Chico halal food.

New to Chico? Trying to keep halal in your home? Learn and navigate your food options here in Chico and help contribute to the list when halal options pop up.

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Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayat 173

He has only forbidden you to eat carrion, blood, swine, and what is slaughtered in the name of any other than Allah. But if someone is compelled by necessity—neither driven by desire nor exceeding immediate need—they will not be sinful. Surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Learn about halal

  • Halal is a humane meat slaughtering process that is applied to the permissible types of meat that Muslims are allowed to consume. Halal meat is known to be one of the most healthy meats and the slaughtering process is the most humane. The opposite of halal is haram (forbidden, illegal). Halal slaughter involves six critical and careful steps according to the Shari’ah (Islamic Law):

    1. The slaughterer must be a Muslim or a person of the Book (i.e. Christian or Jew),

    2. The animal must be faced in the direction of the Qibla at the time of slaughter,

    3. Being kind to the animal at the time of slaughter (e.g. calming them down before the slaughter, conceal the knife, ensure the knife is sharp, remove them away from the group of animals),

    4. Mentioning the name of Allah (God) upon it,

    5. The blood must flow and be drained (swiftly cut across the jugular vein), and

    6. Differentiating in the method of slaughter between camels and other animals (i.e. camels are slaughtered while standing and in the hollow part between the chest and neck, and cattle and sheep are slaughtered while laying on their side).

    NOTE: Improper slaughtering of an animal would be stunning/electrocution, drowning, or hitting the skull with a blunt object.

    Other Resources:

  • If the meat is slaughtered in accordance with halal standards, Muslims can eat the following:

    • Beef

    • Chicken, quail and other game birds

    • Bison

    • Venison

    • Lamb

    • Goat

    • Turkey

    • Rabbit

    NOTE: Seafood does NOT require a halal slaughtering process and is 100% permissible to eat (e.g. fish, shrimp, clams, dolphin, shark, eel, etc.)

  • The following are FORBIDDEN/ILLEGAL meats, foods, or beverages for Muslims no matter the slaughtering process or whoever provides or prepares it:

    • Alcohol

    • Fermented beverages (e.g. wine)

    • Pork

    • Gelatin (common ingredient in some candies, medications, and desserts)

    • Broths (from non-halal slaughtered animals)

    • Carnivorous animals (e.g. crocodile, dogs, lion, etc.)

    • Birds with talons (e.g. hawks, eagles, etc.)

    • Earth vermin (e.g. snakes, scorpions, rats, etc.)

    • Insects

    • Frogs, otters, and turtles

6 common misconceptions about halal

  • No, this is incorrect. Muslims definitely do not consume pork, but there are other meats they do not consume depending on the slaughter and/or the legality of the animal. See above to learn more.

  • Among Muslims, there are two common views about eating meat, and they often differ from each other:

    • Group 1: Muslims who only eat meat that’s 100% certified halal.

    • Group 2: Muslims who believe it’s acceptable to eat meat from Christian or Jewish sources (Ahl al-Kitab) as long as “Bismillah” is said before eating.

    The key point is that Group 1’s view should be given priority when eating together, because it’s the more careful and cautious approach.

    Think of it like this: when you invite someone to dinner, you ask if they have any allergies or dietary restrictions. If your guest is allergic to shellfish but you’re not, whose needs come first—the host’s or the guest’s? Naturally, the guest’s.

    It’s the same idea here. A Muslim who follows Group 2’s view can eat most foods, but someone who follows Group 1’s approach wouldn’t be able to eat that same meal. The reverse isn’t true—everyone can eat food prepared according to Group 1’s standard.

    So, everyone can eat food that’s fully halal, but not everyone can eat food that isn’t prepared that way. That’s why, when we eat or host together, it makes sense to go with the more careful option so everyone feels comfortable.

  • No, this is incorrect. Anyone can consume halal food. Halal food is known to be a very healthy meat due to the way it is slaughtered and the gentle care of the animals before slaughtering.

  • No, this is incorrect. Halal food is simply the way the meat was slaughtered. How it’s prepared and cooked afterwards can be to anyone’s liking (e.g. American, Chinese, Caribbean, African, etc.)

  • No, this is incorrect. Anyone can sell halal food, but should be careful and critical to avoid any cross-contamination with non-halal food if you’re also selling non-halal food.

    Also, there shouldn’t be a guessing game to know if your establishment sells halal or not. Your shipment packaging should be stamped with the halal certification, your website should be clear, and menus should be marked up accordingly.

  • No, this is incorrect. Halal does not apply to just meat. It is a legal term used in Islam to guide Muslims on what is permissible and prohibited. There are many non-meat foods and edible products that contain haram (forbidden/illegal) ingredients, such as:

    • Alcohol

    • Soups (animal broths)

    • Candies (gelatin)

    • Marshmallows (gelatin)

    • Prenatal vitamins (gelatin)

    • Lard/shortening (animal fat)

    • Jello (gelatin)

    • Canned beans (may contain meat or meat by-products)

    Click here to learn more about other foods/edibles that commonly have haram ingredients.