samedi 10 août 2013

The Truth About Meat Used In Halal Meals

By Andrea Davidson


Many things have been written about the way meat is slaughtered for halal meals, much of it based on speculation and innuendo. Some people have been mislead to believe that somehow the way animals are slaughtered is inhumane or barbaric, whereas in reality it's actually the complete opposite. However, it's very hard to quash untruths if people are not willing to listen to the facts.

Muslim food is now very much a part of mainstream culture. Most people will have no idea if the food they are eating has been prepared to the culinary standards required by Islam, but the chances are it has. Hospitals, pubs and schools are well known for serving it. The fact is that many people believe that food prepared in accordance with Sharia Law is best for you.

The meat that Muslims eat has to be slaughtered in accordance with Islamic law. Additionally, there are also restrictions on the types of meat they are allowed to eat. They cannot, for instance, eat any pork products and the meat they do eat has to be killed in the name of God, and it has to be slaughtered in a certain way.

What needs to be mentioned is the welfare of the animal itself. It's often been said that animals slaughtered in the name of Islam suffer a hideous and cruel death. This cannot be further from the truth. The animal's jugular vein, windpipe and carotid artery are usually slit with one swipe of a knife. This process is similar to the kosher way of killing meat. The animal usually dies instantly and the blood should drain away from the body.

The way meat is killed is increasingly reminiscent of mainstream practices. Around 90% of those animals killed for halal meat are done so by being stunned with a blow to the head first. No-one is absolutely sure as to the suffering an animal undergoes using this method. One reason for the change in the way they're killed could be because it's quicker.

What people should realize is that Muslims have strict standards as to what food constitutes halal. Animals that have been mistreated or abused are not acceptable, and this should encourage consumers to buy more of such products. Animal rights are not always so important in mainstream food production, where quantity often means mistreating animals.

The main thing to look for is a label that tell you the food is OK for Muslims to eat. That way you'll know it's made within the laws of the Koran. The book tells us that Muslims cannot eat the following: animals that were not slaughtered in the name of Allah, blood, carnivorous animals, alcohol, birds of prey and land animals that have no external ears. The word for these foods is haram, or forbidden.

Halal meals are made with the welfare of the animal in mind. Because the Islamic religion teaches people to be kind to animals and cause them no suffering when you next see something labelled "halal" you should remember that. These days the foods are available from places like supermarkets and specialist stores.




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