Halal Meat Brands in the USA

What should you check on a halal meat brand?

For meat, "halal" is not decided by the ingredients. It is decided by how the animal was slaughtered and who checked it. So the useful questions are different from those for candy or cheese.

Who certifies it? A trustworthy halal meat brand names the body that certifies or inspects it. Examples include IFANCA, Islamic Services of America (ISA) and the Shar'i Zabihah Committee of Islamic Social Services. A package that says "halal" with no named certifier gives you much less to go on.

Hand or machine slaughter? Some brands slaughter each animal by hand, with a Muslim saying the name of Allah over each one. Others use a machine blade, with Muslims reciting the blessing as the line runs. Halal bodies disagree about machine slaughter. Some accept it with a Muslim supervising, and others require hand slaughter for every animal. Our article on why halal certifiers disagree explains both views.

Is the animal stunned? Some bodies allow stunning if the animal is still alive when it is slaughtered, and others do not allow it at all. If this matters to you, check the certifier's position.

None of the brands below is "more halal" than another. They follow different certification standards. Choose the one whose standard matches the view you follow.

How can you check a halal meat brand yourself?

• Find the name of the certifier on the package or the brand's website.
• Check whether the brand uses hand slaughter or machine slaughter, especially for chicken.
• If stunning matters to you, look up the certifier's position on stunning.
• For fresh meat from a butcher, ask to see the halal certificate and its expiry date.

Is kosher meat the same as halal meat?

No. Kosher meat is slaughtered under Jewish law, not Islamic law. Some scholars accept meat slaughtered by Jews and Christians, based on the Quran's statement that "the food of those given the Scripture is lawful for you" (5:5). Many other scholars, and several major US halal certifiers, require a Muslim slaughterer. So kosher meat is a "depends," based on the view you follow.

Frequently asked questions

Which meat brands are halal in the USA?

Crescent Foods, Midamar, Saffron Road, Al Safa, Zabiha Halal and Nema are all sold as halal, and each names a certifying or inspecting body. They differ in how they slaughter, so check whether a brand uses hand or machine slaughter.

Is Crescent chicken hand-slaughtered?

Yes. Crescent Foods says its chickens are slaughtered by hand, one at a time, by Muslims, according to halal guidelines. The Shar'i Zabihah Committee of Islamic Social Services makes random inspection visits.

Is machine-slaughtered chicken halal?

Halal bodies disagree. Some accept machine slaughter when a Muslim starts and supervises the line and recites the blessing. Others hold that a person must say the name of Allah over each animal, which a machine cannot do. Follow the view of your own school or scholar.

Is Saffron Road halal?

Yes. Saffron Road says that all of its products are halal-certified by IFANCA. This includes its frozen meals, which makes it one of the easiest certified halal brands to find in regular US supermarkets.

Where can I buy halal frozen food in the USA?

Saffron Road frozen meals are sold in many regular supermarkets. Al Safa, Midamar and Crescent also sell frozen halal products, which are common in halal grocery stores and some larger chains.