Halaal, also often spelled “halal” or “hallal”, is an Arabic term that can identify any product or practice permissible under Islamic law, but is most typically used to describe food prepared in accordance with that law.

Haraam, its opposite, describes anything prohibited by the religion. Certain substances are explicitly haraam, according to the Quran, such as the flesh of carnivores or intoxicants.

In addition, halaal food must include only meat slaughtered in the correct ritual fashion.

The cost of non-compliance

There are about 1.6-billion Muslims in the world and the strict food observances by many have seen a proliferation of infrastructure to support Muslim-friendly products.

This includes everything from special slaughterhouses and segregated warehouses to keeping the specially slaughtered lamb or chicken well clear of pork, which could contaminate and destroy much of the premium that can be commanded by halaal meats.

The costs of that extra infrastructure can be rapidly dwarfed by non-compliance or mistakes. In early June Indonesia banned certain meat imports from New Zealand because it no longer recognised the halaal certification bodies in that country.

That could affect about 70 000 tons of imported beef every year and comes barely a year after a similar ban, this time because of labelling issues. It would be borderline fair to say that Muslims are having the world bend over backwards to serve their needs but that doesn’t mean plain sailing for the faithful in a world of suppliers who want their money but do not share their faith.

In mid-June the British Food Standards Agency published a study showing that some chicken served in fast-food restaurants had been injected with extracts of pig protein as part of so-called bulking agents that increase the weight and succulence of meat.

The inclusion of porcine products had not been disclosed, leaving Muslim consumers wondering if they had consumed meat their faith considers inherently unclean.