Should the words "halal food" that ...

Egypt's Dar Al-Ifta

Should the words "halal food" that appear on cans be taken for granted?

Question

Should the words "halal food" that appear on cans be taken for granted?

Answer

This statement in Arabic is made to comply with Muslim governments’ food labeling requirements to insure that imported canned food is lawful to eat. These governments appoint agents to supervise the slaughter of animals whose meat will be canned.
Even if the exporter labels the food as ‘halal’ at his own behest, we should follow the rule that requires us not to ask about details. If we have no reason to doubt the accuracy of something, we should accept it at its face value. Therefore, when we read the word ‘halal’ on a can, indicating that the food is permissible to eat, we take it as accurate.
If we have a good reason to doubt that that the food is lawful to eat, then we should take the necessary action. For example, if certain cans have been imported from a country where atheism was the norm for a considerable length of time and the food labels on meat packaging indicate that it has been slaughtered in the Islamic manner, we have a very good reason to doubt this. In such a case, we need to be extra-careful.
And God the Almighty knows best.
 

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