Food is definitely everyone’s favorite topic, and most people generally love meat in particular. But one important thing should be considered if you are a Muslim.
Halal means permitted and lawful in Islam based on Islamic law. It is and can be applied to any subject matter. When it comes to food, there are some products that Islamic law does not permit Muslims to eat. These forbidden ingredients or foods are known as Haram, which means prohibited or unlawful.
Regarding drink and food, the primary items that are considered Haram based on Islamic law include alcoholic beverages, all parts of a pig, carnivorous animals, blood, and carrion or dead animals’ meat. Islamic Law also specifies that all meat eaten must come from animals that are slaughtered according to the Islamic law in order for it to become suitable for consumption or Halal.
To adhere to Islamic law, slaughter is performed by cutting the jugular vein of the animal as this includes complete and rapid bleeding since blood is believed to be the primary carrier of diseases that can be passed onto humans.
Correspondingly, Muslims are also taught through the Qur’an that every animal must be well cared for and treated with respect. The goal is to slaughter the animal and limit the amount of pain it will suffer.
How is Halal Food Prepared, Produced, and Marketed?
Contrary to common belief, the method used during the preparation and production of Halal meat is one of the most hygienic and humane. Fundamental to this procedure is the high respect shown in treating the animals and the slaughtering with the minimum amount of pain.
The actual method of slaughtering used means the animal is completely relaxed with a very slight increase in adrenaline that results in meat that is more tender. The removal of the spinal cord and draining of the blood means that all toxins and bacteria are removed from the meat to encourage longer shelf life.
Certification of Halal Food
Certification of Halal food refers to the inspection of food processes during its preparation, cleaning, slaughtering, handling, processing, disinfecting, storing, and transporting. The food also has to go through auditing and assurance of the technical matters involved. This means that involves management practices in general. The ways associated with being Halal must apply to every stage of processing or must be applied “from farm to table.”
Halal food certification offers the following benefits:
- Consumer confidence that gives consumers the chance to make informed decisions about their purchases.
- A competitive edge that manufacturers can use as a marketing tool for securing a larger market share considering that halal food is appropriate for Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
- Quality that indicates that food products not just fulfill the requirements of halal but also stringent hygiene practices.
- Monitoring and auditing mechanism for the authorities.
Make sure you start browsing San Francisco halal markets list today so you can take advantage of all the benefits that halal food has to offer.