Two pieces of equipment stand in the way of a father-and-son halal facility in Ozone Park from becoming federally approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
By the end of July, Imran Uddin, 32, and Riaz Uddin, 77, hope to begin catering to a growing demand for halal products not only in Queens, but possibly around the globe.
“I’m looking to market to the Muslim community, but also to those who care about what they put in their body,” said Imran, referring to the removal of hormones and blood after an animal is humanely killed in their state-of-the-art slaughterhouse converted from an auto-body shop. With USDA approval, their facility, Madani Halal, can begin to sell their products directly to supermarkets, butcher shops and across state and international lines.
The Arabic term “halal” translates to lawful or permitted. In terms of food service, halal requires that the animals are treated humanely and slaughtered so as to make death merciful and swift – by means of a sharp knife maximizing the amount of blood removed – a method similar to what is demanded by to the kosher laws of Judaism.
While a USDA approval will change the reach of the father-son business, Imran insists upon his commitment to treat animals with respect.
“I want to maintain the quality of the product . . . erything is done by hand with individual attention to each animal,” he said.
With a modest grand opening in 1996, Madani Halal has expanded from selling only chicken to various breeds of poultry, Suffolk and Dorset lamb, boer goat and show goat.
“There are different breeds for different traditions. It’s very different from what you get from the supermarket in terms of flavor and texture,” said Imran.
Madani Halal is one of seven halal markets in the metropolitan area and is set to become Queens’ third USDA approved slaughterhouse, according to federal agriculture officials. The other two are Aziz Slaughter House Livestock, at 151-24 Beaver Road in Jamaica; and Aniqa Halal Poultry Corp., 96-18 43rd Avenue in Corona.
