Halal and Kosher laws have significant differences between the two, but the similarities are much stronger, says David Safier of BlogforArizona.com, a Howard Dean campaign blog for Arizona in 2003.
After attending a talk by Prof. Joe Regenstein of Cornel University, Safier writes that Halal and Kosher are basically quite similar, with Kosher law being stricter in its rules about meat, for instance (for example, the use of pre-slaughter stunning).
An excellent illustration of Campbell Halal soup by themuslim.ca.
Also, Kosher laws do not allow the mixing of milk and meat, but this is not a problem for Halal. Halal forbids alcohol, a non issue for Kosher. But neither allows its adherents to eat pork.
According to Prof. Joe Regenstein, whose field is food science and heads Cornell University’s Kosher and Halal Food Initiative, about 30-40% of grocery items sold in US supermarkets are Kosher-certified.
“Look for a U with a circle around it or a K with a circle around it, and a few other symbols,” writes Safier. “Everyone buys these items all the time without being aware of it (most cereals, for instance, are labeled kosher).”
Far fewer items however, are labeled as Halal – usually an M with a crescent circle around it – “but given the size of the Muslim population in the US and worldwide, it is a growing market,” he reckons. “Many items are certified both Kosher and Halal since the rules are so similar.”
Safier also laments the “fear-mongers or idiots” as he calls it, amongst the US conservative who somehow perceive the additions of Halal food or allowances for Muslim observance made at colleges and elsewhere in the US, are a first step toward the subconscious imposition of Shariah laws within America.
“All this fear of Shariah law nonsense is just that – nonsense,” he writes. “What smart capitalist wouldn’t try to expand market share by appealing to its potential Muslim consumers? What reasonable college wouldn’t give its Muslim students the same dietary considerations it gives Jewish students, or make allowance for other observant practices?
He went on, “Forms of prejudice and repression against one minority, religious or otherwise, are a threat to all minorities, not to mention a threat to America’s aspirations toward greater tolerance. Intolerance is a problem all of us should be concerned about, not just the affected groups.”
Adapted from Halal isn’t quite Kosher (and Kosher isn’t quite Halal) in BlogforArizona.com.
Photo by TheMuslim.ca
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