The terms “halal” and “kosher” refer to foods that are specially processed and prepared according to the customs and beliefs of members of the Muslim and Jewish faiths respectively. Each of the terms is applied to meats, fruits, vegetables and other food items. Kosher (kashur in Hebrew) means “fit or proper for use” according to Jewish law. Halal is a comprehensive Islamic term that means “lawful” regarding matters of food, drink and daily life. For the beef merchandiser, halal and kosher foods may translate into lucrative niche markets.
Before being declared as kosher or halal, foods must pass inspection by an agency or individuals authorized by the hierarchy of the faith related to that label. (Although the label requirements are similar and often confused in the marketplace, discriminating buyers may demand that kosher and halal be treated as separate entities by the processor.) Certification under either of the special food labels typically includes an inspection of the production facility, review of sanitation, ingredients and labels, and training of company personnel in understanding and meeting specific label requirements. Livestock must be inspected and prepared by a qualified specialist to ensure rigorous standards have been met. There are also special processes that must be followed regarding how the animal is slaughtered and processed.
Where in demand, kosher and halal packaged foods tend to carry a 10-25 percent premium over non-certified counterparts. In addition to attracting buyers because of their religious faith, some consumers are drawn to eat halal and kosher foods simply because the label designations carry the connotation of quality and wholesomeness. In the most active markets, kosher and halal meats can be priced even higher, with premiums rising to more than double the cost of other meats.
Although estimates of the total number of Muslims in the world vary greatly, it is generally agreed that the figure is somewhere around 12.3 billion persons, or between 19 and 22 percent of the world’s population. Some estimates peg the Muslim population in the United States as high as 5 million persons.
The states with the 10 largest Muslim communities in the U.S. are, respectively: California, New York, Illinois, New Jersey, Indiana, Michigan, Virginia, Texas, Ohio and Maryland. There are an estimated 3.3 million Muslims in these states.
According to a 1998 survey by the World Jewish Congress, there are 13.5 million Jews throughout the world. As stated by the report from the World Jewish Congress: “Of these, the largest community is 5.6 million Jews living in the United States. The second largest group is 4.9 million Jews living in Israel. The third largest Jewish community is 600,000 Jews living in France.”
The states with the 10 largest Jewish communities in the U.S. are, respectively: New York, California, Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Illinois, Maryland, Ohio and Texas. An estimated 5 million persons of Jewish faith live in these states.
Information regarding kosher and halal products and their markets can be found through the following sources.
Halal
- Islamic Food and Nutrition Council
IFANCA, 5901 N. Cicero, Suite 309, Chicago, IL 60646
Phone: (773) 283-3708
Fax: (773) 283-3973
www.ifanca.org/halal.htm
E-mail: comments@ifanca.org
Kosher
- Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America
OU, 11 Broadway, New York, NY 10004
Kosher hotline: (212) 613-8241
www.ou.org/
E-mail: kosher@ou.org
Resources
USADATA.com, Consultant and Market Research Reports
http://www.usadata.com/market_research/sml_00/sml_771.htm
http://www.ou.org/
http://www.ifanca.org/halal.htm
http://www.islam101.com/history/population2_usa.html
http://www.us-israel.org/jsource/US-Israel/usjewpop.html