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We specially im-
port Turkey-based

ham from Malaysia,
which is five times

more expensive than
the pork ham

Halal meat is more expensive than non-halal kind

Why does halal food matter to by the restaurants to make sure that 90 per cent of their meat as it is very
Muslims? they come from a trustable source. difficult to find halal meat in the city.
Muslims have to follow the dietary The cooking method of halal food He reveals the cost of halal meats in
standards as prescribed in the Quran. also has to comply with Islamic laws. Hong Kong can be 10 per cent higher
They are required to follow a halal “We make sure there is noth- than normal meat.
diet – eating only what is permissi- ing mixed in the process. We make Some meats can be way more ex-
ble by their God. Precautions must be sure there is no contamination from pensive, such as pepperoni and ham.
taken during the preparation of halal the fridge to the cooker until being “Normally, pepperoni and ham are
food. For instance, halal meats have to served,” Mohammad adds. made of pork. But pork is not halal.
be processed, transported and stored So far, there are 72 halal-certified So, we specially import turkey-based
according to Islamic guidelines. restaurants in Hong Kong. The num- ham from Malaysia, which is five
“Before the actual animal is slaugh- ber of restaurants, times more expensive than pork ham,”
tered, the animal needs to be looked however, is limited says Rekhani.
after properly...After it is slaughtered, comparing to the Ebeneezer’s is currently the larg-
when it is being transported, there large Muslim est halal restaurant chain in Hong
should be no contamination between population in Kong. All of its 17 branches have re-
halal and non-halal,” explains Ibra- Hong Kong. In ceived halal certificate issued by the
heem Mohammad, halal products the 2016 Hong Trustees. Rekhani says it is not too
certification officer of The Incorpo- Kong Year Book, the difficult to obtain a halal certification.
rated Trustees of the Islamic Commu- Ibraheem Census and Statis- The obstacle, however, is to maintain
nity of Hong Kong (the Trustees). Mohammad tics Department es- the certification. He says officers from
timated the Muslim the Trustees would conduct regular
What is the significance of halal- population in the city to be 300,000. spot checks and surprise inspections
certified restaurants to Muslims? on restaurants, which might hinder
The Trustees has started certify- What are the hurdles local eateries the daily operations of some.
ing halal restaurants since 2006. The may face to become halal-certified? “They will regularly come into
initiative is to provide the local Mus- A higher cost of imported food your kitchen. Without asking you
lim community a sense of security of can be an issue for restaurants to be- anything, they open up your fridges,
what they are eating. Mohammad says come halal-certified. Anil Rekhani, your storeroom and check each and

religious experts from the Trustees director of Ebeneezer’s Kebabs & Piz- every item,” Rekhani says. Smaller
would inspect halal ingredients used zeria, says the company has to import restaurants might find it difficult to