Halal on the menu for Olympics

- Published: 04 January, 2010

High-quality halal meat will be on the menu for Olympic athletes after Games officials approved The European Halal Development Agency’s Standard for all halal products.

The Olympic Committee has published its food vision guide for procurement of food and drink at the London Games, which lists the food accreditation standard, along with the Assured Meat Scheme (Red Tractor). Kosher meat will be prepared in conjunction with Beth Lin.

“This comes as fantastic news for many Muslims as halal is certainly on the menu at the London Olympics 2012 Games,” said Mohammad Nazir, chairman of the European Halal Development Agency and chair of the West Midlands Minority Ethnic Business Forum.

“We are working hard to provide Muslim consumers with full halal integrity from farm to plate, which has not existed before. The approval at the London Olympics 2012 Games is the icing on the cake for all the hard work the board has done along with our partners.”

The push for halal meat to be included for the Olympics was backed by MP David Taylor who passed away over the Christmas holidays.

Janan Meat MD Naved Syed in tribute said: "He did play a major role and he has always been a keen supporter of halal."