Fatwa ID: 04019
Answered by: Maulana Shadman Ahmed
Question
(For those in the US) does anyone know of the details pertaining to maple leaf halal duck?
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Alḥamdulillāh, it is good that you are trying your best to consume halāl food. Our research has shown that the Halal Transactions of Omaha (https://www.halaltransactions.org) certifies the Maple Leaf Farms All-Natural Halal Ducks. The Halal Transactions of Omaha approves of slaughter using machine-slaughter methods which we do not see as permissible.
There are many issues that are incorrect in machine-slaughter. Some of which are: the birds can move their neck back and as a result die in an electric bath [which will be considered mayta], the Bismillah is recited when the machine is turned on and not at every bird slaughtered or a tape recorder is reciting the bismillah and the blades of the machine take out the entire head [which will make the bird meat makruh tahrimi or strongly disliked].
To read more details on machine slaughter please read the following fatwa:
http://daruliftabirmingham.co.uk/machine-slaughtered-animal/
In conclusion, it is best to avoid the Maple Leaf Farms All-Natural Halal Ducks.
Only Allah knows best
Written by Maulana Shadman Ahmed
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham