Halal Meats Specific Regulations

Abstract Muslims make up 25% of the world population and according to their religion, Islam; their diet is restricted. The Quran outlines specific regulations regarding halal meat. Muslims follow strictly the requirement that all meat meant for their consumption must be halal. The market trends in the world need to understand halal meat in order to increase sales in areas occupied by Muslims.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Halal Meat’s Specific Regulations specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Muslims are not allowed to buy meat which is not halal as this also contravenes the teachings of the Quran. Whenever a consumer who is a Muslim visits a supermarket, the first thing he or she checks in the meat products is whether the products have the halal mark or not. This paper describes the methods used to verify halal products and the process followed to ensure meat is halal. The paper also seeks to establ ish why the Muslim religion and culture insists on the consumption of halal meat by its members. Introduction The religion of Muslims guides them through rules known as Shariah laws. Islamic law is outlined in the Holy Quran and Hadith which is the practice recommended by Prophet Muhammad. Eating for Muslims is considered as part of worship and every Muslim is required by the Shariah law to eat halal meat. The general guidelines for halal were adopted by a subsidiary body of Food and Agricultural Organization and World Health Organization known as Codex Alimentarius Commission. Its purpose was to protect consumers’ health and ensure global food trade was done fairly especially in reference to the requirements for halal.All halal meat has to be labeled as so. The economic worth of the Halal food market Muslims and non-Muslims consider halal food to be an important part of their diet. There exists a great business opportunity for non-Muslims to supply halal meat in order for th em to familiarize themselves with demand and supply chains of halal meat. Globally, Muslims are estimated to be over 1.5 billion. Their population is expected to grow at a rate of 3% annually. Halal meat is also consumed by Non-Muslims. For example, Mieder Alan, (1994), reported that in the UK, there are 2 million Muslims yet there are 6 million consumers of halal meat. Consumption of halal meat has increased over the years mainly due to increased income of Muslims globally. Many Muslims have immigrated into non-Muslim countries and due to their increased awareness of halal meat; the consumption of halal meat is expected to grow significantly over the years. Businessmen who sell all types of food products should understand halal meat’s requirements.Advertising Looking for research paper on asian? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The requirements for halal meat production is specified in the Holy Quran in which Muslims a re informed of the type of food which is prohibited and are thus instructed to eat only halal food. All land animals are apart from those belonging to the cat family like lions, cheeteahs and pigs are considered halal. Animals with tusks and claws are considered as haram and must not be eaten. Haram animals according to the Hanafi School include but are not limited to;- wolf,hyena,cat,monkey,scorpion,leopard,tiger,cheetah,lion,leopard,bear,swine or pig, squirrel, hedgehog, snake, tortoise turtle, dog, crab ,jackal, donkey, lizard, fox, crocodile, weasel, elephant ,falcon, hawk, kite,bat,vulture,mouse,rat,all insects like mosquitoes, fly, wasp, spider and beetle. Muslims are allowed to eat meat from the following animals:-Camel, goat, sheep, buffalo, stag (deer),rabbit, cow (including mountain cow),fish (of all types, including prawns according to those who consider prawns to be a form of fish). Other animals that are considered halal include the nightingale, quail, parrot, francoli n,locust,partridge (heavy-bodied small-winged South American game bird),lark (North American yellow-breasted songbirds)sparrow,goose,ostrich,dove,pigeon,stork,rooster/chicken,peacock and starling. Slaughtering of land animals must be carried out as detailed out in the Shariah law. An animal must be alive before it is slaughtered. This act should be done by a Muslim who is sane and also above 18 years of age. The activity should be executed by cutting the esophagus in one cut while saying the words â€Å"Bismillah, Allahu Akbar† which means are words that praise God for providing food. For poultry, scalding should be done only after confirming that the animal is dead and when there is no more bleeding. This idea also applies during the dressing of carcass for ruminants. This action also applies to all the tools used for slaughter. In case there is need to change an abattoir from â€Å"non-halal† to halal, a special cleansing ceremony should be performed. This ritual is known as dibagh.For dibagh to be seen as completed, the equipment used for slaughter should be washed seven times using pure water mixed with soil so that is devoid of any impurities. This includes transportation, packaging and even display. These rules should be followed as outlined in the Shariah law.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Halal Meat’s Specific Regulations specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The casings for halal products must be made from collagen, cellulose and intestines from halal animals that have been slaughtered according to the Shariah law. The package for halal meat should be non-hazardous to health and each container should be marked legibly to show that it is a halal product whose quality has been checked. The ingredients used in the processing of halal meat must be halal. All ingredients derived from forbidden sources like animals which are not slaughtered according to Sharia h law are not halal. This fact also applies to blood and blood related ingredients. Many food ingredients have been declared as haram (prohibited) by Islamic authorities and these include bacon or natural bacon flavor. Gelatin is considered as edible in respect to EEC’s Codex Alimentarius and is an animal product. Food products that are made from pork fat which are described as haram comprise sodium stearoyl lactylate, mono and diglycerides and lard. Enzymes derived from haram animals, grain or plant based ingredients with pig based carrier such as beta carotene (pig Gelatin) and butylated hydroxyl anisole or butylated hydroxyl toulene (pig based carrier), alcohol, blood plasma and blood plasma enzymes should not be eaten according to Ezquerro, A. (2010). Certain ingredients such as yeast’s extract from brewer’s yeast and cochineal or carmine color have been classified as doubtful by Islamic authorities. Avoiding them is highly encouraged. Prophet Muhammad in a hadith narrated by Bukhari advised the believers to avoid doubtful things. â€Å"Both halal and haram things are clear but in between them there are doubtful (suspicious) things and most of the people have no knowledge about them. Halal Certification Due to the upsurge in Muslim populations around the world, the Muslim Consumer Group has emerged. It verifies food products to ensure they meet dhabiha standards. They certify by labeling the halal consumer products using the H-MCG symbol. Halal certification confirms that the contents and methods of processing have been tested and found to be fit for human consumption by a certifying body. Companies which export products to countries inhabited by Muslims are permitted by a Halal certifier. An example of a halal certifier is Islamic Services of America.Advertising Looking for research paper on asian? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Principle of quality assurance There is risk of contamination of halal meat within the meat chain. A good example of this contamination is when halal meat comes in contact with pork, which is haram. It is difficult for the consumer to verify the status of halal meat before purchase. To safeguard against this potential risk, there was need for quality assurance hence the establishment of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP).This the body mandated to ensure maintenance of quality assurance within the meat chain. This body is governed by seven principles as listed below: HCP1: Halal Animal HCP2: Animal Welfare Slaughter Process HCP3: Stunning HCP4: Knife HCP5: Slaughter Person HCP6: Slaughter Method HCP7: Invocation Gilbert, P. (2009), suggested a HACCP approach with a good number of halal control points considered to be critical at the time of slaughtering the animal by ensuring that the animal is halal. Gilbert, P. (2009), suggested that the entire meat chain should be controlled and should not just dwell at the abattoir only. It should also focus on risks associated with the origin of the animal at the farm where it was kept and also the mode of transportation to the slaughterhouse to ensure that there is no contamination whatsoever with haram animals. The following are the halal critical control points (HCPs). Halal breeding – HCP1 The species of the animal must be acceptable. Haram species cannot become halal just because they have been slaughtered using halal principles. In the Hadith, according to Abu-Dawud, it is recorded that â€Å"Allah does not allow eating any animal, which eats filthy food and drinks its own milk animals that feed on meat or animal protein are not to be eaten†. Halal and haram meat should not come into contact with each other at all stages of the halal meat chain. Animal welfare – HCP2 According to Islam, animals must be handled in a humane manner not only during slaughter but even before the slaug hter; they should be fed and given water. The knife should not be sharpened in view of the animal. Slaughtering one animal should be done in the absence of other animals. To quote the Hadith Shaddid b. Aus said: ‘‘when you slaughter an animal, do so in a humane way† (Ezquerro, 2010). Stunning – HCP3 According to Corey, M.S et al. (2010), the Shariah law allows stunning; so long as stunning does not kill the animal, Muslims are discouraged from consuming blood and carcasses.They are encouraged to handle animals in a humane manner before, during and after slaughter. Knife – HCP4 The knife to be used for slaughtering any animal should have the appropriate levels of sharpness to prevent the animal from excessive and painful bleeding before it dies. The size of the knife should be of the same size to that of animal’s neck. Slaughter person – HCP5 The individual meant to conduct the actual the act of slaughtering the animal must be a person wh o is considered forthright and of sound mind. The individual can either be a Muslim or a Christian. Muslims differ on the interpretation of this law. One class of Muslims believes that the meat which is slaughtered by them is not allowed unless they mention the name of God during the slaughtering. Certain other Muslims believe that the meat slaughtered by Jews or Christians, halal is fit for human consumption since it is allowed by the Quran. They also believe that the prophet Muhammad used to eat meat prepared by Jews or Christians but while eating such meat, Muslims must mention the name of God. Slaughter method – HCP6 The activity of slaughtering the animal is conducted by cutting the front side of the neck. The animal should face Mecca before slaughtering. Ruminants and poultry should be slaughtered by hand. It has become common in Western countries to perform machine slaughter and this practice has gained acceptance by Muslims around the world. Invocation – HCP7 D uring slaughter, the name of Allah must be invoked. The usual formula is ‘‘In the name of Allah; Allah is the greatest’’. This is done for the following reasons:-1.To remind the slaughterer to observe the prescribed requirements and to show that the animal is being dedicated to God (Blanton Jaccard, 2008). 2. To confirm that the animal is being slaughtered for food and not for leisure. Packaging and labeling – HCP8 A reputable supervisory body ought to supervise the packaging and labeling of all halal meat. The body therefore becomes an independent control to ensure adherence to quality assurance. The certification should be done for each meat product. Retailing – HCP9 To prevent contamination of halal meat with haram meat, proper care must be exercised from the abattoir to the retail location. The Muslim religion and culture is thus seen to be elaborative and clear on what is halal and haram given the review of the two subjects in the paper. References Blanton, H., Jaccard, J. (2008). Unconscious Racism: A Concept in Pursuit of a Measure. Annual Review of Sociology. Texas, USA: Department of Psychology, Texas AM University. Corey, M.S et al. (2010). Groups: Process and Practice (8th ed Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning. Ezquerro, A. (2010). Cohesion and coherency in group analysis. Group Analysis, 43, Connecticut, USA: Cengage Learning. Gilbert, P. (2009). Compassion-focused therapy: distinctive features.CBT Distinctive Features Series. New York: Taylor Francis. Hastings, A. (1997).The Construction of Nationhood: Ethnicity, Religion, and Nationalism, Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. Mieder, W, Alan, D. (1994).The wisdom of many: essays on the proverb. (Originally published in 1981 by Garland. Wisconsin, USA: University of Wisconsin Press. Pryor, F., Britain, B. (1998).Life in Britain and Ireland before the Romans by Francis. Oxford, United Kingdom: Harper Perennial. 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Reviewing Who Killed Change The book Who Killed Change is about change management. Through its interesting fable style, it teaches the managers of organizations how to cope with change successfully. The author, after analyzing all the change agents, concludes very appropriately that the same factors that lead to the death of organizations, if exercise their power rightfully, can help change thrive in the organizations. The story starts by describing a murder scene of yet another change. Agent Mike McNally, a Columbo-style detective, investigates the crime scene and makes a list of thirteen suspects that he thinks are the most commonly involved culprits in the murder of anyone with the last name Change. He interviews all the thirteen suspects in detail in order to resolve the case. The manner in which the author describes the suspects, personifies them and relates them to the cause of Changes death is quite engrossing. 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Commitment.Commitment refers to the peoples motivation and willingness to change their behaviors as a result of a change initiative. This can be achieved only if people working in the organizations are informed about the change alongwith the knowledge as to how it will impact them. Any concerns regarding change should also be addressed and this is the responsibility of the leadership team. To make people see how change will affect their lives and how important it is for them to be committed, can only be achieved through a clear vision, and through proper planning that will integrate change in their daily routines. Sponsorship. Sponsorship is a senior leader who is responsible and authorized for using necessary resources like time, money and people, to ensure the timely implementation and eventual sustainability of change. 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Performance management.Performance management is the process through which goals and expectations are set regarding peoples behavior towards change by tracking their progress and providing feedback and guiding them on how to implement change. Accountability.Once goals and expectations are set, it is then through the process of accountability that followup is done as to whether peoples behaviors and results are in line with the goals. The act of accountability should ensure that managers walk the talk especially when behaviors and results do not match with the change initiatives. The role of accountability is very critical to the survival of change in any organization. Anyone, irrespective of their status and level in the hierarchy, should be held accountable for successful change implementation and managers should ensure two-way accountability where leaders and team members are partnered for performance. In addition to all the above-mentioned suspects, the author talks about four more characters, the stakeholders, and how they view the death of change. According to the stakeholders there are a number of barriers that are mostly ignored by the middle and senior level managers and only the front-line employees and supervisors are able to see them. For example, managers and leaders show resistance to new ideas even if employees see the need to implement them. Accountability occurs in the form of reprimanding workers for a job done bad rather than incentivizing them not to make errors. This also acts as a barrier to successful change implementation. When leaders do not walk the talk, employees are unable to feel the urgency to embrace change. Having described at length all factors that contribute towards the failure of change, the author solves the mystery in a very captivating way by making all the aforementioned characters responsible for the death of change. In the end he puts forth a series of questions that managers need to ask while undertaking change in their organization meanwhile applying the lessons of the story to real life situation. These questions will help the managers realize when a given change will be successful and when it might be at risk thereby helping them to design an action plan to address the risks to change. Critical Assessment of the Book Change can be successful only when the usual characters in an organization combine their unique talents and consistently involve others in initiating, implementing and sustaining change Ken Blanchard is a management guru who with his insightful, powerful and compassionate qualities has impacted the day-to-day management of people and companies more than anyone else. He is one of the most influential leadership experts in the world and has done some groundbreaking work in the fields of management and leadership. Ken is an expert storyteller who has an amazing knack for making seemingly complex matters easy to understand. Although there have been numerous books written on change management, yet it is the unorthodox style of presentation of Who Killed Change that makes it stand out. The authors, in a very fun and clever way, have highlighted the intricacies involved in organizational change and in the process have given some very important practical tips for managers of all types in organizations, both big and small. The study guide given at the end enables people to ask themselves some practical questions that will help them examine the change efforts that they are leading in their organizations. This study guide espouses the concepts of leading people through change, Blanchards hallmark program on Change Leadership, with the characters who conspired to kill change. The characters identified as suspects are unique in their names and descriptions, yet at the same time we can easily relate to them and spot them in any organization we work in. The most enthralling aspect of these characters, however, is that each one of their physical descriptions reflects flaws that became a cause of sabotaging change. For example, Clair Communication is suffering from Laryngitis. Change, unfortunately, cannot survive when communication in the organization is faulty and people who are advocates of change are not communicating with those who are resisting it. Another suspect, Victoria Vision, is myopic. If vision cannot see properly, how will it perform her role effectively? And this is what happens in organizations where change efforts do not succeed. The vision is so poor and weak that it is not transmitted to the concerned people and as a result, the desired outcome is not produced. Similarly, Carolina Culture is a small and unassuming character, whereas,for leading people through change, the culture of change needs to be so strong and distinguished that anybody, working at any level in the organization, is able to see and feel it. The role of Earnest Urgency is very critical in integrating change as a prioritymatter, however, it is always late and fails to instill in people the dire need to change. The plot of the story has been developed by John Britt, the senior co-author of Who Killed Change. John has been studying change for a long time and Ken Blanchard, alongwith his team of change experts, acquaints the readers with all the thirteen characters with reference to their organizational role, relationships and expectations and fits them together as pieces of a puzzle in the context of managing or murdering change.While doing so, however, the authors do tend to become a little too intense and forced. The notes shared by Agent McNally at the end of every chapter seem to stretch the description of the characters too far and one tends to lose interest in the story at this point. Although they help us see the picture of the murder from a neutral perspective, yet after having said so much in the chapters, they over-emphasize the details. Apart from this, I found the story very engrossing and the best part is the lessons it teaches about change on a subliminal level while making the reader enjoy the plot. Through the description and interrogation of each character, the author supports the fact that roughly 70% of change efforts in organizations fail as change is never easy. The practical questions given at the end of the book teaches all those people, who are even slightly authorized to initiate a change, how to identify and address the typical concerns that employees have regarding change as well as how to select an appropriate strategy to resolve these concerns. While writing the autopsy report of Changes death, the author has very pertinently highlighted three key assumptions regarding this murder. People leading the Change think that announcing it is the same as integrating it. Peoples concerns with Change are not surfaced or addressed. Those being asked to implement Change are not involved in the planning. These assumptions are true for all sorts of organizations and the lesson learnt is that anybody responsible for bringing about a change in the correct manner, should do so by consulting everyone and support and finance change with integrity and care. Only then will change thrive and sustain. Analysis and Evaluation of the Book Who Killed Change is a unique book on change management as it has lessons for leaders who are not just CEOs or regular managers but for everyone, be it supervisors, teachers, parents or even for anyone sitting at home. The common lesson for each of these people is how to take a concept or an idea and get it implemented in a way that people get committed and excited about it. This is what is ca-lled managing change and in todays world, each one of us has to be a manager of change. If we look carefully in the mirror around change efforts, we might find ourselves to be a suspect. In organizational settings, this book will help all the members of the organization to get familiar with change and eventually influence it. The lessons of the story are not restricted to any particular role in the organization. The way many organizations view change is that it is the responsibility of the leaders at the top to drive that change and while they certainly do have a role to play, the author and his team of change experts want leaders at all levels to be playing a role in bringing about change. Through this fun and clever murder mystery, the book teaches the managers to understand the dynamics operating in a company that kill change and assess whether it is a particular character like culture or vision, or is it some sort of leadership that has killed change. The managers need to realize that each of the dynamics in the organization has to work together for change to succeed. They just cant launch change through a marketing campaign and expect it to take root for people to embrace it. All the thirteen suspects are commonly found in any organization, and people can easily resonate with these characters, thereby making them even more real. Through their vivid descriptions, readers, whoever they are, can start thinking of the change they are involved in, the projects they are working on, and then develop a quick sense of how well the project is working and what are the areas for improvement. Who Killed Change is a useful book for small as well as large businesses as it introduces change in a fun way to all members of an organization while providing them with very practical tips on leading people through change. People do not resist so much to change as they resist to being controlled. Conclusion I would conclude this book review by applying the lessons of Who Killed Change to the educational institutions in our country. As mentioned above, each member of the organization is responsible for managing change. No doubt Principals and Head Teachers have a more important role to play in implementing and sustaining change, but teachers as classroom leaders are no less important. If a certain change is necessary for the very survival of the institution, then teachers should create the sense of urgency in a manner that leaders feel the need to implement it and then provide all necessary financial and moral support. This will show their commitment towards change. However, even if any one of the team members in the learning community fails to play its role, then it is eventually going to lead to the failure and death of change in the institution. Members of the staff will accept the status quo, and like Haw, a character in the well-known fable on organizational change, Who Moved My Che ese, they will never look for new opportunities and make no effort to change themselves as well as the institution as a whole. Hence the more united the vision of change is, the more successful the school will be in adopting the change.

Charlie as the Victim of Circumstance in F. Scott Fitzgeralds Babylon

Charlie as the Victim of Circumstance in F. Scott Fitzgerald's Babylon Revisited The story's protagonist, Charlie Wales, is less a victim of bad luck than of circumstance, both socio-economic and personal. Charlie does not deserve Marion's continued denial of custody of his daughter, but the story is less about what Charlie does or does not deserve than how easily one's life can spin out of control due to unforeseen circumstance. Marion and Charlie dislike each other on a visceral level. Marion's feelings are not solely caused by Charlie's alcoholism and past behavior. She focuses upon Charlie a hatred borne of her resentment of her family's financial situation, as evidenced by Lincoln's comment to Charlie over lunch: "I think Marion felt there was some kind of injustice to it-you not even working toward the end, and getting richer and richer." (p. 15) Her hatred is also fueled by her physical illness and her unfounded belief that Helen's marriage to Charlie was not happy. When Charlie locked Helen out during a snowstorm and Helen later became ill from exposure, Marion felt ...