Halal is a method of preparing food recommended by Islamic law, which is pretty much similar to kosher but this time, a Muslim version. You might have heard of this term or seen it on some grocery products. But how much do you really know about halal? What is it in the first place?
Halal: Here’s a Quick Definition
Halal meat is mainly about killing an animal humanely and quickly. The knife should be sharpened, and the animal should be slaughtered with a single cut. The animal must be cut from ear to ear while invoking Allah’s name.
It is also not required to be a Muslim religious leader or an imam to slaughter animals for food in a halal way. But still, the person must be a Muslim and should also be “cleansed” not only physically but also spiritually. The person who slaughters the animal must also wash their hands and say a prayer.
The animal also needs to be healthy before it is slaughtered. It is important to ensure that it is not shoved or pushed in any way. It needs to walk to the facility just like how it walks outside, going from one building to another. Before it is finally slaughtered, the animal must be fed first. Letting it drink is also essential. Everything should be provided for it.
After the slaughtering, the animal will be hung upside down to drain out all of the blood as well as any bacteria it contains. Most of the time, halal slaughtering is pretty much similar in all counties. While some cultures choose to leave out specific organ meats such as the stomach or bladder.
There is also the matter of whether to render the animal unconscious or stun it before killing it. This part has been quite controversial. In general, stunning is forbidden in interpretations of Islamic law.
However, some countries won’t let you slaughter an animal if you don’t stun it first. Some animal rights organizations have even referred to the practice as cruel, but others disagree. They claim that an animal can still suffer even if it cannot move.
Yes, it is true that the animal might be unconscious and out of it and not know what is happening, but it is still alive and is suffering from within.
It can be tricky to tell if a food is halal. Numerous types of foods have pork gelatin content, and pork is prohibited. You will find gelatin in many things such as frosted cereals, gummy worms, marshmallows, and sand Skittles. But some halal brand foods opt for beef gelatin in its place.
Do Grocery Stores in San Francisco Carry Halal Food?
Not many stores in the San Francisco area carry halal meat. Some may have halal lamb, but other meats are not available. There are also grocery stores that carry several halal brands, but no meat.
For your halal needs, visit https://getbakkal.com/halal-market-san-francisco/ and get all your items delivered to you fast and easily.