HALAL LIVING

	Click here for a free vegetarian starter kit
	International Vegetarian Union
	The Humane Center for Animal Welfare (Jordan)
	Hayawan.org

Halal Products

Vegetarian foods and ingredients, not counting alcohol, are halal by nature. Eating vegetarian is the best and easiest way to ensure that you are keeping halal. To learn why your "halal" meat may not be all that it is claimed to be, click here.

Likewise, personal care products that include animal products are very likely not halal. Even if the product does not contain animal ingredients, if it has been tested on animals, it is in violation of Islamic teachings of kindness and respect for animals. Muslims can live Islamically by using cruelty-free halal products. To learn more about animal experimentation, click here.

Sadly, like many other companies, vegetarian and cruelty-free companies have been slow to seek halal certification for their products. Muslims naturally turn to vegetarian and cruelty-free products in the belief that they are more likely to be halal than products with animal ingredients. Typically this is true, but sometimes there are other ingredients in these products that are forbidden to Muslims. The only way to be sure is to purchase halal-certified vegetarian and cruelty-free products.

Islamic Concern for Animals is working with several of the companies below on the issue of halal certification. But the companies need to hear from you, the Muslim consumer. Please take just a few minutes out of your time to send an e-mail message or letter to the companies below, letting them know that you want animal-free, halal-certified products. Your voice will make a difference in bringing halal-certified products to the marketplace.

Please use the form letter below to express your views to the companies:

Dear (company),

Much like kosher laws, Muslims have a set of "halal" dietary laws that indicate what we can and cannot eat.

Muslims often turn to vegetarian and cruelty-free products in the belief that they are more likely to be halal than products with animal ingredients. Typically this is true, but sometimes there are other ingredients in these products that are forbidden to Muslims. The only way to be sure is to purchase halal-certified vegetarian and cruelty-free products.

Recent surveys show that there are about 6 to 8 million Muslims in the United States. There are about 5.5 million Jews, and about 5 million vegetarians. Since your products have kosher certification and are geared towards vegetarians, it is only fair that you also obtain halal certification so that Muslims can safely consume them too.

Sincerely,

While Tom's of Maine has still failed to obtain halal certification for its products, at least one product has been recognized as halal by the Muslim Consumer Group. Tom's of Maine mouthwash has been judged safe for use by Muslims on the grounds of "Orthodox OU certification and absence of alcohol as an ingredient and also sources of ingredients mentioned on the back of the bottle."

Please take a moment to e-mail Tom's officials at info@tomsofmaine.com to thank them for offering a product that meets halal standards. Please also ask them to seek official halal certification for all their products.

Tom's of Maine products can be purchased at most large chain discount stores and health food stores, as well as online at www.TomsofMaine.com.

Vegetarian Foods Companies

Amy's Kitchen (frozen entrees, sandwich pockets)(go under "about us", then "contact")
Boca Foods Company (Boca Burgers)
Eden Foods (Eden Soy soy milk, soy and other products)
8th Continent (soy milk)
Gardenburger (Veggie burgers and meat substitutes)
Galaxy Foods Company (Veggie Slices, Milk, etc)
Health is Wealth (frozen entrees, pizzas, meat substitutes)
Imagine Foods (rice and soy milks and desserts, frozen sandwich pockets, soups)
Morningstar Farms (frozen meat substitutes, veggie burgers)(click on "contact and faq" on left side of the page)
Pacific Foods (soy, rice, oat and nut milks)
Tofutti (wide range of dairy substitutes: sour cream, cream cheese, cheese, ice creams; frozen entrees)
Vitasoy (soy milks, soy mayonnaise, tofu, soy salad dressings)
Westsoy (soy milks, soy drinks, soy shakes)
White Wave (Silk brand soy milk, soy products)
Wildwood Natural Foods (soy milk, tofu, veggie burgers and hot dogs)
Yves Veggie Cuisine (veggie deli "meats")

Cruelty Free Companies

The Body Shop (wide range of body care products)
Clearly Natural (vegetable glycerin soaps)
Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps (soap, household cleaners)
Kiss my Face (soap, shaving cream, lotions)
Tom's of Maine (toothpaste, shaving cream)

If your favorite products are not listed above, please click here to see if those products are animal-tested. If they are, please write to the company and ask that it make Islamically acceptable products (i.e., with halal ingredients and no animal testing).

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Sponsored by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.