Halal meat has been in the media for some time. Being commonly associated with Islam, it seems some Australians have been turned off from the idea. But let us demystify the rumours and find out the truth about how halal meat has affected the Australian food industry.
What is Halal?
For those that might not know what halal is, it is the term used to describe any object or an action which is permissible to use or engage in, according to Islamic law. Mostly, it is used to describe the way certain meats are prepared. The food must come from a supplier that uses halal practices. Specifically, the slaughter must be performed by a Muslim, who must precede the slaughter by performing a religious ritual to Allah. Then, the animal must be slaughtered with a sharp knife by cutting the throat, windpipe and the blood vessels in the neck, causing the animal’s death without cutting the spinal cord. Lastly, the blood from the veins must be drained.
Current Halal Problems
Since the terrorist attacks in the past decade, many people have misunderstood Islam and have moved to change the current halal laws. However, Federal agriculture minister and Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has taken aim at the anti-halal lobby and fellow MPs over one of their central claims – that consumers are paying more for food that is halal certified. He states that Australian livestock industry stongly relies on the Muslim export market and by applying these anti-halal laws will cause beef to possibly triple in price! And it won’t only affect prices but also the economy – it would affect thousands of meatworkers in Australia. People better think carefully before deciding on the anti-halal laws…
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