Abstract

Since the discovery of horsemeat in some processed beef products in early 2013, there has been increased speciation testing of products of meat origin within the EU. This led to the detection of porcine DNA and subsequently pork meat in some processed “Halal” products in the UK. This situation caused a great deal of panic and distress among the UK Muslim population, as the consumption of pork or its derivatives is strictly forbidden in Islam. This paper considers what makes meat Halal and discusses existing gaps in Halal certification and the regulation of Halal meat that potentially expose the Halal market to fraudulent activity.