No Non-Halal choice for prisoners

All 8500 prisoners in the New Zealand prison system eat Halal certified meat, despite only 82 prisoners identifying themselves as Muslim.

For a meat processor to be Halal certified, meat must be slaughtered by Muslims and cannot be contaminated by alcohol or pig products.

Corrections Rehabilitation General Manager Phil McCarthy confirmed, in response to an Official Information Act request, that the department has been purchasing meat from a Halal Accredited supplier since 2005.

The department took 23 working days to respond to the Otago Daily Times request.

Mr McCarthy said the department had a national supply agreement with Napier-based Bay Cuisine Ltd.

Following a 2004 national menu review, it was decided that those tendering for meat contract should have a Halal Certificate.

It did not cost the department more to buy food from Halal suuppliers, despite extra costs associated with Halal Certification.

New Zealand Islamic Meat Management and the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand provide Halal Certification in New Zealand.

A Federation spokesman said it cost up to $2000 for a meat processing company to obtain a Halal Certificate.

After certification, the premises are checked by a supervisor every fortnight.

The certification was also renewed every year.

Mr McCarthy said the department, when providing food, made allowances, “as far as practicable in the circumstances” for the religious and spiritual needs of prisoners.

Prisoners could choose a vegetarian or vegan menu, or a non-pork diet, he said.

“The Department of Corrections acknowledges that food is an important part of the religious observances of many prisoners and endeavours to meet their needs by the provision of alternative options to the standard menu.”

The department needed large volumes of food and could therefore reduce costs through economies of scale.

In the 2007-08 year, 8,333,515 meals were provided from prison kitchens, at an average cost of $4.12 per prisoner per day, for three meals.

-Otago Daily Times ©