California Governor Sings Bill to Help Protect Integrity of Halal Products

July 9, 2002

Source: Los Angeles Times

On July 9, 2002 the Los Angeles Times reported that "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 [of California]... 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."