In UK, some halal shops and butchers including Bangladeshi-owned shops really sell non-halal meat? This question comes again after this week's incident from a Bangladeshi-owned shop in Tower Hamlets.

What is halal meat?

According to Islam's stringent regulations, Muslims are only allowed to consume halal meat. While halal meat is easily accessible in some parts of the United Kingdom, it might be difficult to locate in other parts of the country. This typically leads to so-called "Halal meat suppliers" mislabeling meat in an effort to make money. When purchasing any type of halal meat, including chicken and beef, there are a few crucial things to take into account.

Halal" literally translates as "permissible" in Arabic, and refers to any action or behaviour that is allowed in Islam, including what types of meat and methods of preparation are acceptable. Conversely, "haram" refers to impermissible or unlawful actions.

Checklist when Buying Halal Meat

Check the Color and Texture of The Meat

When you are buying halal meat from a superstore or a local butcher, it is important to make sure you do the necessary checks to ensure you are getting good quality meat. Generally, meat should be a rich, vibrant and uniform colour. If the colour of the meat is dull, or even – It is usually a clear indicator that the meat is probably not fresh, which usually means it may not be good for your health or the safest to consume.

The Smell

A gamey smell usually is an indication of the meat going bad. It is generally best to avoid eating meat which has a gamey smell. As blood is always drained in the process of halal slaughter, a strange smell can only be an indication of the meat going bad, or not being slaughtered in the correct manner.

However sometimes, if meat has been vacuum packed, it can release a strong odour - This is usually not reflective of the quality of the meat. You can find out more about this by clicking [here]

Most Importantly, Check Halal Certification!

It has become quite easy to find halal meat in the UK. In fact, there are also many halal meat suppliers online now. Due to the popularity of halal meat, there are organizations which take lead in determining whether the process of the halal meat is up to standard and adhering to the Islamic guidelines. You can always ask your Halal meat supplier which organization they are approved by and then conduct relevant research on the organization.