Halal meat tastes better, it is tender and fresh. Halal is an Arabic term meaning permissible To make meat halal, the animal must be slaughtered in a permissible way and are required to be alive and healthy.

Food is considered one of the most important factors for interaction among various ethnic, social, and religious groups. All people are concerned about the food they eat. Muslims want to ensure that their food is halal. Jews that their food is kosher Hindu Buddhist and certain other groups that their food is vegetarian.

The impact of religion on food consumption depends on the religion itself and on the extent to which individuals follow the teachings of their religion. Most religions forbid certain foods for example pork in Judaism and Islam or pork and beef in Hinduism and Buddhism except for Christianity which has no food taboos.

In general, everything is permitted for human use and benefits Nothing is forbidden except what is prohibited in Quran and Sunnah

The Halal dietary laws deal with the following four issues.  

1. Prohibited and permitted Animals: Meat of pigs, boars and swine is strictly prohibited and so is the meat of carnivorous animals such as lions, tigers, cheetahs, dogs and cats, and birds of prey like eagles, falcons, osprey, kites and vultures. Swine serve as a vector for pathogenic worms to enter the human body. Carrion and dead animals are unfit for human consumption because the decay process leads to the formation of chemicals harmful to humans.

The meat of domesticated animals like ruminants with split hoofs – eg cattle, sheep, goat, lamb – is allowed for food, as is the meat of camels and buffaloes are also permitted.  The birds that do not use their claws to hold down food, such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, pigeons, doves, partridges, quails, sparrows, emus, ostriches and the like.

• Method of slaughtering: There are special requirements for slaughtering an animal: the animal must be of a Halal species and slaughter must be done by cutting the throat in a manner that induces rapid and complete bleeding, resulting in the quickest death. The generally accepted method is to cut at least three of the four passages, i.e carotid arteries, jugular veins, trachea and oesophagus. The meat of animals thus slaughtered is called zabiha meat.
• Prohibition of blood: Blood that is drained from an animal contains harmful bacteria, products of metabolism and toxins, blood that pours forth is prohibited from being consumed. This includes the blood of permitted and non-permitted animals alike.
• Prohibition of intoxicants: Intoxicants are considered harmful to the nervous system, affecting the senses and human judgement, thus leading to social and family problems and in many cases even death.

The basic principle is that all things created by Allah are permitted, with a few exceptions that are prohibited.  To make lawful and unlawful is the right of Allah alone. No human being, no matter how pious or powerful may take it into his hands to change it.

Halal system and its benefits

In the above paragraphs, we saw the importance of Halal food and the criteria for Halal food. Creating a Halal system will be beneficial in terms of  business opportunity at a global or international level while contributing towards a healthy society

Halal and good

Halal foods also qualify the criteria of good and are requirements for any food industry. The food products of any food industry are checked on these parameters. It means if the food is Halal it will qualify these criteria since these are also the main requirements for a food to be Halal. If any company produces and sells Halal food it will qualify both the criteria ie Hygienic and Halal.

1. Good and Wholesome
2. High in quality
3. Safety ensured (microbiologically safe, free from chemical and physical hazards)
4. Hygienic and clean
5. Nutritious
6. Authentic (in its claims)
7. Organic (in sync with its natural environment)

Halal and ethical animal husbandry practice

1. Ethical animal welfare – Animals can be feed by good and hygienic methodology to get a higher yield.
2. Good feed and feeding method – Nutritious food should be given to animals to fulfil higher expectations.
3. Good environmental management – proper environmental conditions should be maintained
4. Transportation management – there should be an appropriate logistic facility to ease the transportation of cattle. 
5. Handling at abattoir – abattoir or Slaughterhouses a facility where animals are killed for consumption as food products. It should be properly maintained to avoid the unhygienic condition.
6. Good facilities and welfare

There are many health benefits of halal food  It is good for your mind and body. The animals are always taken care of and treated fairly. Islam places great emphasis on the gentle treatment of animals, especially before and during slaughter

Halal Meat processing requires that the blood should be drained from the body, resulting in fresher meat, free from bacteria. It is not allowed to slaughter a sick animal; therefore, animals are raised in hygienic conditions that support disease-free habitats. There is an almost negligible chance of food contamination or food poisoning. Halal meat is treated as commercial meat and its demand is growing across India and the world.