON-HALAL” at all outlets and on their official social media channels. Despite this, the restaurant did not adequately communicate the information to many consumers.

Disappointed Reactions from Muslim Consumers

The controversy arose after several Muslim customers, including some who wear hijabs, expressed their disappointment and feelings of being misled. One customer, Yuyun Novita, wrote a review on Google stating, “I bought their crispy chicken several times for my child’s meals at home. What shocked me was that the food here is not halal, even though I ate there wearing a hijab. Why didn’t the staff inform me?”

The Importance of Transparency in the Food Industry

This case serves as a vital lesson for culinary businesses to maintain transparency, especially concerning halal certification, which is crucial for Muslim consumers. Lack of clear information can lead to distrust and damage the reputation of businesses that have taken decades to build.

Respati hopes that after this temporary closure, Ayam Goreng Widuran will improve its communication and obtain proper halal certification so that consumers can feel safe and confident. “We will also enforce stricter supervision to ensure that similar incidents do not happen again,” he added.

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