Supermarket chain Safeway plc took the initiative and introduced authenticated halal meat and poultry and launched it from their flagship store in Stratford, East London. There are nearly twenty stores up and down the country that would initially serve the Muslim customers. The launch was on 8th of October, with a slogan Hello to Halal, in the presence of members of the trade and other dignitaries. The Halal Food Authority is endorsing and auditing meat and poultry from slaughterhouse to portioning plant to the participating store, with full authenticity of halal and traceability assurance from Safeways for all their labelled products that carry HFA logo.

In other words slaughterhouses are separately endorsed for halal slaughter, portioning plants are endorsed for portioning and packaging. All establishments are audited and inspected by the HFA
contractually for validity and compliance of Shari`ah rules together with halal and relevant rules of meat hygiene and HACCP in vogue. As Mr Masood Khawaja, president of the HFA said at the launch, “ the endorsement and halal approval is from slaughterhouse to the store”. Safeway have been given special instructions and guidelines for how to handle this unique pre-packed meat and poultry at all stations, how to display and orientate staff for segregation from non-halal meat and poultry. All providers would be monitored in line of term of procedures and compliance.

Muslim customers are invited by the Safeway for suggestions to enable them to improve product line, cuts of products and size and weight of packaging.

Masood Khawaja
President
Mobile number 07860 635 537
11th October 2002

©Halal Food Authority 2006