MUSLIM AMERICAN FOOD COUNCIL

                              -Global Halal-  ®2000

MISSION STATEMENT

AND

PROTOCOL

Tariq A. Aquil, President

“So eat of (meats) on which Allah’s Name hath been pronounced, if ye have faith in His signs” (Qur’an 6:118)                                                                                                                                          “ Why should ye not eat of (meats) on which Allah.s name hath been pronounced, when He hath explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you - except under compulsion of necessity? But many do mislead (men) by their appetites unchecked by knowledge.” [Qur’an 6:119] MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Muslim American Food Council is to serve as catalyst for compliance with Divine guidelines and Islamic teachings and traditions for producers, suppliers and retailers who identify their products as “Halal” and/or Zabiha. The Muslim American Food Council helps restore the confidence of Muslim customers that when they purchase products labeled as “Halal” they are in fact receiving what they pay for and are not receiving a substitute. The Muslim American Food Council provides onsite visual inspections of facilities that sell products labeled as “Halal” to assure that producers, distributors and retailers are in full compliance with the Qur’an and Sunnah and are not mixing “Halal” with non-Halal. METHODOLOGY: The council makes periodic inspections of the facilities of producers, distributors and suppliers of food products to insure their compliance with all the requirements of Halal food. The Muslim American Food Council inspectors  assure that there is compliance with the Islamic regulations at every stage of the food processing and handling chain from producer to consumers. The Muslim American Food Council issue Halal Certificates of compliance distinguished by the Halal embossed stamp of approval to those producers, distributors and retailers that meet the full standard of Halal. The Muslim American Food Council provides public information on those producers, distributors and retailers that are in compliance with Halal as well as those who do not meet the standard and/or are not in full compliance in order to assist in restoring the confidence of Muslim consumers of Halal products. TERMINOLOGY:      In regard to food and products ingested or applied to the human body, the term Halal means consumer items that are developed, manufactured, slaughtered, prepared and distributed according to the teachings of Islam as contained in the Qur’an and the authentic sayings of Prophet Muhammad. As for the lifestyle of the human being, it is mandatory for Muslims to earn their livelihood in a legitimate manner and use only those items that meet the standards of Islamic teachings. The following criterion is developed on the basis of the divine teachings as contained in the Qur’an and as described by the Prophet in his authentically recorded sayings.  The term will apply to items that are prepared, slaughtered, developed, manufactured and distributed according to the divine laws. Halal consumer items include meat and poultry products and food products. KEY POINTS IN HALAL STANDARD For a product to be Halal it must adhere to the following: It should be prepared or slaughtered or manufactured according to Islamic teachings. In products of meat and poultry, the items must follow the Zabiha method as outlined in the authentic sayings of the prophet.  The United States recognizes the Zabiha method as a legal method. Thus, the birds or animals should be clearly marked Halal as incorporated in the law of the state. The products should not contain any substance or ingredient taken or extracted from an animal or ingredient described as impure according the Divine Teachings. All the raw material and ingredients must be Halal that is must come from Halal animals, such as cattle, goat, sheep, etc. and slaughtered according to Islamic rites. The products must be made, processed, produced, manufactured and/or stored by using utensils, equipment and/or machinery that has been cleansed according to Islamic law. The products must be free of contamination and must not come into contact with Haram substances during preparation, production, manufacture processing and/or storage. Halal ingredients must not be mixed with non-Halal ingredients. The product must be prepared in a hygienic manner and stored and distributed in hygienic conditions.

DECEPTIVE LOGOS AND LABELS A growing number of companies that “claim” to sell Halal have opened their doors across the country.  These increasing numbers of businesses  are seemingly taking over the Muslim meat market. By simply using the label of Halal these companies are enriching themselves and deceiving Muslims. Many of these companies use Arabic-English logos; some have pictures of palm trees or a Masjid. Several have the Kalimah on their label.

GLOBAL HALAL

The Muslim American Food Council has registered the concept GLOBAL HALAL, to emphasize the fact that Halal is not just a business it is in fact a holistic approach to human life. The processing of Halal meat cannot be just a business. The religion of Al Islam is primary to the Muslim, while the business is secondary. 

ANCIENT ANSWER TO MODERN PROBLEM

Islam gives an ancient answer to the current epidemic of “mad cow” disease as well as the hoof and mouth disease. That answer is the Halal process from beginning to end. Many of the animals in the United States of America are fed on animal protein so they are Haram. 

KOSHER AND HALAL

Currently in the marketplace there are kosher symbols, which represent, orthodox, ultra orthodox and liberal or reform Jews. For example “OU”, “V”, “K of K”, “CRC” are the kosher symbols for orthodox Jews, some Hebrew word represents as a kosher symbol for ultra orthodox. “K” is representing both the liberal and some time orthodox Jewish kosher symbol.  Not all kosher certified food products meet the Islamic dietary requirements for example Nabisco's Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard is kosher certified product by orthodox kosher certifying organization with kosher symbol OU but this Dijon Mustard is Haram for Muslims because it is made with kosher wine. Some liberal Jews do eat pork. Muslims cannot use the food products certified by liberal Jewish kosher certifying organizations. For example the Kraft Food’s Jell-O Gelatin Dessert is made with pork gelatin but still carries kosher symbol K. This is a Haram product for Muslims.

OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND  PLEDGE:

Ultimately the responsibility is on the Muslim’s to demand that those who seek the Muslim dollars are held accountable for their products that are labeled as Halal.

The Muslim American Food Council has taken up that challenging responsibility.

                    Muslim American Food Council 

          CERTIFIED Halal Manufacturers, Wholesalers and Retailers

Dakota Halal Beef Co - North Dakota - Certified [11-21-2000]

 ComTrust LLC - Chicago, Il   - Certified [09-18-2001]

Crave Halal Foods - Los Angeles, Ca - Certified [10-09-2010]

Abundant Sea's - Los Angeles, Ca - Certified [04-24-2014]