Advocacy/Certification

Halal Advocates of America http://halaladvocates.org/

Established in 2008, the Halal Advocates emerged out of the concern of a few individuals for the state of Halal in America and its implications to the Muslim community in America. Spanning the nation, from the Pacific Northwest to the East Coast, California to the Midwest, the Halal Advocates of America seek to play a positive and unique role in the establishment of the Halal brand in America, the advancement of its progressive certification and verification program for businesses wanting to do “Halal right”, and bringing about a robust chapter-model for the community to educate itself through. While already having begun to provide assurance to the US Muslim consumer about the integrity of Halal through education and awareness campaigns, the Halal Advocates also seek to create transparent alliances and ties with the growing number of Halal organizations and businesses in America. To date, various teams of Halal Advocates throughout America have traveled thousands of miles and to over fifteen states and six countries to research the Halal models being applied at every level of the supply chain and its subsequent regulatory practices. From slaughtering plants to processing and distribution centers to business outlets and abattoirs, the prospects for future growth of the Halal brand is great. The Halal Advocates have also journeyed to numerous international countries – including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, England and Canada – to observe and research Halal regulatory and monitoring practices, organizational models. They have also learned from countless Halal experts, researchers, scholars and inspection personnel on implementing Halal in the most optimal manner. In the end, the Halal Advocates are focused on balancing their advocacy between two strategic alliances, the Halal consumer and business, while also trying to help establish the necessary Halal governance practices to combat fraud and create a high-quality Halal accreditation standard in America with others.

Islamic Services of America http://isaiowa.org/

Halal certification and auditing services has made Islamic Services of America (I.S.A.) a globally recognized symbol of Halal integrity. Islamic Services of America is a leading Halal Certification body in the United States and North America, recognized internationally in every sector of the Halal industry including meat and poultry, slaughter and production services. Halal education, review of certification processes and procedures, answering simple questions like “What is Halal?” to more complex questions on additives, preservatives, flavorings, and colorings is part of what we do here at Islamic Services of America. In essence, Islamic Services of America serves as an information hub on Halal products, procedures, and practices for consumers and businesses. The professionals at Islamic Services of America not only answer daily questions via email and phone; we speak at conferences, conduct training programs and seminars, and provide expert advice to government, academia and the media.

Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America http://www.ifanca.org/

Welcome to IFANCA, one the world’s leading resources for halal information. Halal, when applied to food, is a dietary set of guidelines for Muslims living an Islamic lifestyle. Since 1982, IFANCA is committed to helping halal consumers through research, education and advocacy. One of the services IFANCA provides to halal consumers is third-party halal certification. Our certification symbol, the Crescent helps halal consumers select goods, assuring them that what they buy is halal without a doubt.

Midamar http://www.midamarhalal.com/

Midamar is the first company in the United States to work in conjunction with the USDA in developing an accredited Halal food program. Many factors have contributed to our success. Midamar Halal foods are held to the highest integrity at the point of slaughter, processed with the best ingredients, under strict supervision of the USDA, followed up by superior customer service, and simply held to higher standards than that of our competitors. We know that by never skimping on quality, Midamar Halal foods will be better in overall quality and taste than most non-Halal food available in the market. We believe our customer’s deserve the best and Midamar has delivered for nearly 30 years. Many people who normally do not consume Halal foods are now turning to the quality of Midamar Halal. Regardless of your religious background, high quality Midamar Halal foods are enjoyed by all. Inshallah (God willing), we will continue to earn our customers trust, loyalty, and satisfaction.

Halal Food Authority (UK) http://www.halalfoodauthority.co.uk/

Halal Food Authority is a voluntary organisation. It was launched in 1994 to monitor and regulate red meat and poultry in UK. The HFA introduced a unique system of identifying halal meat from non-halal, by putting marking or tagging for authenticity of halal on the carcasses, soon after slaughter at the slaughterhouses

Halal Industry Development Corporation: Halal Knowledge Center (Malaysia) http://www.hdcglobal.com/publisher/alias/hdckc?dt.driverAction=RENDER&pc.portletMode=view&pc.windowState=normal&pc.portletId=Newslatest.newsPortlet

Halal is not merely a way of life – it is a global industry. With a stake in commercial sectors worldwide, Halal Development has become a significant contributor to all facets of economic growth. Established on 18 September 2006, Halal Industry Development Corporation coordinates the overall development of the Halal industry in Malaysia. Focusing on development of Halal standards, audit and certification, plus capacity building for Halal products and services, HDC promotes participation and facilitates growth of Malaysian companies in the global Halal market. Intent on building a global Halal community, HDC brings the Malaysian Halal industry in unison toward a common goal. By nurturing growth and participation of local businesses into the global Halal market, HDC sets the bar for Halal best practices in Malaysia to enrich the development of Halal standards globally. Through unsurpassed knowledge and experience, HDC is the gateway towards a better understanding of Halal for all.

Halaloffice.com (Netherlands) http://www.halaloffice.com/

Concerning the right to use halal products, the halal control and certification agency plays important role to protect Moslem communities from consuming unlawful food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products and ascertain the proper halal assertion from the manufacturers. The Control Office of Halal Slaughtering (COHS) and the Halal Quality Control (HQC) in the Netherlands are among the best agencies in that kind.

World Halal Forum http://www.worldhalalforum.org/main.html

The Halal industry intersects and shares common values with many other industry sectors and yet it has a unique set of issues and concerns that are specific to the Halal market. It became evident that there was a need for a dedicated Halal industry forum that would enable the stakeholders in the Halal market to gather on a regular basis. The Halal market is evolving at a rapid pace, and because of its global extent, the rate and nature of this evolution differs considerably from one country to the next, and from one industry sector to the next. Much of the impetus for the development of the Halal industry comes from shifts of awareness and perception; consequently many of these developments are happening at a rapid pace and entire new industry sectors, such as in the field of logistics, research, lab testing and personal care are emerging on a continuing basis. Consequently, the decision to stage the World Halal Forum as an industry-specific focal point came at precisely the time it was needed. Response from all quarters – government, industry players both large and small, NGO’s, certification agencies, academics – and from all corners of the world continues to confirm our assessment.

Select Producers

Nevada Halal Co http://nevadahalal.com/index.php?news&nid=14

Risking life and limb, dedicated Muslims in the Reno/Sparks area have had to travel long distances to procure their Halal meat. Sacramento and the Bay Area have been favorite sources, until now. Nevada Halal Co. recently established a convenient and reasonably priced Halal-meat home delivery service. Available meats include: Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Lamb, Duck, and even Goat— pork of all kinds is prohibited. Eating Halal meat isn’t just for Muslims. Meat eaters conscientious of how livestock is raised and later on processed, find Halal meat a marvelous alternative to mechanized, industrial processed, “Food Inc.” types of meat. Certain prominent producers claim that Halal meat is beneficial for personal nutrition and family health. Owners of Nevada Halal Co. claim, “Only healthy animals can be slaughtered. They are handled by Muslims who are trusted and experienced and treat the animals in an ethical way”. According to Amin Atta, one of central California’s largest Halal meat producers and former president of the Islamic Center of Central California (Masjid Fresno), reports that the meat itself contains no blood clots within the veins—giving the meat a longer shelf life. He claims that his beef is minimally processed and contains no artificial ingredients; ensured against unwanted antibiotic and pesticide residues; and the cattle are humanely handled during all aspects of production. He adds, “Animals are consistently treated with mercy and respect and will be blessed with the name of God (Allah) prior to slaughter, according to Islamic Halal requirements”.

Islamic Meat and Poultry Co. (California) http://www.gmdu.net/corp-7577.html

53^rd and 6^th Halal Cart (New York) http://53rdand6th.com/

– The Halal Guys (food truck) http://www.yelp.com/biz/53rd-and-6th-halal-cart-new-york#query:53rd%20and%206th%20food%20cart

Other Resources

Halal-Hub.org http://halal-hub.org/cert_body.php  A list of “Halal Certification Bodies” in the U.S. and throughout the world

Zabihah.com  http://www.zabihah.com/ “the world’s largest guide to halal restaurants and products.”

Halal.com  http://www.halal.com/main.php?do=home&action=home

Halal.com is the leading source for news, opinions, products, halal information, and other halal resources. Launched initially in 2005, its mission is to be the comprehensive online resource for the halal information, to raise awareness of halal and provide crucial information to the halal consumer. Halal.com is dedicated to promoting halal food and the institution of halal. Halal.com is leading the charge in connecting consumers to information, products, and each other. Halal.com will strive to uphold the principle of Islam in creating awareness about Halal, connecting producers to consumers, and advising consumers on halal issues. Halal.com is an independent web portal. It accepts advice and information of general interest from any sincere and knowledgeable contributors.

Association de Sensibilisation, d’Information et de Défense de Consommateurs Musulmans (France) http://www.asidcom.org/Survey-on-the-halal-certification.html

The association ASIDCOM provides a translation from French into English of its 2009 survey- on halal meat certification bodies. This survey was conducted both directly by calling the certification bodies through a questionnaire and collecting the information through websites and press statements of certification bodies. The 2009 survey lists Halal Meat certification agencies (mainly french certification and some european agencies), identifies methods of slaughter they can certify (practice of electronarcosis) and raises questions in respect with means of controls.

Also available on the ASIDCOM site: http://www.asidcom.org/Report-the-welfare-of-animals-is.html

The French Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fishing has published ASIDCOM’s Bibliographical Report on Religious Slaughter and the Welfare of Animals, as a contribution within the framework of a meeting on animals and society organized in the first half of the year 2008. This report quotes many scientific papers and supports the equality or even possible superiority of religious slaughter to other methods of slaughter. With the help and assistance from Prof. Joe M. Regenstein from the Cornell Kosher and Halal Food Initiative, ASIDCOM is pleased to publish an updated English version edited in March of 2010. The welfare of animals is one of the core messages of both the Jewish and Islamic religions. ASIDCOM Report on the «Benefits of Religious Slaughter» : http://www.unstunnedhalal.com/datafiles/uploaded/ASIDCOM_report-Benefits_of_religious_slaughter%5B1%5D.pdf

Guides

Yomatari’s Laws of Religion: Laws of Islam Concerning Food http://www.religiousrules.com/Islamfood00table.htm

Unichef  “Halal Foodways” by Chef Daryl L. Mickler http://www.unichef.com/halalfood.htm

As Professional Chefs, we have the opportunity of serving guests from around the world. This opportunity can also bring challenges and these challenges may be particularly acute for the professional chef. We are regularly called on to provide options for our guests with dietary allergies, medical dietary restrictions and any number of personal diets. However, one area where many chefs are challenged is in developing menus and options for our guests whose dietary requirements are based on religious or ethical systems that are unfamiliar to us. One such area is the set of dietary laws to which the observant Muslim must adhere.

The halal requirements are stringent but, for the chef who is willing to take the time to learn them and plan ahead, they are very manageable in the average kitchen.

A list of additives and ingredients categorized as halal or haram (Europe)http://special.worldofislam.info/Food/numbers.html

“Dial Rel” (Europe) http://www.dialrel.eu/

“Halal and Haram” http://lasjan.page.tl/Halal-and-Haram.htm

Select Articles

• “Popeyes in fight over halal chicken” (Louisiana) http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1080411–popeyes-in-fight-over-halal-chicke
• “Halal Killing May Be Banned” (2003 in Europe) http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2003/may/15/religion.world
• BBC: “Halal and Kosher Slaughter ‘Must End’” http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/2977086.stm
• New Scientist (2009): “Animals Feel the Pain of Religious Slaughter” http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17972-animals-feel-the-pain-of-religious-slaughter.html
• “Halal and Kosher Meat Should not be Slipped into food chain, says minister” http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/halal-and-kosher-meat-should-not-be-slipped-in-to-food-chain-says-minister-805396.html
• Scientists Live: “Ingredients: Consumers increasingly perceive kosher and halal food as safer” http://www.scientistlive.com/European-Food-Scientist/Ingredients/Consumers_increasingly_perceive_kosher_and_halal_food_as_safer/17798/