Halal on the Menu at the ACI

The Adult Correctional Institutions will be serving Halal meals to Muslim inmates after reaching a settlement with a group of inmates who filed suit in 2008.
In the lawsuit, the inmates argued that the state refused to provide the Halal meals, substituting vegetarian meals which do not respect Muslim practice.
WPRI reported that that inmates also asked to pray in a group and wear Kufi head wear outside their cells, but those requests were rejected because of security concerns.
Halal food follows Islamic Law and is prepared under specific circumstances. It must not be prepared, processed or stored near or in contact with food that does not obey Islamic Law.
Some foods which are considered unlawful are: pigs, boars, carnivorous animals with claws and fangs, birds of prey with claws, animals that live on both land and in water, all poisonous aquatic animals and food additives. Animals must be slaughtered properly with respect and causing the animal as little pain as possible. Typically, the jugular vein is cut to cut off oxygen to the brain and pain receptors.
An ACI spokeswoman couldn't say how much the Halal food will cost.

Sharjah society backs halal food event

Sharjah Cooperative Society (SCS), a provider of quality foodstuff at competitive prices, has teamed up with Expo Centre Sharjah for an upcoming international exhibition of halal-certified food products.
The first edition of Halal Food Middle East will be held at Expo Centre Sharjah from December 10 to 12 and will aim to tap into the $2.77 trillion international halal food industry.
The show, which is held under the patronage of Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Ruler of Sharjah and Supreme Council Member, has the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry, apart from several leading retailers, food producers and dealers.
“Preparations are under way to make the inaugural Halal Food ME a highly successful trade show. We launched the show globally during the eighth Malaysia International Halal Showcase (Mihas) in Kuala Lumpur and we will promote it globally. We just finished a promotional tour of China and will now be heading to Thailand,” said Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, director-general of Expo Centre Sharjah.
“The support and participation of Sharjah Cooperative Society will add more credence and strengthen the value proposition of Halal Food ME.”
“Sharjah Cooperative Society has a vital role in providing Halal-certified food products to Sharjah and the Northern Emirates,” Al Midfa added.
Halal Food ME is positioned as the most comprehensive show of its kind in the region, featuring Shariah-compliant food and beverages, bakery and confectionaries, broth products and food ingredients.

Indonesia Accepts Jakim Halal Certification - Mustapa

The Indonesian government has accepted the Halal logo and certificate issued by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), said International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed. He said the development brought relief to producers of Malaysian Halal products who are facing difficulties penetrating the Indonesian market due to Halal certification. He said the matter was confirmed at an informal meeting of the ministers for religious affairs of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore (MABIMS) in May.

Saffron Road Announces More Products and Wider Retail Availability for Ramadan

Though only in its second year, American Halal Company, Inc.’s brand, Saffron Road, has already established itself as an innovator in addressing the unmet needs of the American Muslim consumer market. In preparation for the month-long Islamic holiday, Ramadan, Saffron Road has significantly augmented its product lines and dramatically expanded its retail distribution nationally to better serve its Halal consumers. In less than two years, Saffron Road has gone from four initial Halal products at inception, to over 30 Halal products sold nationally today.
Saffron Road has several new products ideal for Ramadan, including new World Cuisine Simmer Sauces, frozen phyllo appetizers (a healthier alternative to deep fried samosas for iftars), a family-sized portion of Chicken Tikka Masala and Broths. The entire assortment of Saffron Road products will be on sale in over 5,000 stores during Ramadan including Whole Foods Market (in mid-July), Kroger (during August), Publix (during August), Fairway, H.E.B and Central Market (during August), Gelson’s and Sprouts (during July) and most independent stores where Saffron Road is carried (during July). The Saffron Road team hopes the increased retail availability paired with targeted promotions during Ramadan will incentivize Muslim shoppers to go in their local stores to purchase Saffron Road’s Halal products for festive gatherings during Ramadan, including iftars or the daily traditional breaking of the fasts at sundown.

MALAYSIA: New era for Malaysian Halal standard

The Halal issue in this country will no longer be a seasonal topic in the media when the new Malaysia Halal Standard is enforced by Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM). The Halal issue always receives more attention just before Ramadan and according to Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Fadillah Yusof this was due to confusion by consumers on current Halal standards as many bodies are involved in this country on the matter.

PAKISTAN: World's first postgraduate diploma on Halal industry launched

The world's first postgraduate diploma on Halal industry is going to be launched in Pakistan from the November 1, which will be presented through modern online technology concurrently around the world so that the education and awareness regarding Halal food and products could be spread in Muslim and non-Muslim countries with special reference for those countries where Muslims are in minority and they remain tensed about Halal food products.

While telling about the aims and objectives of this diploma, Chief Executive Officer of Halal Research Council, Muhammad Zubair Mughal said this diploma would be of eight months which would consist of four modules and each module would consist of two courses.

In first module, concepts of Halal and general guidance about Halal food would be taught whereas role of food ingredients and Halal slaughtering in second module, prospective of Halal industry world-wide and Halal banking in third module and Halal standardisation and prospective of Halal industry in developed area will be taught in fourth module.

He said the diploma was based on state-of-the-art technology in which a student could get log in to his/her account and could get benefit from different facilities like lessons, assignments, live chat with tutor and online examination.

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Islamic scholars accuse kfc of of mislabelling its chicken as Halal

The fast food chain has been accused by the UK’s leading Islamic scholars of mislabelling its chicken as Halal, the Islamic dietary code. At a conference in the Hijaz Centre, Nuneaton, around 40 of the UK’s leading Islamic scholars agreed KFC should stop selling its chicken labelled as Halal because it is machine-slaughtered, which they claim is not permitted under Islamic law. Naved Syed, a Halal processor, said that the decision is in line with FSA guidelines, which state that each animal must be slaughtered by a man with a knife and “Bismillah Allahu Akbar” (In the name of God, God is the Greatest) must be said on each animal or bird. FSA guidelines also say that no animal must see another animal being killed.