Guidelines for preparing HALAL food for Muslim PDL detainees in Caloocan City Jail

All Muslim PDL detainees of Caloocan City Jail are served with prepared HALAL foods.
The meal that is served for them is based on the monthly menu and adheres to the
BJMP's Revised Standards on Food Service Management, with the exception of the
usage of HALAL ingredients. These raw food items and/or their ingredients do not
contain any animal meat or by products that are prohibited from being consumed as
food by Muslims under Shariah/Islamic law, nor do the methods used to process these
foods. As a non-Muslim Food Service Specialist in charge of the food service, the lack of
education, awareness, and comprehension of the HALAL concept among Muslims may
result in an unfavorable incident as a result of poor food service management.
Thus, guidelines have been developed and are being implemented by this unit's food
service in order to address religious, cultural, and dietary concerns in the process of
marketing, handling, preparing, and distributing prepared food to Muslim and non-
Muslim PDL.
The developed guidelines in the food service process intended for Muslim PDL are as
follows:
1. MARKETING
As a rule, raw food items and other ingredients purchased for food preparation that will
eventually be served to PDL of this unit must adhere to the standard menu. For Muslim
PDL, the following considerations must be made when purchasing raw goods and other
ingredients for food preparation:

• Except for those prohibited by Shariah/Islamic law and not prepared in

accordance with such law, all animal meat is permissible as food.
• Water-dwelling, aquatic or marine animals, such as fish, are considered HALAL
except for those that are toxic, intoxicating, or harmful to human health.
• All plant-based food and fruit products aside from those that are lethal, addictive,
or harmful to health are considered HALAL.
• All other food ingredients, spices, or enhancers labeled HALAL that are used in
food preparation are permitted.
2. STORAGE

All HALAL food products, including meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, spices, and other
ingredients, should be categorized and labeled as "HALAL" or permissible at every stage
of the process to prevent it from being mixed or contaminated with impure or forbidden
items, according to Sharia/Islamic law. In order to store these food items, a separate
location, containers, and freezers must be provided.

3. PROCESSING AND COOKING OF FOOD

The food that is processed, cooked, and delivered to this unit's minority of Muslim PDL
is also prepared by one of their fellow Muslim PDL; he is endorsed by the group as their
representative. The PDL in-charge is classified as a food service assistant as well, just
like any other food service workers who are in charge of preparing food for non-
Muslims. He must be able to perform his duties and adhere to the standards for food
service assistants/workers set forth in the BJMP's Standards on Food Service
Management. Food preparation and cooking food for the aforementioned PDL must also
meet the following conditions:
• Halal and non-Halal food should be handled separately when being prepared and
cooked.
• When preparing HALAL foods, provision of separate kitchen utensils and
cookware must be used.

4. SERVICE/DELIVERY
A Muslim food service assistant/worker in this unit is also in charge of serving cooked
HALAL food to the minority of Muslim PDL, and the delivery of the prepared meals must
also meet the following conditions:

• A separate food container must be provided for the prepared HALAL meals
delivered to Muslim PDL.
• Ensure food safety in the delivery of food.