Muslims in the UK
Islam has the second largest followers in the UK. Over the last three decades, the number of British Muslims has increased significantly. Latest figures of 2008 estimate the number to be over two million which forms 3.3% of the British population.
Dietary Requirements – Halal
The Muslim community share many common values with the Jewish community. At the heart of Islamic teachings lies the concept of Halal. This term is central to Muslims and encompasses the code of life including the dietary requirements. A crucial aspect of this code is the fulfilment of certain procedural requirements during the slaughter of animals. Certain animals are prohibited altogether whilst permitted Animals are required to be slaughtered in a certain method. Along with the animals, ingredients must also fulfil a certain criteria for lawful consumption.
Issues in the Current Market
For decades, Halal labelled items have entered the market without any mechanisms, legal or otherwise, to ensure its authenticity. Consumers were unable to verify the claim of Halal through an audit trail system. As a result, unverified and occasionally Non-Halal supplies have entered the Halal market. Ultimately, this undermined the confidence of the Muslim community. Halal certifying bodies started to operate throughout the world to reinstate the confidence through varying levels of monitoring systems.
School Meals Issues
Under the Government’s standards for school lunches, all children must be offered red meat twice per week in primary schools and three times per week in high schools. Children are encouraged to consume white and red meat for nourishment and nutrient purposes. As Muslim children are bound by the dietary requirements of Halal, many schools provide Halal school meals to ensure inclusiveness. Many schools across England halted the provision of Halal school meals after scandalous revelations of the sources of the red and white meat.
THE NEED FOR A MONITORING ORGANISATION
Pak Halal Accreditation was established to provide assurance of genuine Halal through a thorough monitoring system with certification, due to the lack of confidence shown throughout Bristol and the UK. The establishment of Pak Halal Accreditation was a response to the unethical fraudulent practices prevalent in the Halal industry. The founder himself owns the largest meat and poultry retail and wholesale establishment in the southwest of the UK and is well aware of the issues faced by the general public and industry. Despite clear legal verdicts regarding pork, the injection of pork enzymes into Halal labelled poultry is one of the many examples of abuse our organisation encountered. For this reason, Pak Halal Accreditation decided to devise a rigorous monitoring system that could install confidence within establishments at a local level.
Slaughter Criteria of Halal Accreditation
Pak Halal Accreditation adopted a universal Islamic slaughter criterion to ensure maximum trust within the Muslim community. The slaughter criteria include:
• Preferably Non Stunning or Alive at Point of Slaughter
• Manual slaughter by a Muslim – Non Mechanical
• Verbal recitation of Allah’s name – No blessed blades
• Ensuring minimum number of vessels are severed
• No Cross Contamination
PAK HALAL ACCREDITATION
Pak Halal Accreditation is an organisation that is based in Bristol, it’s founder has over 2 decades experience in the Halal Retail and Wholesale trade.
The organisation’s head is also the Chairperson of Bristol’s largest Mosque, a founder member of the Council of Bristol Mosques, Bristol’s first Muslim Councillor and the owner of the largest Halal Meat and Poultry operation in the south west, Pak Butchers (UK) Ltd.
So when it comes to confidence, we are in a unique position to provide the assurance so that you can meet the ‘Fit and Proper’ test, as our name suggests.
(‘Pak’ is the Arabic word that means ‘Fit for Islamic consumption’ or ‘pure’ and ‘Halal’ means ‘proper’ or ‘acceptable’ in Arabic)
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