Why Eating Halal is Beneficial (Even If You Aren’t Muslim)

Now more than ever, more people are exploring eating Halal – even if they aren’t Muslim. Continue reading to learn how you can benefit from eating Halal.

What is Halal?

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Halal is an Arabic word that means “lawful” or “permitted” under Islamic law. Examples of Halal food include:

• Chicken
• Beef
• Deer
• Goats
• Seafood
• Nuts
• Eggs
• Tofu
• Legumes

Generally speaking, all foods are considered to be Halal unless specifically stated to be Haram.

Haram is an Arabic word that means “unlawful” or “unpermitted”. Examples of Halal foods include:

• Alcohol
• Carnivorous animals (cats, dogs, bears, etc)
• Pork
• Gelatine (excluding fish gelatine)
• Enzymes
• Lard
• Haram animal fats
• Meat from animals that were not raised or slaughtered under Halal conditions

Halal Slaughter

The way that the animal is killed plays a massive role in whether or not the meat qualifies as Halal. Islamic law places a strong value on both the quality of an animal’s life – as well as the way in which it is slaughtered.

Animals that are to be slaughtered for Halal meat must enjoy peaceful and healthy lives. They should not under any circumstances feel frightened or be mistreated prior to their death.

Under Islamic law, a prayer to Allah must be made before any slaughter takes place. Animals must be killed swiftly with one precise slice to the throat. The animal should then be drained of all blood before being further processed.

Reasons To Eat Halal

Even if you are not a practicing Muslim, there are many reasons to eat Halal. Benefits of eating Halal food include:

• Feel better about where your food comes from: animals slaughtered under Halal requirements experience less pain and/or suffering
• Animals slaughtered to produce Halal foods must be well-fed and well-cared for during their lifetime.
• In order for meat to be considered Halal, the animal must be drained of blood. The draining of the blood creates healthier meat – consuming blood is unhealthy for the human body as it can harbor bacteria.
• Halal meat tastes better – this is due mainly to the fact that it does not contain blood. Blood contains lactic acid, which can hinder the taste of meat. The presence of blood can also prevent the meat from properly absorbing seasoning.
• Halal products are free from growth hormones, preservatives, and antibiotics.
• Avoid health risks associated with the food you consume

Halal Food Council USA: Helping American Businesses Become Halal Certified

With the information you have learned here, you will now understand that choosing to eat Halal can benefit you greatly – even if you are not Muslim.

If you own or operate a business that is interested in halal food certification in the USA, HFC-USA is here to help.

We will provide both supervision and certification services for any and all American businesses that wish to provide their customers with halal food – whether it be meat and poultry, dry goods, or pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. We also provide comprehensive halal food service training.

For more information about obtaining American halal certification, give us a call at 410-548-1728.