Governor Signs Law Protecting Halal Foods
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A bill making it a misdemeanor to sell food products falsely labeled as halal, or sanctioned by Islamic law, was signed into law Monday by Gov. Gray Davis.
Davis signed AB 1828, by Assemblyman Bill Campbell (R-Villa Park), during a news conference at the Islamic Cultural Center in Los Angeles.
“Halal is the Islamic equivalent to the Jewish kosher, and therefore a sacred necessity for the Islamic faithful,” Davis said.
The law establishes a penalty of as much as 90 days in jail and a $600 fine for misrepresentation of foods that have not been prepared in accordance with Islamic dietary laws.
Halal foods are outlined in the Koran, the Muslim holy book, as the only acceptable foods for observant Muslims.
They must be prepared and stored using equipment that has been cleansed according to Islamic law.
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