Columbia University Dining

Halal Dining Option Now Available

As per your student requests, we are now offering a Halal meal plan option at John Jay Dining Hall. A delicious variety of traditionally prepared meats, such as Mediterranean Fish, Roasted Lemon Chicken, and Curried Beef, will be among the items offered on our menu. We receive most of the food on our Halal menu from Midamar , and the vegetables served are all vegan and gluten-free products.

John Jay is proud to be taking the first steps towards our Halal menu, and we look forward to your feedback and participation in this new program. If you would like to participate in the Halal meal plan, please go to 118 Hartley Hall and register. You will then receive your Halal sticker, to be placed on your Columbia ID, from the cashier's desk in John Jay Dining Hall.

What is Halal?

Halal means "lawful or permissible" in Arabic, and it is used to describe that which is permitted in Islam. The term has taken on a connotation in reference to food, especially concerning ritual slaughter and the consumption of meat and poultry.

In order for meat to be considered halal, the following conditions must be met:

1. The food must not be pork.
2. The animal must be slaughtered by a Muslim.
3. "In the name of God, God is great" must be mentioned at the time of slaughter.
4. The animal must be killed in such a way that the main blood vessels are severed and the animal's blood drains, without any unnecessary suffering to the animal.
5. All products slaughtered Halal must not come in contact with any other meat products or products of a non-Halal origin.