The Diversity Subcommittee of the Hudson Common Council is investigating the possibility of having halal foods served in the cafeterias of the Hudson City School District. “Halal” refers to foods that are permitted under Islamic law.
At the September meeting of the subcommittee, Alderwoman Alexis Keith, D-4th Ward, said some students go the whole day without food because of the lack of halal offerings.
“We have to do something,” Alderman Abdus Miah, D-2nd Ward, said in response. “Halal is easy: ShopRite sells it.”
“Halal food is prepared, but only during holiday occasions, and not holidays the Muslim community celebrates,” said Alderwoman Tiffany Garriga, D-2nd Ward.
Foods that are not halal include pork and its byproducts, animals not slaughtered according to the Islamic method, intoxicating drinks, carnivorous animals, blood and blood byproducts and foods contaminated from any of these.
“It’s not just the food (we have to think about), it’s cross-contamination,” said Supervisor William C. Hughes Jr., D-Hudson4. “It would require a whole education.”
Miah said pepperoni pizza is an example of something served that is not halal.
Over the ensuing month, research was done. At the October meeting, the subcommittee learned that in 2013-14, the Dearborn, Michigan schools began a pilot halal lunch program offering five days of halal options.
Legislators in New York City and New York state have proposed mandatory serving of halal food, Garriga said. Three separate bills have been introduced into the state Assembly during the 2015-16 term that would require public schools in big cities to offer halal lunch options.
There’s also a change.org petition to require public schools to carry halal food in the cafeterias.
The school district’s Food Service Director Catherine Drumm said the district is trying to meet the needs of its diverse population.
“We here at Hudson City School District make an effort to accommodate our entire student body with multiple food options available daily in all our school cafeterias,” she stated in an email. “We currently provide two non-meat sandwiches and a salad entree option daily in all of our buildings. At this current time I am looking to expand on our vegetarian options by adding hot vegetarian entrees to our menu. I believe the availability of both hot and cold vegetarian options will allow us to accommodate many different segments of our diverse student body.
“In a public school system Food Service Program funded by government funds I believe it is important to consider all members of our student population,” Drumm stated. “I will continue to seek new and innovative food options that will satisfy our entire student body.”
Garriga said the Diversity Subcommittee plans to meet with HCSD Superintendent Maria Suttmeier to find out how many Muslim students there are in the district, both of Bangladeshi and African-American origin.
“The committee is asking the school to create a survey so we would know the exact population of the Muslim community in the district,” Garriga said. “Once we get the numbers of students, we’d request to know the exact cost.”