All articles tagged with #halal
Former IT pro Shahezad Contractor left his 24-year tech career to launch Cousin’s Burger in 2024. The halal-focused group now runs eight locations (burger, pizza, and BBQ) in PA, NJ, and DE, generating over $4 million in 2025 revenue with a plan to become a national/global halal fast-casual brand, despite high costs and rents.
Lab-grown meat can be labeled kosher and halal as long as the cells used are derived in methods compliant with religious standards, according to panels of experts commissioned by the industry. This is seen as a significant development for cell-cultivated meat companies, as it opens up the possibility of observant followers of Judaism and Islam consuming their products. The opinions provide a roadmap for the industry to make halal products and have been welcomed by companies in the fledgling industry, who hope to scale production and appeal to vegans, vegetarians, and climate-conscious meat eaters. The Orthodox Union and a sharia panel have already provided guidelines for kosher and halal lab-grown meat, respectively, and are working on broader industry standards.
Islamic scholars have issued rulings on the permissibility of consuming lab-grown meat, stating that it can be considered halal (permissible) as long as it meets certain conditions. These conditions include ensuring that the cells used to produce the meat are sourced from halal animals, that the process does not involve any haram (forbidden) substances, and that the final product does not pose any health risks. The rulings aim to provide guidance to Muslims who may have concerns about the religious acceptability of lab-grown meat.