Introduction
Chicken is indeed every non-vegetarian’s delight. However, the chicken you eat also contains different techniques and principles of cutting. The most famous one is the ‘Halal’ chicken, followed by the stunning practice and kosher. After reading this, a question must arise- which kind of chicken is worth eating? Let us know Can You Eat Chicken That Is Not Halal?
What is Halal Chicken?
Halal is an ancient Arabic word meaning “acceptable”. It takes varying forms in terms of ‘halal’ habits, rituals, etc. Likewise, halal chicken refers to the chicken cutting defined pure or acceptable by Islam. This means cutting through the windpipe, carotid artery, or jugular vein while reciting a dedication called ‘tasmiya’.
What is Non-halal Chicken?
Non-Halal often referred to as ‘Jhatka’, refers to the instantaneous killing of an animal. While Jhatka is eaten by some Indian communities like Sikhs. On the contrary, Muslims prefer Halal as a mandate of the Islamic faith.
These two schools of thought have been for ages and the proponents and opponents of Halal give a multitude of reasons for eating and not eating it. The prominence of Muslims and Sikhs in some respective areas has made brands like KFC acquire Halal certificates for their customers.
Other non-halal forms of chicken include meat ‘Stunning’, where the animal is made unconscious before killing it. According to the Halal Food Authority (HFA), stunning can be used only if the animal survives after the stunning process.
Another practice of meat slaughter is the kosher or ‘kashrut’ chicken, made under Jewish principles, where, unlike halal, the meat is not blessed, and here stunning is strictly forbidden. Moreover, it prevents eating certain parts of the carcass like the fats.
Pros of eating it
There are many health benefits of keeping a halal diet, according to some health experts, like
• It helps in keeping a person’s cholesterol, alcohol intake, and saturated fat low and keeping him/her healthy. Halal is argued to be a healthy, clean, and acceptable meat diet for a person.
• Halal meat is also debated to be more hygienic. This is because the Muslim law mandates clean conditions for the animals and the butcher follows it religiously. Thus, halal chicken is clean.
• Halal chicken is increasingly ethical in the sense that the law mandates the cutting of healthy animals only. Thus, eating halal ensures an intake of healthy meat and reduces the risk of meat-transferred diseases like avian influenza.
• During the halal process, the meat is made free of the blood before further cutting. This removes all the blood toxins and fear toxins from the meat and results in it being softer. Hence, halal also produces softer meat.
• The lack of blood further prevents bacteria from growing within the meat and also saves it from rotting. Thus, many people argue that halal meat is tastier, richer, and fresher.
• Such a healthy meat intake also improves our metabolism, immune system, and brain functioning.
Cons of eating it
While halal chicken seems the healthiest and cleanse meat, there is a different school of thought with some different views like:
• Some people argue it is more expensive than non-halal chicken.
• Some scientists contradict the proposed health effects of halal meat and propose that non-halal meat has the same benefits
• In some areas like some Muslim Europe areas, halal chicken quality has been discovered to be bad and this has opened widespread resentment against halal meat.
• Animal activists argue that halal chicken causes more pain to the chickens rather than Jhatka or its stunning.
Can You Eat it?
Now, let us come to the question we asked at the start. Which kind of chicken is worth eating? Now, this is a subjective question ad depends on your values and often your religion. For example, most Muslims eat halal meat, on the other hand, Jews follow the kosher practice. The science of hygiene and health lies on both sides, however, the other conditions are different. For example, in your area, if the quality of non-halal butcher chicken is better than the halal one and you want an unbiased choice, you should go for non-halal.
Furthermore, there is no harm in eating halal chicken, as some reports go, it is healthy and clean, so, yes, and you can eat it if its quality is good. Lastly, the quality of chicken should be your priority before deciding on halal or non-halal.
FAQs
Q1. Will halal chicken dominate restaurant chains in the future?
Ans1. Currently, Muslims account for about 40% of the world population, thus, the non-veg chains are less likely to convert to halal food.
Q2. Is halal cruel?
Ans2. Since it involves the slow killing of chicken, yes, it is cruel and painful while religious and pious for some.
Q3. Are chicken eggs halal?
Ans3. Since eggs come under the definition of ‘acceptable meat’ under Halal, they are halal.
Q4. Which meat does halal law forbid?
Ans4. It forbids meat like pork which is considered unhygienic in Islam.
