Feb. 04 2020
Machine Halal Slaughtering Explained.

The Auditor for Canadian Halal Food Certifying Agency (CHFCA) talked to a group of Islamic Scholars from GTA about the validation of automation in Halal Slaughtering.

The Machine Halal Slaughtering meets 100% requirements of all aspects of Halal food and invited the scholars to throw any question to which they seek clarification.

Auditors categorically rejected the CFIA recommendation of 'Decapitation' as Corrective Action Required (CAR) in case of noted sensitivity in the bird missing the rotary blade Halal slaughtering.

Decapitation of the bird is rejected and declared Haram for the Halal Food Chain.

Auditors elaborated that there is absolutely no chance of decapitation during the Machine Halal Slaughtering as slaughtering is consistently gauged with minor or no variation in the slaughtering process.

The Auditors also mentioned that their is a significant possibility of decapitation in Hand Slaughtering in a continual online processing as manual calibration is never a gauged cut but varies significantly and it does result in the decapitation due to individual human error which any processor must find solution to eliminate such birds from the Halal Food Chain.

CHFCA rejects decapitated birds as Haram and considers such birds as waste and non-edible to Halal consumers.✔

Introduction:

By the passage of time, the human population from Adam and Eve (PBUT) evolved into 7.7 billion people today out of which 25.10 % are Muslims as per the Pew Research Center in 2015. By the increase of Muslim population, the need of Muslims food requirements also multiplied manifold and so the modalities of processing and production with strict Halal credentials. Government of Canada in 2014, passed a bill by which labelling of Halal was made legal only through a Halal certifier. I am Food Specialist by profession and by being a vigilant Muslim, it was a good opportunity to work for audit and authentication of Halal Food Production chain in Canada. Some of us often ask question with reference to the Machine Halal Slaughtering (Automated Halal Slaughtering) with specifics to the chickens in Canada. It is important to know and learn that a person like me and many others who are responsible for the Halal Certification do it only by remaining within the Islamic Jurisprudence. That is within The-Quran and Ahadith Sahih. So none of us should listen to the rumors and it is the duty of Muslims like me and you to ascertain the truth. With all seven principles of Halal implemented by us according to The-Qur’an and Ahadith Mohammad (PBUH), there is no difference between Muslim-person operated Machine Halal Slaughtering and Hand-held knife slaughtering with Tasmiah Takbeer by live Muslims reciting in continuation without fail.

The – Qur'an:

"Therefore eat of that on which (Almighty) Alloh's name has been pronounced if you are believers in His communications. And what reason have you that you should not eat of that on which (Almighty) Alloh's name has been mentioned, and He has already made plain to you what He has forbidden to you excepting what you are compelled to; and most surely many would lead (people) astray by their low desires out of ignorance; surely your Lord (Almighty Alloh) best knows those who exceed the limits.'

'And do not eat of that on which (Almighty) Alloh's name has not been mentioned, and that is most surely a transgression; and most surely the Shayateen (Satan (s)) suggest to their friends that they should contend with you; and if you obey them, you shall most surely be polytheists" {The Qur'an – Surah Al An'aam (Chapter: The Cattle) 06: 118 119, 121}.

Points to be noted in Halal Machine Slaughtering: The seven steps and principles would not allow any Haram in the slaughtering process of Maple Lodge Zabiha Halal brand. The steps we follow in Zabiha Halal Production are as follows:

Step: 01 - The poultry must be alive at the time of slaughter and for the purpose a special arrangement / process must be in application to cull the birds which are Dead on Arrival (DOA). The very first important aspect of Haram Hazard Critical Control Point (HHCCP) is to absolutely assure that all the chickens received in the receiving dock for the purpose of Halal Slaughtering shall be alive, healthy, and free from diseases and without injuries of any kind in order to make it eligible for the Halal food.

Step: 02 - The stunning of the poultry after the DOA cull-out is needed as per the recommendation of Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). CFIA has a special program for us Canadians Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) which came into force on January 15, 2019.  The CHFCA protocol requires that the Zabeeha birds could be stunned with minimum acceptable range permitted by CFIA to remove sensitivity so that the live birds are slaughtered without pain. In the automation, a rotary blade Halal Slaughtering with eligible Muslims standing to recite Tasmiah Takbeer so that the birds are slaughtered while clinically alive with heart beats still pumping the blood.

Step: 03 – Observing chickens for the heartbeat is the 2nd most important aspects of Haram Hazard Critical Control Point (HHCCP) by which personnel trained and appointed to check the viable heartbeat through the beat/stiffness/temperature, are attentive and shall be quick to cull out the chickens without any sign of life as non-edible for the human food and non-acceptable for further processing as Halal.

Step: 04 - The Zabeeha birds before and during the Halal Slaughtering, shall be recited upon with the Islamic phrase of Bismillahi Allohu Akbar. For the purpose, Muslim persons are physically present continually as Muslim Blessers and Slaughterers stationed to slaughter the birds on each line of the slaughtering process. The birds shall be slaughtered by the use of a sharp rotary knife automated in the conveying line followed by the hand held sharp knife for the emergency cut where the automated knife fails to do the job. Offering blessings before and during the Halal-slaughtering of Zabeeha Chickens is the 3rd most important aspect of Haram Hazard Critical Control Point (HHCCP) after making the assurance that the chicken is alive after stunning. The recitation of Tasmiah (Islamic Phrase – In the name of God – God is The-Greatest) signifies the basic Halal process meeting the essential component of Islamic Jurisprudence in the Machine Halal Slaughtering Process.

It is continually supervised so that the incision of neck is from the front side where oesophageal, carotid, pulmonary and jugular channels are severed at once properly meeting the Halal conditions and absolutely compatible with the Islamic jurisprudence.

Step: 05 – The essential part of the process is to incise manually where needed, exactly on the same spot and observe for the profuse bleeding from the bird. The head of the animal must not be cut off during slaughtering but later after the animal is completely dead, even the knife should not go deep into the spinal cord. This is an important Humane as well as Halal authentication directive in the process of Halal slaughtering which is the 4th important Haram Hazard Critical Control Point (HHCCP). If the slaughtered bird does not show bleeding except few drops, it shall be culled as Non-Halal. A strict monitoring and supervision on the ground is absolutely there to meet the Halal validity.  No live bird shall be allowed to the scalding water chamber where the removal of feather commences. The first four HHCCP would assure that such a fault never happens and this shall be the 5th important Haram Hazard Critical Control Point (HHCCP).

Step: 06 – During the process of evisceration, none of the diseased Caracas shall ever be allowed to the food chain of the consumers.  The Audit and Inspection under the supervision of CFIA which CHFCA supports wholeheartedly would keep this stage as a 6th important Haram Hazard Critical Control Point (HHCCP).

Step: 07 - The final product destined to the clients and consumers shall be critically labelled that no raw chicken or portions of it are safe to consume unless processed through the application of heat or an alternative process recognized as safe for the human consumption.

The final products shall be monitored for meeting the Physical, Chemical and Microbiological limits as documented by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). This would meet CHFCA requirements of Halal and Tayyib (granted in Islamic Jurisprudence as fit for human consumption).  Any Automated Halal Slaughtering Plant shall meet all these seven steps and the seven HHCCP’s in meeting the Halal requirements. This shall be the 7th important Haram Hazard Critical Control Point (HHCCP).

Introduction:

Today, there are 7.7 billion people and if it was not the innovative mass production technologies, feeding the population across the globe would have been an immense task resulting in failures in most places. The same situation would apply to the Muslim populations where larger quantities of food are required for the mass supplies and feeding. A situation like of Hajj congregation, Muslim populations in in Non-Muslim regions and Muslims in remote areas of the world would not only seek longer shelf life in the product but mass produced for them by meeting all the credentials Islamic requirements as per The-Qur'an and Ahadith Mohammad (PBUH). Today, we shall talk some of such facilitations to understand how the Halal Food Specialists meet the physical and theological requirements in meeting the Halal Food Production. 

It is important to know and learn that a person like me and many others who are responsible for the Halal Certification do it only by remaining within the periphery of Islamic law. That is within The-Qur'an and Ahadith Sahih. So none of us should listen to the rumors and it is the duty of Muslims like me and you to ascertain the truth. With all seven principles of Halal implemented by us according to The-Qur'an and Ahadith Mohammad (PBUH), there is no difference between Muslim-person operated Machine Halal Slaughtering and Hand-held knife slaughtering with Tasmiah Takbeer by live Muslims reciting in continuation without fail.  

The – Qur'an:

"He has only forbidden you what dies of itself and blood and flesh of swine and that over which any other name than that of (Almighty) Alloh has been invoked, but whoever is driven to necessity, not desiring nor exceeding the limit, then surely (Almighty) Alloh is Forgiving, Merciful. And for what your tongues describe, do not utter the lie, (saying) this is lawful and this unlawful, in order to forge a lie against (Almighty) Alloh; surely those who forge the lie against (Almighty) Alloh shall not prosper" {The Qur'an – Surah Al Nahl (Chapter: The Honeybee) 16: 115 - 116}.

"Therefore eat of that on which (Almighty) Alloh's name has been pronounced if you are believers in His communications. And what reason have you that you should not eat of that on which (Almighty) Alloh's name has been mentioned, and He has already made plain to you what He has forbidden to you excepting what you are compelled to; and most surely many would lead (people) astray by their low desires out of ignorance; surely your Lord (Almighty Alloh) best knows those who exceed the limits.' 'And do not eat of that on which (Almighty) Alloh's name has not been mentioned, and that is most surely a transgression; and most surely the Shayateen (Satan (s)) suggest to their friends that they should contend with you; and if you obey them, you shall most surely be polytheists" {The Qur'an – Surah Al An'aam (Chapter: The Cattle) 06: 118 119, 121}.

Points to be noted in Halal Machine Slaughtering: The seven steps and principles would not allow any Haram in the Halal food chain. The steps are as follows:

Step: 01 – No dead Zabeeha birds or animals are ever allowed and thrown away as waste by tagging as Dead on Arrival (DOA). This is very first important principle in Haram Hazard Critical Control Point (HHCCP).

Step: 02 - The stunning of the poultry after the DOA cull-out is needed as per the recommendation of Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). CFIA has a special program for us Canadians Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) which came into force on January 15, 2019. The CHFCA protocol requires that the Zabeeha birds could be stunned with minimum acceptable range permitted by CFIA to remove sensitivity so that the live birds are slaughtered without pain. In the automation, a rotary blade Halal Slaughtering with eligible Muslims standing to recite Tasmiah Takbeer so that the birds are slaughtered while physically and clinically alive with heart beats still pumping the blood.

Stunning of the Zabeeha birds:

Stunning of poultry before the slaughter is the most sought humane treatment of Zabeeha bird or animal in the North American society.  The standard in modern poultry processing plants in the North America is to render birds insensible—that is, unconscious and incapable of feeling pain—prior to slaughter. Before committing to the process of Halal, there are two processes which cover the modern requirement of mass production as well as what had been permitted in the past Islamic traditions. Invoking the name of God at the moment of shooting a bird in a game / hunting process or invoking the name of God while putting Zabeeha birds/animals into the tray/container even before stunning and Halal process can be interpreted as acknowledgment of God's right over all things and thanking God for the sustenance Almighty provides: it is a sign that the food is taken to fetch the food for the sustainability of life with a praise Alloh. 

Very little is known to the public especially we Muslims when it comes to the stunning of the Zabeeha birds/animals to remove sensitivity in order to make them feel lesser pain or no pain at all. Like in hunting games, we use a weapon to subdue Zabeeha bird/animal and similarly we use stunning to subdue Zabeeha bird/animal though Islamic requirements differ in making a Halal output from it. In hunting, before shooting a Zabeeha target, reciting Bismillahi Allohu Akbar upon the arrow or a hunting bullet, as long as it pierces to ooze out blood makes the Zabeeha target Halal as food.

The case of stunning to subdue Zabeeha bird/animal is totally different as no skin piercing is targeted rather a process is applied by which minimum possible pain or no pain at all is the purpose of stunning and during the time of Halal processing. Meaning, during the slaughtering process, the Zabeeha target does not feel sensitivity to the process of Halal where fluid is shed from the body of the bird. The permitted mode of stunning from the government of Canada is of two types: 1) Electrical dip-n-water stunning 2) Controlled Atmospheric Stunning. 1) In electrical dip-n-water stunning 12 DC + 60 AC waves are merged in the water which makes the bird insensitive. This is the process most Halal Chicken producers use it.

2) CAS is a name for the use of carbon dioxide or argon gas as part of the Halal slaughtering process of chickens or other poultry for the production of human food. Providing a poultry meat without fractured bones, without red spots and better tenderness is most sought in the industry.

Conclusion:

The process of stunning before the slaughtering of Zabeeha bird or animal is the part of humane process by which a processor meets the requirements of Inspection agencies in the North American food processing industry. The Controlled Atmosphere Stunning (CAS) is a prospective process for the Halal Slaughtering of Zabeeha bird but requires a lot better controlled process by which birds are subjected to the instant insensitiveness without any chances of death or strangulation prior to the slaughtering.

For the purpose, a low pressure use of one or more of mixed stunning legal gasses could be formulated in such a way that it renders the birds stunned with immediate Halal Slaughtering to ooze/drain the blood fluid out in completion. When such a protocol is formulated and proven to be consistently maintained, it would still be a process of Halal slaughtering of the poultry without any counter claims of unethical practice from the Islamic point of view.

However, CAS is categorically acceptable with a condition that the birds do not die and the birds do not die and the birds should be slaughtered within a minute or so as bird under CAS live up for the next four minutes and may or may not rejuvenate to life later.

Halal Derivatives:

Any ingredient derived from a product whose source is originally Halal (permitted) in Islam but a by-product is derived from it by the usage of materials like alcohol or any other Haram or intoxicant materials to purify it in to a purer Halal (permitted) final product where no significant residues are detectable, could be considered as Halal. 

E.g.: Pure vinegar derived from grapes or any edible fruits or vegetables passing through a stage of alcohol but turning from it to vinegar is Halal with no significant presence of traces of alcohol in it.

Bone from the permitted Zabeeha cattle which has been slaughtered through the Halal process could be used as a source of Gelatin, Phosphorus or other by-products for the usage as an additive, ingredient or constituent, where the limit on the content shall not be considered as restricted unless Product Formulation uses its discretion for the purpose of its organoleptic and rheological quality as part of the Product Development process. When such a derivative is considered as an ingredient or a constituent of a final Halal Product, it shall be considered as Halal (permitted).  

Makrooh Derivatives:

Bone from the permitted Zabeeha cattle could be used as a source of Gelatin, Phosphorus or other by-products for the usage as an additive, where the content shall not increase more than 0.50% otherwise when such a derivative increases this limit, it shall be considered as Makrooh (restricted). Any final food product where the content of this derivative forms a part of ingredient or constituent, it shall be considered to the category of Haram rather than Makrooh.

Haram Derivatives:

Any ingredient derived from a product whose source is originally Haram (forbidden) in Islam cannot be justified in the permitted category even with the reasoning of its non-toxicant nature or non-harmful effect to human health.

E.g.: Pure Phosphorus derived from the bone of Hog is Haram

        Gelatin power or liquid derived from the Hog bone or flesh is Haram

DEFINITION

AUTOMATED HALAL SLAUGHTERING (AHS) ®

By Auditors, CHFCA

July 07 2022

"Automated Halal Slaughtering (AHS) is the Islamic Halal Process in which the Zabeeha chickens and Turkeys are slaughtered by the live Muslim Blessers who operate the automated rotary blade (knife) by hand pressed switch while continuously reciting Bismillahi Allohu Akbar on each passing healthy live chickens from shackling to the slaughtering without decapitation until the processed birds are validated, fit to be absolutely Halal, meeting all the requirements of the Islamic Jurisprudence."

Standard Operating Procedure

Hand Halal Slaughtering Protocol – Poultry

Introduction:

The Canadian Halal Food Certifying Agency (CHFCA) follows stricter Islamic laws which requires that Zabeeha poultry / cattle intended for human consumption be slaughtered in most humane application from handling to the actual Halal slaughtering of each and every bird. Halal slaughter is one of the most humane methods available to the meat industry and the only method acceptable for Muslim consumers. The protocol of Halal conditions followed by CHFCA shall be applied and verified accordingly.

The Zabeeha poultry to be slaughtered must be from the categories that are permitted for the Halal eating community to consume as food.

Step: 01 - The poultry / cattle must be alive at the time of slaughter and for the purpose a special arrangement / process must be in application to cull the birds which are Dead on Arrival (DOA).

               The very first important aspect of Haram Hazard Critical Control Point (HHCCP) is to absolutely assure that all the chickens received in the receiving dock for the purpose of Halal Slaughtering shall be alive, healthy, and free from diseases and without injuries of any kind in order to make it eligible for the Halal food.

               A tabulated record shall be maintained as how many birds were DOA out of the total volume shipped and received by the Halal Slaughtering Plant. This information would be needed by the CHFCA team to verify day-to-day basis in order to pre-empt the entry of DOA into stunning chamber.

Step: 02 - The stunning of the poultry after the DOA cull-out is needed as per the recommendation of Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Although the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) came into force on January 15, 2019, certain requirements are being phased in, over the following 12 to 30 months. It means all the federally registered plants may need to comply with Controlled Atmospheric Stunning (CAS) stunning by June 2021.

               Determining if there are Haram Hazard critical control points (HHCCPs) in the Halal Slaughtering process is the utmost important principle beside the CFIA regulated HACCP in the development of a Halal food safety system based on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP). It follows the HACCP principle described in the document conducting a hazard analysis which involves identifying the hazards for the processing steps, inputs or the traffic flows. CHFCA takes it in priority to HHCCP identification in the Halal Food chain.

               The CHFCA protocol requires that the Zabeeha birds could be stunned with no more than 80% CO2 stunning dosages in case of CAS. Under any circumstances where the time gap between stunning and the Hand-held bladed knife Halal Slaughtering shall be as less than a minute so that the birds are slaughtered while clinically alive with heart beats still pumping the blood.

               A tabulated record shall be maintained as how many birds were dead after stunning (DAS) out of the total volume shipped and received by the Halal Slaughtering Plant. This information would be needed by the CHFCA team to verify day-to-day basis in order to pre-empt the entry of DAS into slaughtering for Halal food.

Step: 03 – A multistage CO2 dosage monitoring in all of the operational lines shall be observed continually for the stricter control so that the stunning dosages do not exceed the 80% CO2.

               Observing chickens for the heartbeat is the 2nd most important aspects of Haram Hazard Critical Control Point (HHCCP) by which personnel trained and appointed to check the viable heartbeat through the beat/stiffness/temperature, shall be attentive and shall be quick to cull out the chickens without any sign of life as non-edible for the human food and non-acceptable for further processing as Halal.

               A good supervision over the viable staff, culling the dead bird, is a serious job which cannot be completed but with the religious supervision. A continual supervision by a regular enforcement supervisor is necessity without choice of absence except for the need of unavoidable circumstances.

 A tabulated record shall be maintained to monitor the intensity of CO2 in different stages of stunning and in the different stunning processing lines by the Halal Slaughtering Plant. This information would be needed by the CHFCA team to verify day-to-day basis in order to pre-empt the danger of exceeding the maximum limit as agreed upon legally to meet the CFIA and the CHFCA Islamic requirements of humane handling of the birds. A strict monitoring and supervision on the ground is absolutely necessary to meet the Halal validity.

Step: 04 - The Zabeeha birds / cattle before and during the Halal Slaughtering, shall be recited upon with the Islamic phrase of Bismillahi Allohu Akbar continually by the decided number of Muslim Blessers and Slaughterers stationed to slaughter the birds on each line of the slaughtering process.    

The birds shall be slaughtered by the use of a sharp-bladed knife while in the conveying line. It is done by the hand held knife with the single cut. Where by a score of chance, if the knife fails to do the job, a second cut could be made on the same spot. Under the given circumstances, when needed, such cut shall be on the same spot and by the Muslim Blessers and Slaughterers only. The slaughtering must be done in one stroke without lifting the knife.

Offering blessings before and during the Halal-slaughtering of Zabeeha Chickens is the 3rd most important aspect of Haram Hazard Critical Control Point (HHCCP) after making the assurance that the chicken is alive after CAS stunning. The recitation of Tasmiah (Islamic Phrase – In the name of God – God is The-Greatest) signifies the basic Halal process meeting the essential component of Islamic Jurisprudence in the Hand Halal Slaughtering Process.

It shall be continually supervised in terms of training and when needed a direct supervision that the incision of neck is from the front side where oesophageal, carotid, pulmonary and jugular channels are severed at once properly meeting the Halal conditions and absolutely compatible with the Islamic jurisprudence. A strict monitoring and supervision on the ground is absolutely necessary to meet the Halal validity. Halal segment Supervisor’s name shall be mentioned in this tabulated record.

Step: 05 – Though it is natural to expect that the incision of neck from the front side where oesophageal, carotid, pulmonary and jugular channels exists, such are severed at once properly meeting the Halal conditions and it is absolutely compatible with the Islamic jurisprudence.  Such a cut should be observed with a profuse bleeding from the bird which would be indicative of life in bird after CAS stunning.

The essential part of the process is to incise manually where needed, exactly on the same spot and observe for the profuse bleeding for the bird. The head of the animal must not be cut off during slaughtering but later after the animal is completely dead, even the knife should not go deep into the spinal cord.

This is an important Humane as well as Halal authentication directive in the process of Halal slaughtering which is the 4th important Haram Hazard Critical Control Point (HHCCP).

               It shall be continually supervised in terms of training and when needed a direct supervision that the profuse bleeding is observed without fail after the severance of oesophageal, carotid, pulmonary and jugular channels meeting the Halal conditions and absolutely compatible with the Islamic jurisprudence. If the slaughtered bird does not show bleeding except few drops, it shall be culled as Non-Halal. A strict monitoring and supervision on the ground is absolutely necessary to meet the Halal validity. Halal Supervisor’s name shall be designated for the shift/line in record.

No live bird shall be allowed to the scalding water chamber where the removal of feather commences. The first four HHCCP would assure that such a fault never happens and this shall be the 5th important Haram Hazard Critical Control Point (HHCCP).

Step: 06 - During the process of evisceration, none of the diseased Caracas shall ever be allowed to the food chain of the consumers.  The Audit and Inspection under the supervision of CFIA which CHFCA supports wholeheartedly would keep this stage as a 6th important Haram Hazard Critical Control Point (HHCCP).

A tabulated record shall be maintained as how many birds were culled / Rejected after Evisceration (RAE) out of the total volume shipped to and received by the Halal Slaughtering Plant. This information would be needed by the CHFCA team to verify day-to-day basis in order to pre-empt the entry of Non-Halal poultry in to the food chain for the Human consumers in general and the Halal consumers in particular.

Step: 07 - The final product destined to the clients and consumers shall be critically labelled that no raw chicken or portions of it are safe to consume unless processed through the application of heat or an alternative process recognized as safe for the human consumption.

The final products shall be monitored for meeting the Physical, Chemical and Microbiological limits as documented by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). This would meet CHFCA requirements of Halal and Tayyib (granted in Islamic Jurisprudence as fit for human consumption).  Halal Slaughtering Plant shall meet all these seven steps and the seven HHCCP’s in meeting the Halal requirements. This shall be the 7th important Haram Hazard Critical Control Point (HHCCP).

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