Would that also include observant Jews?
You might be interested to know that the Kosher slaughter method (shehitah) is the essentially the same as Halal – it is forbidden to shocked or render the animal unconscious before slaughter. Oh and PETA is against both Halal and Kosher slaughtering methods, but then again they want everyone to GO VEGAN!
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/kosher-slaughtering-an-introduction/#
(Note: Administering electric shock to an animal prior to shehitah [kosher slaughtering] is prohibited, because it incapacitates the animal and renders it a trefah [animal unfit to eat]. It is forbidden to eat the meat of such an animal. The prohibition extends, as well, to administering an anesthetic, in the form of a drug and the like, since it may endanger the health and life of the animal and render it trefah prior to shehitah.)
I am totally befuddled by this thread. I feel I'm in the twilight zone. If a voodoo doctor waved his hands over the food, does it make it less wholesome, does it make it unsafe to eat? Are potential pathogens increased or decreased? What is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's charge? Their Job? Is their job modified in any way by religious non-physical intervention? of the physical state of the food? What is the brouhaha about?
The USDA does have rules regarding humane slaughter methods but exempts methods as proscribed by religious customs, both Kosher and others including Halal.
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2014-title7/html/USCODE-2014-title7-chap48-sec1902.htm
§1902. Humane methods
No method of slaughtering or handling in connection with slaughtering shall be deemed to comply with the public policy of the United States unless it is humane. Either of the following two methods of slaughtering and handling are hereby found to be humane:
(a) in the case of cattle, calves, horses, mules, sheep, swine, and other livestock, all animals are rendered insensible to pain by a single blow or gunshot or an electrical, chemical or other means that is rapid and effective, before being shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut; or
(b) by slaughtering in accordance with the ritual requirements of the Jewish faith or any other religious faith that prescribes a method of slaughter whereby the animal suffers loss of consciousness by anemia of the brain caused by the simultaneous and instantaneous severance of the carotid arteries with a sharp instrument and handling in connection with such slaughtering.
Neither the FDA nor the USDA certifies whether a food product is Kosher or Halal. What the USDA does say is that if it is labeled as such, it must be, for Kosher “prepared under rabbinical supervision” and if Halal “must be handled according to Islamic law and under Islamic authority” but the USDA does not regulate those entities providing the religious certifications. If the question is if the animal is slaughtered using method (b) does have to be labeled as such? It would seem the answer is no. As long as other USDA requirements are met, it would be up to the food processor, slaughter house to obtain a Kosher or Halal certification from a religious org providing such. If I am not mistaken there are several rabbinical orgs that issue Kosher certifications.
For instance:
“The United States government is not involved in religious matters, which is why agencies such as the USDA do not certify halal or kosher foods. That must be done by religious authorities or those they sanction. USDA does inform exporters of other countries’ import standards and directs exporters to U.S. halal certifiers approved by destination countries. ISWA is among those internationally recognized halal certifiers.”
http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/pamphlet/2012/07/201207028400.html#ixzz4HQtJjQwq
If a label bears a Halal or Kosher statement, does FSIS have to monitor the production of the product to observe ritual slaughter of animals?
No, the acceptability of the ritual used is the responsibility of the religious organization. How they verify the acceptability is up to the organization. FSIS inspection personnel may verify that the label is not falsified by verifying that the appropriate religious organization was contacted.
In other words, all the USDA cares about is if the food product is labeled as Kosher or Halal is that it was certified by "the appropriate religious organization".
Much ado here about absolutely nothing, excepting to legitimize the presence of too many Muslims in America.