Muslims in the UK for many years have been expressing deep concerns as to the authenticity of Halal meat and poultry supplies due to the excessive deception and false labelling of Halal in the industry. The entire meat industry of the UK is facing a major problem regarding the issue of falsely labelled Halal meat.
By means of investigation it has been found that there are many causes, which have contributed to this dire situation that faces the Muslims regarding their food, each will be confronted in its place.
Problems start locally, as abattoirs continue to use mechanical slaughter methods and fatal stunning techniques unabated. The pitiful saga continues as slaughterers continue their flagrant disregard of Islamic prerequisites. The problem does not end there, as processors have also added fuel to the fire. The issuing of a 15 year jail term to a very well known processor in UK for the continuous utilisation of foods unfit for human consumption, only touched the tip of the iceberg as there are many more equally if not even more disgusting practices of some in the industry (which include the utilization of Haram animal meat, including pork, and also dirty, rotten, inedible parts of animals that do not even get classified as meat in their mixes), who can only see the acquisition of a quick buck instead of any codes of morality, Islamic or otherwise.
The broadcasting of the Panorama programme ‘The Chicken Run’ in May 2003, tore open a vicious secret of foreign meats, marked Halal. It disclosed that chicken products being processed were injected with or soaked in water containing enzymes from beef and/or pork. These products were then shipped to the UK marked Halal for the consumption of the unsuspecting Muslim public.
The word ‘Halal’ has become the most abused word equally misused by Muslims and non Muslims. It is displayed anywhere and everywhere without any kind of regulation and corroboration and the consumers are led to believe that it is genuinely Halal. According to a research, statistics show that over 90% of Halal labelled meat and poultry in the UK is in actual fact, doubtful. Indeed the word ‘Halal’ displayed at the outlets or on consumables is not sufficient anymore.
In order to overcome this unfortunate situation, a uniform verification and certification body was much needed to oversee, recommend, facilitate, implement the Shari'ah requirements of Halal, and create a clear-cut reliable certification procedure. As such a steering committee was put in place to take us forward into the pursuit of our Islamic duty of facilitating our moral and obligatory right.
The call for a body of Muslim leaders, scholars, and jurists who would form the backbone of such an organisation has been answered in the form of the Halal Monitoring Committee in order to serve the Muslim Ummah. The Halal Monitoring Committee does not side with any one particular sect, but rather is a universal service, which seeks to represent all the different schools of thought within Islam and also to obtain self sufficiency (i.e. not remain dependant on donations for its continuation).
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