Demystifying halal | Sustainable Food Trust (2024)

FAQs

Why is halal meat killed like that? ›

This can become very technical as some interpretations of the Islamic Law conclude that the animal must be fully conscious when killed and while others say that they can be unconscious and then killed. This must be done in the most humane way possible, while declaring that the animal's life is sacrificed to God.

What's the controversy around halal-certified products? The controversy is centered around two aspects — one is the legality of the certificate-issuing authority and the other is the allegation of targetting people of a particular community.

Additionally, halal meat is free from harmful additives, preservatives, and chemicals, making it a healthier option compared to other types of meat. Many have already recognised the health benefits of Halal meat and it is one of the most popular reasons why more people are including this as part of their diet.

For a Christian, halal slaughtered meat falls into the category of 'meat offered to idols'. The Bible teaches that, while it is wrong to offer meat to false gods, it is not wrong for Christians to eat this meat if it comes onto the market.

Pre-stunning ensures that an animal is unconscious and cannot feel pain before slaughter up until the point of death. Animals that haven't been pre-stunned: Feel pain during the neck cutting process and up until they lose consciousness (through loss of blood)

The halal cut is when the jugular vein of the animal is cut at the time of slaughter. The jugular vein is the one that carries Deoxygenated blood, and once that blood is removed from the consumable part of the meat, it becomes much healthier and safer to eat.

Generally, McDonald's sets its own company standards at or above the very highest of international standards. McDonald's meat patties are produced from 100% pure halal beef with no additives, preservatives or flavor enhancers.

Halal meat may have a different smell due to the specific method of slaughter, which involves cutting the throat to ensure a quick and humane death, allowing thorough blood drainage.

What does this mean for Muslim and Jewish consumers? Summing up, Muslim buyers can consume kosher products. Jewish buyers cannot do likewise with halal. For many Muslim buyers, non-alcoholic kosher food products are considered halal.

Psalm 22:22 reads, I will declare Your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise (hâlal) You. In Psalm 109:30, the psalmist wrote, With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord; in the great throng of worshippers I will praise (hâlal) Him.

Are Catholics allowed to eat halal? ›

There is no admonition in the Bible or Christian tradition not to eat food that was prepared according to dietary law of another religion.

The pig is considered an unclean animal as food in Judaism and Islam, and parts of Christianity. Although Christianity is also an Abrahamic religion, most of its adherents do not follow these aspects of Mosaic law and do consume its meat.

Halal meat is an essential part of the Muslim faith and advocates argue that the practices of traditional Islamic slaughter are humane. However, many animal rights campaigners argue that religious slaughter causes animals unnecessary suffering and should be banned.

Most Halal animals are slaughtered by cutting the major blood vessels, i.e., carotid arteries and jugular veins along with the esophagus and trachea at the neck below the larynx to ensure rapid and complete blood loss.

“Halal is considered healthier because after slaughter, blood is drained from the animal's arteries, ejecting most toxins because the heart continues to pump for a few seconds after slaughter. In jhatka, not all the blood is drained, leaving the meat tougher and drier.”

Halal slaughter requires that the animal is killed from the throat cut and bleeding out process rather than the stunning method. Kosher slaughter has similar requirements, however in Australia does not currently accept reversible stunning methods.