Halal poultry slaughter technology: A critical review of control points

Roman Mylostyvyi, Vadym Lykhach, Bogdan Gutyj, Oleh Marenkov, Daria Mylostyva
Abstract

Halal production holds substantial potential for further development, driven by the growing global demand for high-quality, safe, and ethically produced food products. In addition to meeting the needs of Muslim consumers, certified halal products are increasingly appealing to a broader audience that values compliance with high standards of hygiene, traceability, and quality. Modern trends highlight the importance of adhering to stringent requirements, enhancing the competitiveness of halal production in international markets. This literature review examined the technological process of poultry slaughter with a focus on compliance with halal standards and requirements. The study aimed to identify risks at each stage of production, assess their impact on product quality, and propose strategies to optimise production processes in accordance with Islamic standards. The analysis was based on a review of contemporary scientific literature, certification standards, and risk management practices in food production. Key risks are associated with pre-slaughter inspection, stunning, slaughter, bleeding, evisceration, chilling, and post-mortem inspection. It was found that violations at these stages may lead to mechanical damage to carcasses, insufficient bleeding, microbial contamination, or non-compliance with religious standards. Implementing risk management systems, such as HACCP, and adopting modern traceability technologies, including RFID tags and blockchain, can improve transparency, production efficiency, and compliance with international standards. The value of this study lies in identifying directions for improving process control systems, particularly through the integration of automated solutions for monitoring critical points and analysing product quality. The findings may prove useful for raising awareness about poultry slaughter quality requirements in halal-certified production. Future research prospects include the enhancement of slaughter technologies, the development of automated control systems, and the optimisation of quality assessment methods to improve production efficiency and ensure compliance with high hygienic and religious standards

Keywords

halal production; meat safety and quality; critical control points; risk management; traceability

Suggested citation
Mylostyvyi, R., Lykhach, V., Gutyj, B., Marenkov, O., & Mylostyva, D. (2025). Halal poultry slaughter technology: A critical review of control points. Animal Science and Food Technology, 16(2), 55-76. https://doi.org/10.31548/animal.2.2025.55
References
  1. Abdallah, A., Rahem, M.A., & Pasqualone, A. (2021). The multiplicity of halal standards: A case study of application to slaughterhouses. Journal of Ethnic Foods, 8, article number 7. doi: 10.1186/s42779-021-00084-6.
  2. Abdullah, F.A.A., Borilova, G., & Steinhauserova, I. (2019). Halal criteria versus conventional slaughter technology. Animals, 9(8), article number 530. doi: 10.3390/ani9080530.
  3. Akbar, J., Gul, M., Jahangir, M., Adnan, M., Saud, S., Hassan, S., Nawaz, T., & Fahad, S. (2023). Global trends in halal food standards: A review. Foods, 12(23), article number 4200. doi: 10.3390/foods12234200.
  4. Al-Shammari, K.I.A. (2021). A review of the halal poultry slaughtering from welfare and legal perspectives: Analysis of research results. Studia Iuridica Lublinensia, 30(3), 11-27. doi: 10.17951/sil.2021.30.3.11-27.
  5. Aslan, I., & Aslan, H. (2016). Halal foods awarness and future challenges. Journal of Economics, Management and Trade, 12(3), 1-20. doi: 10.9734/bjemt/2016/23861.
  6. Asri Abdullah, M., & Siddique, E.A. (2021). Halal entrepreneurship: Concept and business opportunities. In M. Turuk (Ed.), Entrepreneurship – contemporary issues (pp. 1-15). London: IntechOpen. doi: 10.5772/intechopen.93657.
  7. Azam, S.E., & Abdullah, M.A. (2020). Global halal industry: Realities and opportunities. International Journal of Islamic Business Ethics, 5(1), 47-59. doi: 10.30659/ijibe.5.1.47-59.
  8. Azam, S.E., Abdullah, M.A., & Ahmad, A.N. (2021). Identifying and measuring the weights of Halal Compliance Rating (HCR) components of best halal practices by applying AHP method. International Journal of Islamic Business Ethics, 6(2), 104-118. doi: 10.30659/ijibe.6.2.104-118.
  9. Blevins, R.E., Kim, S.A., Park, S.H., Rivera, R., & Ricke, S.C. (2018). Historical, current, and future prospects for food safety in poultry product processing systems. In S.C. Ricke, G.G. Atungulu, C.E. Rainwater & S.H. Park (Eds.), Food and feed safety systems and analysis (pp. 323345). Cambridge, MA: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-811835-1.00018-X.
  10. Deuraseh, N., & Brunei Darussalam, N. (2020). Review of halal food standard PBD24: 2007 in Negara Brunei Darussalam towards quality and safety food. KnE Social Sciences, 4(9), 123-140. doi: 10.18502/kss.v4i9.7321.
  11. Farouk, M.M., Al-Mazeedi, H.M., Sabow, A.B., Bekhit, A.E.D., Adeyemi, K.D., Sazili, A.Q., & Ghani, A. (2014). Halal and kosher slaughter methods and meat quality: A review. Meat Science, 98(3), 505-519. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2014.05.021.
  12. Farouk, M.M., Regenstein, J.M., Pirie, M.R., Najm, R., Bekhit, A.E.D., & Knowles, S.O. (2015). Spiritual aspects of meat and nutritional security: Perspectives and responsibilities of the Abrahamic faiths. Food Research International, 76(4), 882-895. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2015.05.028.
  13. Govindaiah, P.M., Maheswarappa, N.B., Banerjee, R., Mishra, B.P., Manohar, B.B., & Dasoju, S. (2023). Traditional halal meat production without stunning versus commercial slaughter with electrical stunning of slow-growing broiler chicken: Impact on meat quality and proteome changes. Poultry Science, 102(11), article number 103033. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.103033.
  14. GSO 993:2015. (2015). Animal slaughtering requirements according to Islamic rules. Retrieved from https://www.gso.org.sa/store/standards/GSO:693260?lang=en.
  15. Gul, M., Akbar, J., Ikramullah, M., & Khan, M.H. (2023). A research overview of challenges in the global halal marketElementary Education Online, 19(4), 7893-7903.
  16. HACCP Principles & Application Guidelines. (1997). Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/food/hazard-analysis-critical-control-point-haccp/haccp-principles-applicationguidelines.
  17. HAS 23103:2012. (2012). Guidelines of halal assurance system criteria on slaughterhouses. Retrieved from https://www.scribd.com/document/715959610/HAS-23013.
  18. Hidayat, S.E., & Musari, K. (2022). ASEAN towards a global halal logistics through the digitally enabled community. International Journal of Asian Business and Information Management, 13(2), 1-15. doi: 10.4018/ijabim.20220701.oa1.
  19. Kryvenko, N. (2022). Foreign trade in poultry meat of Ukraine in the context of integration processes. Ekonomika APK, 29(6), 57-67. doi: 10.32317/2221-1055.202206057.
  20. Kumar, P., Verma, A.K., Umaraw, P., Mehta, N., & Sazili, A.Q. (2022). Processing and preparation of slaughtered poultry. In S.M. Jafari (Ed.), Postharvest and postmortem processing of raw food materials (pp. 281-314). Sawston: Woodhead Publishing. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-818572-8.00006-1.
  21. Lupenko, Yu.O., Kopytets, N.H., Voloshyn, V.M., Varchenko, O.M., & Tkachenko, K.O. (2022). Quality of poultry meat as a basis of export potential of the meat products. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 949(1), article number 012020. doi: 10.1088/17551315/949/1/012020.
  22. Mehak, F., et al. (2024). Emerging zoonotic viral diseases and preventive strategies with Islamic perspectives of halal foods. Italian Journal of Food Science, 36(1), 142-156. doi: 10.15586/ijfs.v36i1.2404.
  23. MS 1500:2019. (2019). Malaysian standard. Halal food – general requirements. Retrieved from https://surl.li/ajrfcj.
  24. Mylostyvyi, R.V. (2023). Veterinary, economic and social aspects of cattle welfare: A review. One Health Journal, 1(IV), 28-36. doi: 10.31073/onehealthjournal2023-iv-03.
  25. Ng, P.C., Ahmad Ruslan, N.A.S., Chin, L.X., Ahmad, M., Abu Hanifah, S., Abdullah, Z., & Khor, S.M. (2021). Recent advances in halal food authentication: Challenges and strategies. Journal of Food Science, 87(1), 8-35. doi: 10.1111/1750-3841.15998.
  26. Petracci, M., Bianchi, M., & Cavani, C. (2010). Pre-slaughter handling and slaughtering factors influencing poultry product quality. World’s Poultry Science Journal, 66(1), 17-26. doi: 10.1017/S0043933910000024.
  27. Raj, A.B.M. (2004). Stunning and slaughter of poultry. In G.C. Mead (Ed.), Poultry meat processing and quality (pp. 65-89). Sawston: Woodhead Publishing. doi: 10.1533/9781855739031.65.
  28. Ramli, M.H., Rosman, A.S., & Jamaludin, M.A. (2024a). Application of FMEA method in halal risk determination on halal poultry slaughtering operations. Journal of Fatwa Management and Research, 29(3), 1-30. doi: 10.33102/jfatwa.vol29no3.587.
  29. Ramli, M.H., Rosman, A.S., Sikin, A., & Jamaludin, M.A. (2024b). Assessment of halal tayibban risks in broiler farming activities using the “Cause-and-Effect Diagram” approach. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 14(4), 2120-2139. doi: 10.6007/ijarbss/v14-i4/21176.
  30. Riaz, M.N., Irshad, F., Riaz, N.M., & Regenstein, J.M. (2021). Pros and cons of different stunning methods from a Halal perspective: A review. Translational Animal Science, 5(4), article number txab154. doi: 10.1093/tas/txab154.
  31. Saraiva, S., Esteves, A., Oliveira, I., Mitchell, M., & Stilwell, G. (2020). Impact of pre-slaughter factors on welfare of broilers. Veterinary and Animal Science, 10, article number 100146. doi: 10.1016/j.vas.2020.100146.
  32. Sejian, V., et al. (2024). The welfare of goats in adverse environments. In S. Mattiello & M. Battini (Eds.), The welfare of goats (pp. 273-294). Cham: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-03162182-6_7.
  33. Shahdan, I.A., Regenstein, J.M., & Rahman, M.T. (2017). Critical limits for the control points for halal poultry slaughter. Poultry Science, 96(6), 1970-1981. doi: 10.3382/ps/pew427.
  34. Shahdan, I.A., Regenstein, J.M., Shahabuddin, A.S.M., & Rahman, M.T. (2016). Developing control points for halal slaughtering of poultry. Poultry Science, 95(7), 1680-1692. doi: 10.3382/ps/pew092.
  35. Sucipto, S., Hidayati, L., Perdani, C.G., & Hasanah, N. (2021). Traceability of halal control point in material, production, and serving to support halal certification in Universitas Brawijaya canteen. Indonesian Journal of Halal Research, 3(2), 75-86. doi: 10.15575/ijhar.v3i2.11401.
  36. Supian, K. (2018). Cross-contamination in processing, packaging, storage, and transport in halal supply chain. In E. Ali & N.N.A. Nizar (Eds.), Preparation and processing of religious and cultural foods (pp. 309-321). Sawston: Woodhead Publishing. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-08-101892-7.00016-x.
  37. Tieman, M., & Williams, G. (2019). Creative destruction of halal certification (bodies) by blockchain technology? ICR Journal, 10(1), 127-131. doi: 10.52282/icr.v10i1.79.
  38. Tkachuk, S., Bogatko, N., Hrynevych, N., & Savchuk, L. (2023). Expert evaluation of meat of broiler chickens for sale on the agricultural market. Scientific Reports of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, 19(5). doi: 10.31548/dopovidi5(105).2023.019.
  39. Van der Spiegel, M., van der Fels-Klerx, H.J., Sterrenburg, P., van Ruth, S.M., ScholtensToma, I.M.J., & Kok, E.J. (2012). Halal assurance in food supply chains: Verification of halal certificates using audits and laboratory analysis. Trends in Food Science and Technology, 27(2), 109-119. doi: 10.1016/j.tifs.2012.04.005.
  40. Vanany, I., Maarif, G.A., & Soon, J.M. (2019). Application of multi-based quality function deployment (QFD) model to improve halal meat industry. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 10(1), 97-124. doi: 10.1108/jima-10-2017-0119.
  41. Vieira, F.M.C., Portugal, M.A.G., de Borba, L.P., Angrecka, S., Herbut, P., Jongbo, A.O., De-Sousa, K.T., & Deniz, M. (2024). Poultry preslaughter operations in hot environments: The present knowledge and the next steps forward. Animals, 14(19), article number 2865. doi: 10.3390/ ani14192865.