Economization of animals

the case of marketization of halal foods

M. Miele

pp. 21-24

in: Helena Röcklinsberg, Per Sandin (eds), The ethics of consumption, Wageningen, Wageningen Academic Publishers, 2013

Abstract

Over the last 15 years the demand of halal meat has increased significantly worldwide and dedicated markets for halal certified meat have emerged in a number of European countries. While ethnic stores still constitute the major retail outlet for halal meat in most countries, "halal" labelled meat and meat products are increasingly available in supermarkets and fast food restaurants. Market expansion has also facilitated the rise of new certification bodies, each with their own marketing strategies and interpretations of what constitutes authentic "halal", who question the reliability of certification policies that allow the practice of stunning before slaughter. This paper, based on research carried out during the EU funded Dialrel project, I have attempted to investigate which activities, behaviours and fields are established as being economic while dealing with nonhuman animals, in other words, I have addressed the economization of animals via marketization of halal meat.