Finding halal food abroad

In the UAE, halal is the default. In many other countries you need to know where to look, what different certifications mean and which questions to ask. This lesson keeps to facts; for religious rulings, speak to your family and a qualified scholar.

How it works at home, so you can compare

• In the UAE, Cabinet Decree No. 10 of 2014 (the UAE System for Control of Halal Products) requires establishments to obtain halal certificates for final products and raw materials (MoIAT).
• Certificates must come from halal certification bodies registered by the ministry; the National Accreditation Department registers them after checking they meet the required standards (MoIAT).
• The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology also awards an optional Halal National Mark to products that meet the approved standards.
• Abroad, there is often no single national system, so you rely on independent certifiers, shop owners and your own checks.

Certifiers abroad are not all the same

• In the UK, The Grocer reports there are no UK laws specific to the halal sector, so meat can be labelled halal on trust, usually backed by voluntary certification.
• Certification bodies set different standards. For example, The Grocer reports that the Halal Food Authority (HFA) permits pre-stunning as long as it does not kill the animal, while the Halal Monitoring Committee (HMC) does not permit pre-slaughter stunning.
• The Grocer also reports that meat slaughtered under halal rules is sometimes sold without a halal label, and there is no law preventing this. A missing label does not tell you the method either way.
• Because standards differ, talk with your family before you leave about which certifications you are comfortable with, then learn their logos. This lesson does not recommend one certifier over another.
• Other countries have their own certifiers and systems; ask your university's Islamic society which ones local students use.

Checking a butcher, shop or restaurant

• Look for a current certificate on display that names the certifier and shows a date.
• If you cannot see one, ask politely: 'Hi, could you tell me which organisation certifies your meat? Could I see the certificate?'
• Certifiers may have their own rules for outlets. The Halal Life reports that HMC counts an outlet as certified only if it buys HMC-vetted products and allows its premises to be monitored. Check the certifier's own website if unsure.
• Ask whether the whole menu is halal or only some items, and whether halal and non-halal food share fryers, grills or utensils.
• Delivery apps can help you find options (the University of Worcester student blog mentions them), but a 'halal' tag in an app is a starting point, not proof. Check with the restaurant.

Reading labels on everyday products

• Gelatine: most gelatine is made from pork skins, pork and cattle bones, or cattle hides, and fish gelatine also exists (Wikipedia). If the source is not stated, you cannot tell, so choose a certified or vegetarian product or ask the manufacturer.
• Check sauces, desserts, sweets and flavourings for wine, rum or other alcohol-based ingredients.
• Check stock cubes, gravies and ready meals for meat stock from an unknown source.
• Vegetarian and fish dishes can be practical while you find trusted shops, but ask how they are prepared and fried.
• Keep a phone note of brands and shops you have checked, and share it with friends.

On campus and in your first week

• In the US, Shorelight's guide reports that several universities suggest halal-observant students contact dining staff; at the University of Utah, students are encouraged to meet the campus executive chef before their first semester to plan meals.
• Muslim Student Associations are a good source of advice on where to find halal food on campus and nearby (Shorelight); Islamic societies elsewhere often play the same role.
• Before you travel, ask your university's Islamic society or international office where students buy halal meat.
• In week one, find one certified butcher and one international or Middle Eastern grocer near you. Buy meat in bulk, split it into portions and freeze it (see the stocking lesson).
• For prayer rooms, Ramadan and keeping your faith while away, see the module on keeping your faith and values away from home.