QUALITY OF HALAL MEAT

Dr. Javaid Aziz Awan Country Director, Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America, Faisalabad Presented at Halal Research Council Conference www.halalrc.org Held at Expo Centre, Lahore - Pakistan

1/6/2012

About IFANCA?
Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America

Not for Profit Technical Islamic Organization Supervising production of Halal foods Certifying halal products Finding solutions for new challenges Publishing relevant information Consulting Islamic scholars on issues facing Muslims in selecting food products.
1/6/2012 2

IFANCA Strategy
IFANCA strives to satisfy: Client Companies Halal Recognition Authorities Halal Consumers IFANCA - most knowledgeable organization in the field IFANCA - provides services second to none IFANCA - builds relationships with the client companies, halal recognition authorities and halal consumers.
1/6/2012 3

IFANCA Crescent M Certification

IFANCA certificates and certified products accepted world over IFANCA - recognized by organizations like: MUIS Singapore JAKIM Malaysia MWL Saudi Arabia MUI Indonesia United Arab Emirates
1/6/2012

IFANCA Crescent M Certification

Global Affiliations: IFANCA provides Halal certification in over 55 countries directly or through affiliates like: IFCE, Europe AFIC, Australia NZIMM, New Zealand
1/6/2012 5

Some Ifanca Certified Companies in Pakistan

AB Mauri Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd., Lahore English Biscuit Manufacturers (Pvt.) Ltd. Karachi Coronet Foods, Hattar Capital Food Industries, Hattar
1/6/2012 6

Some Ifanca Certified Companies in Pakistan

Gaziani Industries (Pvt) Ltd. Karachi  Nabeel Industries (Pvt) Ltd., Lahore Pakistan Gum Industries (Pvt)., Ltd. Karachi Pepsi-Cola International (Private) Ltd., Hattar Super Gum Industries Ltd. Karachi
1/6/2012 7

Some Ifanca Certified Companies in Pakistan National Foods, Karachi

Nestle Pakistan, Lahore

1/6/2012

IFANCA Halal Certification Logos

1/6/2012

GUIDANCE FOR MUSLIMS Holy Quran and the Sunnah provide guidance and inspirations for life on Earth Food laws among guidelines Ensure foods Muslims eat have positive bearing on their health In fact the very first law to be passed on to Mankind was a food law:
1/6/2012 10

VII:19 Al-Araf

1/6/2012

11

THE FIRST DIVINE LAW

The Holy Quran And unto man: O Adam! Dwell thou and thy wife in the Garden and eat from whence ye will, but come not nigh this tree lest ye become wrong-doers VII-19 - Al-Araf

1/6/2012

12

THE LAST DIVINE LAW The last Divine law incidentally a food law Revealed during last pilgrimage of the Holy Prophet Muhammed (pbuh): They ask thee O Muhammed what is made lawful for them. Say: all good things are made lawful for you V:4 Al-Maidah Aim of Divine revelations: Ensure man eats right type of food for his nourishment
1/6/2012 13

MEAT Meat indispensable for sound human health Provides several essential nutrients: Proteins Amino acids Mineral elements Vitamins

1/6/2012

14

MEAT
Meat subject to spoilage by: Chemical reactions Biochemical reactions Biological agents, including bacteria Meat responsible for food-borne diseases Hence must be produced to: Minimize chemical and biochemical changes Prevent chances of bacterial contamination and growth to preserve quality
1/6/2012 15

HALAL MEAT
Slaughtering of animals and birds:  essential to prepare for food purposes Pre-slaughter management and bleeding methods:  regulated by legislations and religious practices Earliest recorded laws on handling, care and slaughter of animals: Revelations in the Holy Quran and Ahadith by the Holy Prophet (pbuh)
1/6/2012

16

ESSENTIALS OF ISLAMIC METHOD OF SLAUGHTERING

Islamic method of slaughtering - based on two important principles: Tasmiya Tazkiyah Tasmiya - invoking name of Allah means slaughter being done with His permission This in accordance with several commands given in the Holy Quran
1/6/2012 17

V:4 Al-Maidah

1/6/2012

18

ESSENTIALS OF ISLAMIC METHOD OF SLAUGHTERING

Forbidden to you (for food,) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than God; that which hath been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow, or by a head long fall, or by being gored to death; that which hath been partly eaten by a wild animal, unless ye are able to slaughter it (in due form) .. (V:4) Al-Maidah
1/6/2012 19

ESSENTIALS OF ISLAMIC METHOD OF SLAUGHTERING

Tazkiyah means purification - cleaning meat of blood by slaughter Consumption of blood prohibited in Holy

Quran - VI:146

All lawful animals and birds contain blood Blood must be drained as per these commands
1/6/2012 20

ESSENTIALS OF ISLAMIC METHOD OF SLAUGHTERING

The Holy Prophet (pbuh) gave comprehensive guidelines on slaughtering of animals in following Hadith: Verily Allah, has prescribed proficiency in all things. Thus, if you kill, kill well; and if you slaughter, slaughter well. Let each one of you sharpen his blade and let him spare suffering to the animal he slaughters.
1/6/2012 21

ESSENTIALS OF ISLAMIC METHOD OF SLAUGHTERING - Slaughterer

Must be adult Muslim or Must believe in Holy Scriptures Must be in possession of his mental faculties

1/6/2012

22

PRE-SLAUGHTER HANDLING OF ANIMALS - 1. Selection of animals

Islam strictly prohibits: Pork Carrion Dead animals

Carnivorous animals Birds of prey Amphibians Reptiles
1/6/2012 23

1. Selection of animals
Islam permits: All herbivorous, even-toed ruminants Animal meant for slaughtering be: Healthy Free from any apparent or hidden impurities/diseases Must be legally owned.

1/6/2012

24

2. Pre-slaughter handling of animals

 Modern methods require animal prior to slaughtering not be subjected to Stress Fatigue Neurotic Excitement  Rough handling of animals in pre-slaughter period: Adversely affects meat quality Results in dark, firm and dry meat  Fatigued or starved animals Organisms from gut may invade blood stream
1/6/2012 25

2. Pre-slaughter handling of animals

Proper relaxation before slaughtering: Helps animal to bleed well Builds up muscle glycogen to lower meat pH Increases storage life of meat by reducing chances of microbial growth Improves taste due to conditioning/ tenderness Helps delay or reduce fermentation in stomach - may otherwise give meat characteristic smell known as bone taint.
1/6/2012 26

2. Pre-slaughter handling of animals

 Undesirable - animal awaiting slaughter view slaughtering process cause stress  Animals under stress - lead to undue emotional instability, fatigue, anorexia, etc.  Discharge hormones from adrenal glands: adrenaline from adrenal medulla 17 hydroxy- and 11-deoxycorticosterones from adrenal cortex  Hormones deplete muscle glycogen and potassium  Deleterious effects on meat quality  Prevention - tranquilizers recommended to calm stocks in transit.
1/6/2012

27

2. Pre-slaughter handling of animals

in Islam

Islam promotes calm and rested animals prior to slaughtering:  Not fatigued  Not excited  Not nervous

1/6/2012

28

2. Pre-slaughter handling of animals

Islam prohibits Any act that causes neurosis or excitement or other abnormal behavioural changes in animal Sharpening knife in front of slaying animals Practice of collective slaughtering - other animals viewing their companion being killed Research reveals Practices inhumane Cause stress
1/6/2012 29

3. Feeding the animals Two schools of thoughts: Animal to remain hungry - Fasting Animal be well fed Advantages of fasted animals claimed:  Bleed better  Carcass has brighter appearance  Carcass easier to dress  Reduced bulk of animals stomach  Reduced chances of bacterial contamination from gut
1/6/2012

30

3. Feeding the animals Disadvantages of fasted animals: Loss in weight of carcass Loss in weight of liver Lower glycogen reserves in muscles Reduced gustative quality of meat

1/6/2012

31

3. Feeding the animals Well-fed animals: Glycogen level in muscle reaches higher level Ensures production of adequate lactic acid Lowers pH of meat Meat has good: Appearance Taste Tenderness Longer shelf-life
1/6/2012 32

3. Feeding the animals Meat of soothed and well-fed animals: pH attains 5.5 or even lower level Meat of fatigued or neurotic animals: pH varies from 6.5 to 7.0 Often recommended to feed animals prior to slaughtering - meat of good keeping and eating quality In some cases sugar solution fed to quickly restore glycogen level in tissues
1/6/2012 33

3. Feeding the animals in Islam Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) advised that animals destined for slaughtering be: well fed provided with drinking water  Preferable - animals have free access to feed and water prior to slaughtering Result - good quality meat.

1/6/2012

34

SLAUGHTERING PROCEDURE Conventionally, slaughtering process consists of two to three different stages Depends on religious practices and legislations

Stunning
Jews not in favour of stunning Muslims divided on the issue Western countries require stunned Bleeding method governed by religious and national legislations
1/6/2012

35

SLAUGHTERING PROCEDURE 1. Stunning

Stunning widely practiced in Western abattoirs Main objective  Make animal unconscious  Make death gentle and painless No standard method for all animals under all conditions Stunning effective in having calm animal

1/6/2012

36

SLAUGHTERING PROCEDURE 1. Stunning

Stunning - outcome of industrial revolution Maximum animals be slaughtered in least time Probably no relation with mercy on animals Industrial revolution: Provided mankind with innumerable benefits Inflicted damaging blows on some aspects of human nutrition Example - refinement of wheat flour Stunning might turn out harmful
1/6/2012 37

SLAUGHTERING PROCEDURE Bleeding Quick incision recommended using very sharp knife on front of the neck to severe: Wind pipe Oesophagus Carotid arteries Jugular veins Positions for incision: Hanging animal on its hind legs Laying on the ground
1/6/2012 38

SLAUGHTERING PROCEDURE Bleeding

To produce good carcass bleed animal effectively Heart and respiratory system must function continuously as long as possible after severance This attained when heart and respiratory functions retained by maintaining medulla oblongata/spinal cord Animals convulse
1/6/2012 39

SLAUGHTERING PROCEDURE Bleeding

During convulsions blood squeezed out of vessels Hence more blood drains out - a pre-requisite for meat of superior quality Evidence suggests more blood lost from sheep in horizontal position than those hung vertically

1/6/2012

40

SLAUGHTERING PROCEDURE Bleeding

Blood excellent medium for growth of microorganisms Meat retaining more blood than critical level liable to bacterial spoilage Blood retention in tissues can cause unpleasant appearance and discolouration in meat Keeping and eating qualities of meat depends, in part, on removal of maximum blood from carcass
1/6/2012 41

SLAUGHTERING PROCEDURE Laying Animal for Bleeding

Lay animal (except camel) on its left flank, preferably facing Kibla Laying enables animal to convulse - results from contraction of muscles due to lack of oxygen in brain cells when incision made Ensures maximum blood drainage owing to body pressure on heart - outranks other slaughtering techniques Ensures rapid onset of unconsciousness and painless death  Prevents retraction of carotids
1/6/2012 42

SLAUGHTERING PROCEDURE

Bleeding While giving incisions with sharp knife: Recite name of Allah: Bismillah Allah-o-Akbar Allah-o-Akbar Subhan Allah La illaha illila Takbir - religious significance to believer  makes submission to Allah, that life taken out of animal with His permission
1/6/2012 43

SLAUGHTERING PROCEDURE 3. Bleeding techniques

Slaughtering actually done in the name of Allah and not in name of any person or deity in accordance with following commands: So eat of (meats) on which Gods name has been pronounced if ye have faith in His Signs Vl:118, Vl:121 Al Anam 

1/6/2012

44

SLAUGHTERING PROCEDURE Bleeding techniques

 Islamic method:  Use sharp knife or any sharp object for bleeding except finger nail and bone  Incision made in neck  Throat cut transversely to severe carotid arteries, jugular veins, oesophagus and trachea without injuring spinal cord  Two essentials in slaughter of animals for meat: animals be dispatched without unnecessary suffering bleeding be as complete as possible  Both met in Islamic method of bleeding
1/6/2012 45

SLAUGHTERING PROCEDURE Bleeding techniques

When both carotid arteries severed unconsciousness in sheep induced between 3 to 6 seconds Islamic method ensures maximum blood drainage from body before completion of death process Connection between brain and body retained via spinal cord Brain sends messages to heart and lungs Heart pumps blood to parts of body - drained out from severed blood vessels in neck
1/6/2012 46

SLAUGHTERING PROCEDURE 3. Bleeding techniques

Results of a comparative study Maximum blood lost in Kosher method Jewish method similar to Islamic as regards physical details Minimum when chicken simply beheaded

1/6/2012

47

Conclusion
Islamic method ensures: Minimum suffering to animal Maximum bleeding Lower pH of meat Better meat quality

1/6/2012

48

ANIMAL RIGHTS
 Islam recognized animal rights long before recognition of human rights in Western World  Numerous Ahadith reflect Islam advocates kindness and mercy towards animals:  Nourish animals well  Save animals from hunger and thirst  Show kindness to animals  Do not hit or mark animal on its face  Do not shoot arrows at cattle or bird tied or held up  Do not fight animals for sports or recreation  Do not unjustly kill even a sparrow or smaller bird (other than for food)
1/6/2012 49

Thank You
Halal Research Council www.halalrc.org
1/6/2012 50