Alia
Tabassum
In a famous
restaurant in England, three Asian men entered for a dinner. The waiter came to
take order, but before those men would order for any meal they inquired about
if the food is Halal.
The waiter
assured them with confidence that it was Halal and they never compromise on
that. The men ordered some food but the thing that made me surprised that they
were also asking for alcoholic drinks for themselves.
It was a double
standard of them as it is not only pork which is forbidden but Muslims aren’t
permitted to have alcohol according to their religion. There are Muslims in UK
drink alcohol but as far Pork or non Halal meat is concerned Muslims have
always been very careful about that.
While the
matter of Horse meat found in Tesco’s burger in UK was under discussion,
another story broke which made Muslims of England worried and upset.
Pork DNA
found when 3663 carried out some tests in order to find out that Halal meat
could contain horse meat. The affected meat didn’t supply anywhere but
distressingly, McColgan’s Quantity Foods Limited supplied that meat in prisons
of England, where almost 10 percent of them are Muslims.
Horse meat
in burgers and Pork DNA in Halal meat raise many questions over the integrity
of consumer service and also the halal meat and other food authorities.
Halal meat authority tried to convince Muslims
that the McColgan’s Quantity Foods Limited withdrew the products as soon as
pork DNA found in them and no pork contaminated food supplied to prisoners.
The
question arises on the credibility of Halal Meat Authority why pork DNA found
in Halal food outlet and in Halal products at first place?
The
upsetting thing reminded me a lady, who was Muslim and used to be my landlord.
She witnessed a Halal meat shopkeeper transferring meat from a non Halal
company’s van into his van.
This made
that Muslim Irish lady so disappointed that she started buying meat from
English meat shop as it was much cheaper than the Halal meat.
About an
year ago, I went to buy some meat, I inquired about if the meat was Halal. The
shopkeeper told me yes it was.
I asked him
how they claim for meat is Halal, I was expecting for he will show me any certificate
but surprisingly he pointed to a photo of a saint.
He said you
should trust, because we can’t lie for having such photos. The proof couldn’t
satisfy me and I came out of the shop as it wasn’t a good deal to buy anything just
relying on photos.
Halal meat
is normally expensive than other meat. Muslims are paying much more just to buy
Halal meat but after these couple of incidents the question still remain, are they
getting what they are paying for?
Horse meat
is eaten in some parts of the world, similarly pork is very popular and liked
by many people around the world.
There could
be a chance for horse meat or pork might not have any unpleasant or major
harmful effects on human, but this is not the question of side effects, this is
the matter of customers’ choice.
If
customers are paying double price for Halal meat they should be provided with Halal.
This is the right of the customer to have beef when they pay for beef and this
is their basic customer right to know the real stuff contained in food.
This is also
the matter of integrity and standard of the big companies.
There
shouldn’t be any easy escape for the law breakers. If they succeed in getting
away with a page full apology statement then there won’t be any difference in
authentic food certificates and photos of shopkeepers’ favourite saints.
These are
the serious issues, need to be addressed in serious way and culprits to justice,
to make sure that no one dare to exploit the consumer rights in future.
