Bridging Nutrition and Faith: Ensuring halal food access, one plate at a time

BY IFANCA

07 Jul 2025

Insight

Salaam Gateway

This article is produced and sponsored by IFANCA. It was first published in the State of the Global Islamic Economy 2024/25 report produced by DinarStandard. The report can be downloaded from here.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization defines food insecurity as the lack of regular access to enough safe and nutritious food for normal growth, development, and an active, healthy life. Based on this definition, the FAO estimates that in 2023, nearly 733 million people worldwide were impacted by hunger, approximately one in every eleven individuals globally and one in five across the African continent.

Food insecurity is a silent pandemic that doesn't differentiate
It would be normal to associate food insecurity and hunger with third-world and developing countries. However, what's often considered normal is not always backed by the truth. Food insecurity remains a significant issue in the United States, affecting millions of households, including those with children. According to the 'Household Food Security in the United States in 2023' report by the US Department of Agriculture, approximately 13.5% of households experienced food insecurity. This comes out to around 47.4 million people, including 14 million children. The Map the Meal Report 2024 goes so far as to say that children are more likely than adults to suffer from food insecurity, resulting in poor health and long-term behavioral outcomes.

Breaking these numbers down further doesn't make for pleasant reading. Among households with children under 18, 17.9% or 6.5 million households were food insecure. In 8.9% (3.2 million households), both children and adults experienced food insecurity. Furthermore, approximately 1.0% (374,000 households) had children who experienced reduced food intake and disrupted eating patterns due to insufficient resources. These numbers also show a year-on-year progression, which hints at a lack of, or the very least, inadequate provisions and checks.

A growing crisis of access
While these numbers are alarming, the picture is even bleaker when it comes to Muslim households. While comprehensive data on food insecurity among Muslim children specifically is limited, available statistics highlight the broader challenges faced by Muslim communities in accessing adequate and culturally appropriate food. According to its 2022 report, the US Department of Agriculture states that 10% of Muslims reported "sometimes" or "often" not having enough to eat in the past week, a rate comparable to Black (8%) and Hispanic (10%) Americans.

Why halal matters
Behind these jarring numbers lies another dimension often overlooked: the need for food that aligns with specific cultural and religious values. According to data from the US Religious Consensus, Islam, at 1.34% of the total population of the US, is the third-largest religion in the country. For such a large population, halal, an Arabic term meaning "permissible," goes beyond mere dietary guidelines. It encompasses the ethical treatment of animals, avoidance of certain ingredients, and strict cleanliness standards. In practice, halal ensures that every step from farm to table meets Islamic dietary rules. This isn't a matter of preference; it's a matter of necessity. For Muslims in low-income communities or refugee camps, it's not uncommon to skip meals entirely rather than compromise on religious values.

When these religious obligations are ignored, vulnerable families—especially children—often face an impossible choice between violating their faith or going hungry. According to the findings of a report by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU), a significant majority (83%) of Muslims in the US prefer or require a halal diet. The lack of access to halal-certified foods can exacerbate food insecurity, especially for children in school settings where such options are limited.

Health experts point out that such choices have dire consequences. Malnutrition among children, in particular, can trigger a lifetime of setbacks—from poor academic performance to long-term health issues and social marginalization. By neglecting halal requirements, society effectively puts an already vulnerable population at an even greater disadvantage.

The situation seemed ripe for intervention by a body that could place the interests and potential of these young minds at the forefront. That's where IFANCA came in.

Enter IFANCA
Since its inception in 1982, the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America's (IFANCA) central focus has been enhancing access to halal products for those requiring them. By emphasizing that nutritional security is inextricably linked to the availability of halal-certified options, the organization's mission has been to provide consumers with the guidance needed to navigate the myriad products found in grocery stores and identify those that align with halal dietary standards without compromising their nutritional needs.

Today, with over four decades of experience, IFANCA stands as a leader in setting and upholding the best practices in halal certification. The IFANCA team, composed of industry experts and scholars in Islamic jurisprudence, has developed standards that have undergone extensive review and are widely endorsed by both Islamic scholars and the practicing Muslim community.

For IFANCA, spreading awareness and best practices is key. The organization has funded educational programs at places like Texas A&M University, focusing on ethnic and faith-based food systems. It also supports a permaculture garden at Zaytuna College that blends Islamic ethics with environmental stewardship.

These projects aren't just about ticking boxes; they're about shaping a new generation of leaders who appreciate how religious practices, ethical considerations, and sound environmental policies intersect. Yet IFANCA's reach extends well beyond Illinois. This globally recognized authority on halal certification works with clients in more than 70 countries—across the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries—to maintain standards of cleanliness, ethical sourcing, and transparency. Nationally, IFANCA has initiated pioneering projects in public institutions such as universities, correctional facilities, and food banks. It published the Handbook for Halal Campus Dining Food Service Programs, a comprehensive guide that provides best practices for institutional compliance with halal standards. Their impact is evident in major initiatives, such as collaborations with Chicago Public Schools (CPS), Alliance to End Hunger, and food banks in Pennsylvania and Delaware, where they help distribute halal-certified products to diverse communities.

One such example that crystallized the organization's mission and brought the urgent need to provide halal meals to young minds was the "Faith by Plate Act."

Illinois takes a bold step
A historic turning point arrived on March 28, 2025, when Illinois became the first state in the US to require public schools, hospitals, and other state-run facilities to provide halal and kosher meal options upon request. Known as the "Faith by Plate Act," this legislation reflects a growing understanding that access to culturally and religiously appropriate meals is a matter of equity, not luxury.

Illinois has the country's highest per capita Muslim population. For years, many observant families and community groups have voiced concerns that the lack of halal meals in public institutions is aggravating hunger and health disparities. Under the new law, schools and state agencies no longer decide if halal is "important enough" to warrant a menu item; they must now ensure that it's available.

IFANCA played a central role in bringing the Faith by Plate Act to life. Drawing on four decades of experience, IFANCA helped draft the legislation's technical details, ensuring that halal-friendly processes are feasible at scale. From clarifying dietary standards to guiding kitchen protocols, their input has been instrumental in making halal compliance second nature for big institutions.

A roadmap for inclusive food security
By showing that large institutions can incorporate halal-friendly systems at scale, Illinois' example offers a blueprint for others grappling with food insecurity among Muslim populations. When states or organizations integrate faith-based dietary requirements into their offerings, they take a meaningful step toward inclusive and dignified access to nutrition.

Halal certification, in this context, is more than a religious seal of approval. It's a powerful framework for addressing hunger in a way that respects cultural identity and ethical principles. With the right leadership and collaboration, initiatives like the Faith by Plate Act can be replicated everywhere, from bustling cities to remote refugee camps—anywhere people need both sustenance and a sense of belonging.

Toward a more equitable future
As the global hunger crisis intensifies, inclusive policies become increasingly urgent. Studies show that from short-term effects such as undernutrition, social exclusion, and psychological distress, unchecked food insecurity among children can lead to poor academic performance, reduced life expectancies, and socio-economic marginalization. When Muslim children are denied access to halal meals, they are effectively forced to choose between religious observance and sustenance—a decision that undermines both their rights and well-being.

The Faith by Plate Act exemplifies how public institutions can play a key role in bridging cultural gaps and meeting critical needs. Together with IFANCA's global expertise, Illinois is illustrating that when faith and practicality converge, food insecurity doesn't have to be an insurmountable problem.
Ultimately, the drive toward inclusive food security isn't just about feeding people; it's about respecting their values, preserving their dignity, and ensuring that no one is forced to choose between hunger and faith. As governments, nonprofits, and local communities unite to expand halal-friendly infrastructure, one thing becomes crystal clear: equitable food systems benefit everyone, whether you consider halal a necessary practice, a moral stance, or simply a better standard of care.