Lucknow, The Uttar Pradesh government imposed a state-wide ban on the “production, storing, distribution and sale of halal certified edible items”.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Food Commissioner’s Office issued an order, imposing the ban in Uttar Pradesh “with immediate effect”.
Halal is an Arabic word that loosely translates to “permissible” in English.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations defines Halal Food as that which is permitted under the Islamic Law. “All lawful land animals should be slaughtered in compliance with the rules laid down in the Codex Recommended Code of Hygienic Practice for Fresh Meat,” the FAO guidelines say.
One of the many requirement is that the slaughter act should sever the trachea, oesophagus and main arteries and veins of the neck region” of the animal.
Vegetarian food would be generally considered permissible or ‘halal’ unless it contains alcohol. Any consumable item can be deemed ‘halal’ or ‘haram’ as per the Islamic law.
The FAO guidelines also specify that “when a claim is made that a food is halal, the word halal or equivalent terms should appear on the label”.
A Halal certification is a guarantee that the food is prepared adhering to the Islamic law and is unadulterated.