The halal rort on Australians: paying an Islamic religious food tax without knowing

[Gharib]

I wouldn't call it a tax. All they're saying is that (presumably) the halal products have an extra cost factored into the price the consumer has to pay.

That is not true.

Companies go halal in order to attract the Muslim consumers. There is no extra tax. None of you know about it yet speak of it. Fascinating.

 

[apophenia]

That is not true.

Companies go halal in order to attract the Muslim consumers. There is no extra tax. None of you know about it yet speak of it. Fascinating.

Well, not none.

I'm doing my best man. You were right about the alcohol btw. I admit it.Probably because I've had a few drinks.

 

[Treks]

That is not true.

Companies go halal in order to attract the Muslim consumers. There is no extra tax. None of you know about it yet speak of it. Fascinating.

I did not call it a tax. In fact, I argued against calling it a tax.

However, one would think it costs money to become halal certified, and a company is going to pass the cost to the consumer wherever possible.

 

[apophenia]

I did not call it a tax. In fact, I argued against calling it a tax.

However, one would think it costs money to become halal certified, and a company is going to pass the cost to the consumer wherever possible.

Unless the extra sales cover, or more than cover, the cost.

 

[Treks]

Then at any rate, it still wouldn't be a 'tax'.

 

[apophenia]

Agreed.

 

[Gharib]

I did not call it a tax. In fact, I argued against calling it a tax.

However, one would think it costs money to become halal certified, and a company is going to pass the cost to the consumer wherever possible.

Yes it does cost the companies, I have heard differently from different people, some say it is a one time payment for the certification which is i think 50,000. And the second version I have heard is that the certifying body gets a percentage of each product that they certify.

Regardless of that, they in turn are guaranteed that Muslims will recognize their product and are more likely to buy the one with the halal label than the one without. Thus companies make their money in no time. And they do not pass any extra costs to the consumers.

 

[MD]

"meat killed in more barbaric ways than the conventional method"

yoiks !

Like many Australians, I was deeply distressed to see the way our live cattle exports were treated in Indonesia.

On the other hand, I personally knew a fellow who worked in a chicken production company in Tasmania.

Horrible, horrible, horrible. Heartbreakingly horrible. Don't even ask.

And anyone who is familiar with the treatment of chickens involved in egg production here would NEVER buy eggs produced by caged chickens. I won't distress you with the details. Unfortunately it is considered an economic impossibility to supply sufficient eggs for the Australian market without this horror.

And the pigs .... I don't eat pork anymore. The treatment of sows is demonic. Seriously.

People in glass houses ...

I don't eat pigs. I hardly eat beef and when I do it's mostly grass fed free range. Several states in the US and Canada are moving towards banning caged eggs.

 

[MD]

Sure, I'm an Australian. I personally don't really care, it is only a few cents and this is just what it is to live in a multicultural society.

What about paying a few cents to label all food products with beef in them so that Hindus and Buddhists are informed?

Either secular societies accommodate all religions or they accommodate none. Federal taxes shouldn't be going towards halal meat production.

 

[Woodrow LI]

Halal is a bit misunderstood by many non-Muslims. Typically except for meat products all food products are halal, What would make them not halal is if they are processed with alcohol or have insect products added to them, that is nearly always dyes produced from the cochineal beetle

As for meat products it is almost always more expensive to produce halal meats as to be halal the meat must be from a halal animal the animal raised for slaughter must not be fed any animal by-products, it must be raised with extreme kindness and not crowded in small pens, not used as a beast of burden and the slaughter should be individual and out of the view of other animals, the slaughter must be as fast as possible and with minimal stress or pain.

There is no need for "Halal Certifications" there is no centrally recognized halal certification agency anyhow. A nation' s truth in advertizing laws should suffice. If a product is labelled halal the producer should be required upon demand to show proof it is halal. If they can not do so they should face criminal charges for false advertising.

As it is more costly to produce halal,the cost of such should be passed on to the consumer. If a person desires to purchase halal it should be labelled as such to reflect the reason for the higher price.

 

[Treks]

Halal slaughter of chickens (at least) in Australia requires not only one slaughterman, but backup slaughtermen, to ensure the Bismillah is said with the proper intent and to slice the neck of any missed birds.

 

[Bunyip]

What about paying a few cents to label all food products with beef in them so that Hindus and Buddhists are informed?

Sure, I would be very happy to do that. If a few extra cents was all it took, then I would support such action.

Either secular societies accommodate all religions or they accommodate none. Federal taxes shouldn't be going towards halal meat production.

 

[George-ananda]

Isn't this private companies making a business decision? This opens their products to a greater market. The value gained is more than the cost to them I would suppose. I don't hear the government imposing anything if I understand correctly.

 

[Woodrow LI]

Isn't this private companies making a business decision? This opens their products to a greater market. The value gained is more than the cost to them I would suppose. I don't hear the government imposing anything if I understand correctly.

yes

 

[George-ananda]

You are aware that virtually all food you eat is halal by default.

Doesn't the meat have to be slaughtered differently? If not, I don't understand why strict Muslim's won't accept normal commercially sold food.

 

[Treks]

Doesn't the meat have to be slaughtered differently? If not, I don't understand why strict Muslim's won't accept normal commercially sold food.

Yes, meat has to be slaughtered in a certain way. And a lot of this meat is NOT labelled. Next time you're at your local chicken shop, and they're selling Lilydale chickens, I bet you didn't know it's been slaughtered with an halal method with Bismillah said over it. And those Steggles chicken drumsticks you have in your freezer - they're halal, too. Do they have a logo on them? (seriously, I'm curious - I don't eat much meat so I don't know).

Other foods with halal labels, like confectionery, is usually an indication that the product has been made without any pork derivatives. Like gelatin made from pig parts.

 

[Woodrow LI]

Doesn't the meat have to be slaughtered differently? If not, I don't understand why strict Muslim's won't accept normal commercially sold food.

Yes, plus I mentioned above in one of my posts, animals that are to be raised for food also have to be raised differently.

 

[Smart_Guy]

I'm confused... is "Halal" a trade mark that some organization gets paid for for having it stamped on food?

Hey, I'm Muslim, where is my share?

 

[Woodrow LI]

Yes, meat has to be slaughtered in a certain way. And a lot of this meat is NOT labelled. Next time you're at your local chicken shop, and they're selling Lilydale chickens, I bet you didn't know it's been slaughtered with an halal method with Bismillah said over it. And those Steggles chicken drumsticks you have in your freezer - they're halal, too. Do they have a logo on them? (seriously, I'm curious - I don't eat much meat so I don't know).

Other foods with halal labels, like confectionery, is usually an indication that the product has been made without any pork derivatives. Like gelatin made from pig parts.

Often meat is not halal even if it was slaughtered halal, It might be it was not raised properly, or it came in contact with non-halal meat after being slaughtered, etc
There are several factors that could render halal meat haram. quite proabaly meat that is not labelled halal is not halal even if it was slaughtered in the zabiah manner.

 

[Woodrow LI]

I'm confused... is "Halal" a trade mark that some organization gets paid for for having it stamped on food?

Hey, I'm Muslim, where is my share?

It seems some people are doing that as a scam to gain the Muslim market. I'm almost scared to buy food stamped halal as it probably isn't
I do not trust the halal stamp and rely upon the ingredients label and the integrity of the producer.
When you see bottled water with halal certification it makes you wonder.