Processed Meats and Poultry Consumption Trends In North American Muslim Population

Abstract

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5915/21-4-13510

The American food supply is the most abundant and varied in the world and American Muslims have access to this tremendous bounty at an extremely low cost. The average American Muslim spends only 15% of disposable income on food. Two-thirds of this is spent on food consumed at home and about one-third on food away from home. The technological wonder we call the US food system is in flux. Before our very eyes, a new, modern global food system is being built on the remnants of traditional agriculture, food processing, food distribution, food marketing, and food consumption patterns. American Muslims are looking for excitement in their foods. This can be seen in the increased consumption of processed meats and poultry foods among first and second generation American Muslims. Processed meats and poultry products such as hot dogs, bologna, salami, pastrami, roast beef, and many others labeled "Halal" are appearing in specialty stores. For the first time in US history, the American Muslims' existence is being recognized in social, political, and economic sectors. This review will explore, for the first time, the current trends in consumption of processed meats and poultry by the North American Muslim population and its impact on the meat processing industry. The processed meats and poultry industry had better make the most of the present. The availability of these products will generate interest among Americans consumers from outside the Muslim minority.