Are you a Muslim consumer who is concerned about the Halal status of your meat?
Do you find it difficult to verify whether the meat you’re purchasing has been processed under Halal conditions?
If so, you’re not alone.
For years, Muslim consumers have had to rely on unreliable sources such as Google or social media to try and verify the Halal status of their meat.
However, a recently-launched consumer website is changing all that.
This website is designed to verify whether or not a sample of red meat has been processed under Halal conditions, and it’s already generating more than ten thousand hits each week.
In this blog post, we’ll be taking a closer look at one of the major beef suppliers in Western Australia – Harvey Beef – and exploring whether their products are Halal certified.
So, if you’re a Muslim consumer who’s interested in learning more about the Halal status of your meat, keep reading!
Is Harvey Beef Halal?
Harvey Beef is a major beef supplier in Western Australia, and many Muslim consumers are curious about whether their products are Halal certified.
According to statistics, the majority of beef and sheepmeat in Australia is processed under Halal conditions, primarily to provide flexibility in trading options should demand for a certain product arise from a Muslim export country.
In the case of Harvey Beef, their premium beef is exclusively raised in Western Australia and subject to inspection and monitoring of product, processes, plant, and equipment by regulatory bodies such as the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR), AUS-MEAT, and Meat Standards Australia.
While Harvey Beef does not explicitly state that their products are Halal certified on their website, it’s important to note that they work with a specially selected group of local cattle farmers who share their commitment to sustainability from paddock to plate.
Furthermore, it’s worth mentioning that the new consumer website designed to verify whether or not a sample of red meat has been processed under Halal conditions is already attracting traffic from international countries where Australian Halal-processed beef is sold.
Introduction To Halal Meat
Halal meat is a term used to describe meat that is permissible for consumption by Muslims and others who follow a Muslim diet. The term “halal” comes from the Arabic word meaning “permitted” or “lawful”. Halal food adheres to Islamic law, as defined in the Quran. The Islamic form of slaughtering animals or poultry, dhabiha, involves killing through a cut to the jugular vein, carotid artery, and windpipe. Animals must be alive and healthy at the time of slaughter, and all blood is drained from the carcass. During the process, a Muslim will recite a dedication, known as tasmiya or shahada.
Halal meat must come from a supplier that uses halal practices. Dhabīḥah is the prescribed method of slaughter for all meat sources, excluding fish and other sea-life, per Islamic law. This method of slaughtering animals consists of using a sharp knife to make an incision that cuts the front of the throat, oesophagus and jugular veins but not the spinal cord. The head of an animal that is slaughtered using halal methods is aligned with the qiblah. In addition to the direction, permitted animals should be slaughtered upon utterance of the Islamic prayer Bismillah. The slaughter must be performed by a Muslim man.
It’s important to note that halal certification is a must-have requirement to import food products into Muslim countries. Halal foods are generally associated with Muslims and others who follow a Muslim diet. By displaying the logo of Halal on meat or meat products, it refers to meat which has been slaughtered according to the rules of the Quran and Sunnah and is thus permitted for consumption by Muslims and others.
In addition to slaughtering methods, there are other guidelines for halal foods. For example, pork or pork by-products, animals that were dead prior to slaughtering, animals not slaughtered properly or not slaughtered in the name of Allah, blood and blood by-products, alcohol, carnivorous animals, birds of prey, and land animals without external ears are prohibited foods and ingredients called haram.
Halal certification authorities exist in many countries around the world to certify food as meeting halal standards. In Australia, for example, there is the Halal Certification Authority (HCA), established in 1993 to certify food meeting halal standards.
The Importance Of Halal Certification
Halal certification is crucial for any food or product that is targeted towards Muslim consumers. It ensures that the product or food is permissible according to Islamic dietary laws and that no haram product or procedure was used during its manufacturing or processing.
Halal certification provides peace of mind to consumers, assuring them that the product they are purchasing is pure and meets their religious requirements. It also helps businesses expand their reach in primarily Muslim areas and countries, where individuals will only purchase foods and items that are guaranteed to be Halal.
Moreover, achieving Halal certification can be a major drawing factor for many buyers who prioritize purchasing top-tier products. As per Research and Markets, the global halal food market is growing exponentially, and many companies wishing to export their products to a larger consumer base opt to get Halal certification.
In Australia, most beef and sheepmeat is processed under Halal conditions to provide flexibility in trading options should demand for a certain product arise from a Muslim export country. Therefore, it’s important for beef suppliers like Harvey Beef to consider obtaining Halal certification to cater to the growing demand from Muslim consumers.
Halal certification also bridges the gap in the consumer’s knowledge regarding the production process of their food. With a lengthy supply chain and long ingredients list, there are many opportunities for cross-contamination and unacceptable ingredients. Halal certification lets consumers feel confident that foods that seem Halal suitable are truly Halal.
The Rise Of Halal Verification Websites
In recent years, there has been a rise in the number of Halal verification websites. These sites are designed to provide consumers with a reliable and accurate way to verify whether or not a product has been processed under Halal conditions.
Previously, the only channel available for consumers to try to verify Halal sourcing was through Google or social media platforms, which were notoriously unreliable and often inaccurate. However, with the rise of Halal verification websites, consumers can now access a reliable and accurate source of information about the Halal status of products.
One such website is targeted at both domestic Australian Muslim citizens as well as visiting holiday makers from Muslim countries. This new website is removing a lot of uncertainty around meat purchases for people of Islamic faith. It has already generated more than ten thousand hits each week, indicating a strong demand for reliable information about Halal sourcing.
The popularity of these websites is not limited to Australia. In fact, the new website platform was originally designed for use within the Australian market but is already attracting traffic from international countries where Australian Halal-processed beef is sold.
Harvey Beef: A Major Beef Supplier In Western Australia
Harvey Beef is the largest beef processor and exporter in Western Australia, employing about 300 staff and processing approximately 145,000 cattle per year. Founded in 1919 by Ernest Green, it has been supplying Western Australian beef for over a century. Today, the company is proudly owned by a sixth-generation WA farming family, and they work closely with a specially selected group of local cattle farmers who share their commitment to outstanding quality, exceptional taste, and sustainability from paddock to plate.
Harvey Beef is an iconic WA brand and the only one accredited for exports to China. In 2016, mining billionaire Andrew Forrest bought Harvey Beef in a shock deal believed to be worth around $40 million. Mr. Forrest pledged to invest in upgrading the abattoir and is pushing ahead with plans to open up live cattle exports to China. Harvey Beef is also a major supplier to supermarket giant Coles and exports premium WA beef to about 30 countries, including China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, and Taiwan.
Recently, Harvey Beef placed its emphasis on animal welfare for the launch of its new Rangelands brand. The state’s biggest beef processor entered a partnership with the Kimberley and Pilbara Cattlemen’s Association (KPCA) for the line, which uses hormone- and antibiotic-free meat from grass-fed, free-range cattle. The KPCA has developed specific animal-welfare criteria that must be observed by cattle farmers hand-picked to produce beef for the range. Suppliers must also be open to their practices being audited.
Halal Certification At Harvey Beef
Harvey Beef does not currently advertise that their products are Halal certified, but their meat processing facilities are subject to regular inspections and monitoring by regulatory bodies such as DAWR, AUS-MEAT, and Meat Standards Australia.
It’s important to note that Halal certification is not a government-regulated process in Australia, but rather a voluntary certification process conducted by Islamic organizations.
To obtain Halal certification, a company must adhere to specific guidelines and processes, including the use of hand-slaughtered animals and the recitation of prayers during the slaughter process.
While it’s unclear whether Harvey Beef has sought out Halal certification, it’s worth mentioning that their premium beef is exclusively raised in Western Australia and sourced from a specially selected group of local cattle farmers who share their commitment to sustainable farming practices.
Ultimately, it’s up to individual consumers to research and verify whether a product meets their personal dietary requirements. The new consumer website designed to verify whether or not a sample of red meat has been processed under Halal conditions may be a useful tool for Muslim consumers looking to ensure their meat purchases align with their religious beliefs.
Conclusion: Making Informed Choices As A Muslim Consumer
As a Muslim consumer, it’s important to understand what Halal certification means and how it applies to the products you purchase. The means-end chain (MEC) theory can be used to investigate which attributes of fresh meat are important to Muslim consumers, and to assess whether meat consumer trends apply for Muslims in the same sense as for non-Muslims.
Based on a study conducted with first- and second-generation Muslims living in Belgium, it was found that health, faith, respect for animal welfare, enjoying life, and care for family are the main goals Muslim consumers strive for when buying meat. This information can be used to make informed choices when purchasing meat products, including those from Harvey Beef.
While Harvey Beef does not explicitly state that their products are Halal certified, their beef is subject to inspection and monitoring by regulatory bodies such as the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR), AUS-MEAT, and Meat Standards Australia. Additionally, they work with a specially selected group of local cattle farmers who share their commitment to sustainability from paddock to plate.
It’s also worth noting that the new consumer website designed to verify whether or not a sample of red meat has been processed under Halal conditions is already attracting traffic from international countries where Australian Halal-processed beef is sold. This resource can be useful in verifying the Halal status of any beef product you may be interested in purchasing.
