American Muslims have applauded New York mayor’s decision to expand halal options in NYC school cafeterias.

The decision came as part of the Mayor’s Office and NYC Council’s “Cafeteria Enhancement Experience” program.

“Every student, regardless of faith, deserves a lunch that meets their religious guidelines. For too long, Muslim students have been forced to either skip lunch or eat a non-religiously permissible lunch,” Afaf Nasher, executive director of CAIR-NY, said in a statement.

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“CAIR-NY welcomes the expansion of halal lunch options to more schools and efforts to improve the school lunch experience.”   

“As a product of NYC public schools myself, I never had halal food, and applaud the efforts of our Muslim community to demand equal access to basic needs, such as food for our school children.”   

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Halal in NY Schools

There are currently 79 schools Halal-certified, with the option for any school to participate. Foods are labeled clearly with an (H) indicating that Imams have inspected the food and trained school staff to ensure there is no cross-contamination.   

Halal is an Arabic word that means “permissible.”

As well as meat, the term also applies to other food products, cosmetics, personal care products, and pharmaceuticals.

Earlier this year, the Brentwood Union Free School District announced that it would permanently offer halal meal options to students in all of its public schools. 

Atlantic City school district began serving halal food at several elementary schools and the high school in March 2021.

The new menus with halal options came as the result of three-year effort spearheaded by Muslim board member Farook Hossain.