North Jersey Businesses Cited For Failing To Disclose Halal Food Information: Attorney General

Five North Jersey businesses were among more than a dozen to be cited for allegedly failing to properly disclose practices relating to the preparation, handling and sale of serving of halal food sold or served as halal by the Division of Consumer Affairs.

The division's Halal Enforcement Unit inspected a total of 110 establishments from Passaic to Camden counties. Of those, 15, including five in Paterson, were cited. Each Notice of Violation carries a $500 civil penalty.

The five Paterson businesses cited are: Al Hilal Meat & Fish Market, Al-Kumah Restaurant & Halal Meat, Banglatown Supermarket, Paradise Halal Meat (two stores) and Star Halal Meat.

Businesses are required to post this information according to the state’s Halal Food Consumer Protection Act. The use of halal foods is especially important to Muslim's celebrating Ramadan, which begins on Friday.

Dealers must prominently display disclosure statements providing important information about the foods they prepare and market as halal, such as whether it contains pork products or alcohol, and whether it was prepared using the same or separate cutting boards, refrigerators and more used for non-halal foods.

These and other practices are permitted under state law, as long as the business accurately provides the information in a disclosure statement readily visible to consumers. The business must also provide the same information to the Division of Consumer Affairs.

“Consumers shopping for halal foods, especially during Ramadan, must be able to trust that the foods they buy meet their personal standards and interpretation of Islamic dietary guidelines,” said Attorney General Porrino. “By inspecting halal food establishments in the weeks before this important Muslim holiday, we are reminding vendors of their legal obligation to fully disclose the information shoppers need to buy with confidence.”

Consumers, businesses, religious organizations or halal certifying agencies seeking additional information about the Division’s halal food enforcement can call 973-792-4217.

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