Before understanding the difference between Halal vs HMC Halal, one must first understand the term HALAL.
The term Halal is an Arabic word that means permissible or lawful in Islam. Any food item that falls under this category is permitted to be consumed by Muslims.
Food groups such as vegetables, spices, and meat that is derived from animals slaughtered per the Islamic Shariah (law).
Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) is reported to have said:
“Halal is clear and the Haram (unlawful) is clear. Between the two there are doubtful matters concerning which people do not know. One who avoids them in order to safeguard his deen (religion) and his honour are safe, while if someone indulges in it, he may be indulging in the unlawful ....” (Bukhari)
Now this saying is clear enough to realise the grave importance of being considerate of what you eat.
‘Halal’ Certified Food
Muslims living in non-Islamic countries like the UK, US, and Canada where the usual slaughter of animals is not carried out according to the Islamic Shariah have to be very vigilant.
The governments in such countries label the meat or food halal according to Islamic laws.
However, there is no check and balance, and often the meat’s halal label can not be verified.
Therefore, for many years Muslims in the UK have been expressing deep concerns about the authenticity of halal meat and food provided to them under the halal certification.
There have been many incidents over the past where halal meat and poultry have been falsely labelled as the sign ‘Halal’ is not protected by UK Law.
Therefore there was an urgent need for an organisation to look into this matter and provide authentic halal meat to the muslims of the UK.
Issues Faced By The Halal Industry
There are many reasons for Muslims to have doubts over halal products being falsely labelled like
- Slaughtermen at abattoirs not reciting the Tasmiyah (a mandatory for the meat being rendered halal)
- Usually, the Tasmiyah was played in the background.
- Mechanical slaughter machines and rotating blades are used resulting in the severing of necks, which is against Islamic Law.
- Animals being stunned raises doubts as to whether the animal was alive or not at the time of slaughter.
- Cross-contamination with non-Halal meat was taking place, and even the mixing of pork in Halal products was reported.
- Wrong slaughter due to incorrect incisions that do not meet the Halal criteria.
The cut has grave importance in Islamic ruling. If the butcher cuts the juggler in swift and clean motion, life leaves the body instantly hence less to no pain.
Many restaurants and groceries that receive deliveries of Halal food are unaware of the full supply chain of where the meat is procured from.
Just relying on the label ‘Halal’ was insufficient when there was no protection in UK law and problems were numerous.
With these problems the growing need for an authentic organisation that not only monitors the halal process but also verifies the supply chain of the halal food arose. Thus came HMC Halal regulating authorities.
HMC Halal Vs Halal
The basic difference between a regular Halal vs. HMC Halal label is that HMC adheres to stringent guidelines and comprehensive monitoring.
The HMC ensures that the complete supply chain from farm to table is compliant with halal standards.
The HMC monitoring team conducts regular inspections, audits, and traceability checks on unique serialised labels to maintain the integrity of the HMC label.
With HMC Halal the Muslims of the UK, can be confident that the meat and associated products they are consuming are ‘genuinely Halal.’
The HMC is an independent, registered charity organisation, created not for monetary benefits, but to monitor, inspect and certify Halal products under its banner.
Nadeem Adam of HMC says, “HMC has one main aim, we want all Muslims to be confident and be assured that the meat they are eating is genuinely Halal.”
Therefore, unlike the ‘Halal’ label on food items, the HMC Halal label gives the Muslims the assurance that the food they are consuming is 100% authentic.
HMC’s Strength
HMC Halal Meat gains its strength from the fact that it complies with the UK Laws and Islamic Shari’ah (laws) as well for its food production. The key factors that empower HMC are:
- Muslim scholars support from around the UK
- Support from over 600 mosques
- The universally acceptable Halal criteria adopted by HMC
- Continuously maintained and updated website
- Grassroots level marketing
- Continuous monitoring and inspection system
- Varied membership including people from different Muslim denominations
HMC Halal Meat Near Me
With the growing popularity of the HMC label, numerous shops, restaurants, and even schools are opting for the HMC halal label.
To date, 485 restaurants and takeaways are registered under HMC along with 115 meat suppliers, 68 schools, 294 butchers, and 12 caterers.
And if you are looking for HMC Halal meat options, look no further than SaveCo, where you will be able to find a wide variety of HMC Halal meat products under one roof.
Wrap Up
Understanding the difference between Halal and HMC Halal Meat is paramount. Especially for those seeking to consume Shariah-compliant products.
The HMC Halal Meat certificate guarantees that the meat has been sourced, slaughtered, and packaged per the Islamic laws.
By choosing HMC Halal Meat, consumers can have confidence in the authenticity of the product. Moreover, they can show support to organisations tirelessly working towards upholding halal integrity.
As mentioned in the Holy Quran, “O ye who believes! Eat of the good things wherewith we have provided you, and render thanks to Allah, if it is He whom ye worship.” (chapter 2, verse 172)
