What is halal catering?

Halal catering is event catering whose food and preparation follow Islamic rules on what is permitted (“halal” means “lawful” in Arabic). In practice, it excludes pork, pork products and alcohol, and requires meat from animals slaughtered according to Islamic rites.

What it involves

• Ingredients: no pork, no pork gelatine and no alcohol, not even in sauces or desserts.
• Meat: from suppliers who can certify that the slaughter meets the rules.
• Preparation: utensils, griddles and areas kept free of contact with non-halal products.

Certification comes from third parties

Halal status is usually certified by private certification bodies, recognised by the relevant community, which audit the producer and issue a certificate. So when a client needs a halal menu, the sensible step is to ask the caterer whether it holds that certification, which one, and what it covers, rather than accepting an unsupported “it’s halal”.

How to approach it for an event

• Ask in advance how many attendees need it and how strict they expect it to be.
• Say whether a menu without pork or alcohol is enough, or whether certified meat is required.
• Keep alcohol out of the sauces, desserts and drinks on the menu.
• Also flag any allergies, such as the 14 allergens.

If you need another diet with third-party certification, see kosher catering. If your group mixes several diets, see vegan catering as well.

How we can help

Tell us what you need and we will tell you plainly what we can offer. Find out more about our corporate catering in Madrid.

Related service: Corporate catering

More in Glossary.