How Long Before a Texan Steak Becomes a Halal Falafel Burger?

The North America halal food market, encompassing the United States and Canada, was valued at USD 100.11 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 226 billion by 2033, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.47% from 2025 to 2033.

This growth reflects a shift from niche demand to mainstream integration, influenced by immigration, higher birth rates among Muslim communities, and marketing that emphasizes health and humane aspects.

The global halal food market was valued at approximately USD 2.5 trillion in 2024 and is projected to grow to USD 6 trillion by 2034 at a CAGR of 9.1%.

In Texas, the halal food sector is growing rapidly, with reported annual increases of 22-25% in Houston and 20% in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This surge is fueled by a diverse Muslim population, including Somalis, Pakistanis, Iraqis, and Syrians, alongside rising awareness of ethical food production.

Estimates place the Texas Muslim population at approximately 420,000–500,000 as of recent legislative references, representing about 1.4–1.7% of the state’s residents. Hotspots include Houston’s Hillcroft Avenue, referred to as “halal central,” with over 200 halal restaurants and markets serving concentrated communities.

In Dallas-Fort Worth, suburbs like Plano, Richardson, Irving, and Carrollton have experienced significant changes, including halal meal accommodations in some public schools and prayer rooms. Texas hosts more than 330 mosques and Islamic centers, marking a substantial increase over two decades.

Nationwide hotspots follow similar patterns:

Chicago’s Devon Avenue, predominantly Pakistani and Indian Muslim.
Dearborn, Michigan, majority Arab-Muslim.
Minneapolis’s Cedar-Riverside, hosting the largest Somali community and over 70 mosques.
Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York, with halal enclaves replacing existing businesses.

The U.S. Muslim population is estimated at 3.45–4.5 million currently, with Pew Research Center projections indicating growth to 8.1 million by 2050, or 2.1% of the total population.

U.S. legislation supports this through exemptions in the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA of 1958, amended), requiring stunning before slaughter but exempting religious practices including halal and kosher. This permits slaughter without pre-stunning when consistent with religious dietary laws. Most states adopt similar federal exemptions, allowing ritual slaughter via carotid artery severance for rapid blood drainage. Poultry processing has explicit religious exemptions permitting operations without federal inspection under specified conditions.

For non-Muslims’ freedom of choice, halal labeling remains voluntary with no federal requirement, though false halal claims violate state fraud statutes. Products in retailers like Costco and Whole Foods may include halal meat without prominent disclosure or non-halal alternatives, raising concerns of unintentional consumption. Non-Muslims account for up to 40% of halal consumers due to perceived ethical advantages, though calls exist for mandatory non-halal options.

The halal process requires healthy, live animals. A Muslim slaughterer recites “Bismillah Allahu Akbar” while cutting the throat, windpipe, and blood vessels with a sharp knife for complete blood drainage. Most certifiers prohibit pre-stunning to maintain animal consciousness. Meat then undergoes processing, packaging, and distribution under halal protocols, preventing cross-contamination with non-halal products.

Certification is conducted by third-party organizations auditing operations. Major U.S. certifiers include:

USA Halal Chamber of Commerce (ISWA), permitting manual or mechanical slaughter for poultry.
American Halal Foundation, emphasizing avoidance of dead meat and proper rites.
Halal Transactions of Omaha, offering on-site monitoring and monthly audits.
Islamic Services of America (ISA), requiring Muslim slaughter personnel and full compliance.
Halal Monitoring Services, prioritizing hand-slaughter.

These entities oversee from slaughter to labeling, granting compliance certificates.

Texas leads U.S. beef production with over 6.2 billion pounds annually and a cattle inventory of 12.2 million head as of January 2025 (USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service), making it an attractive location for halal meat processing expansion due to abundant local livestock supply and established agricultural infrastructure supporting both conventional and specialty slaughter facilities.

This expansion of halal food indicates a broader effort toward Islamic control, leveraging dietary laws to promote submission and societal restructuring. Via immigration-related demographics and accommodations such as school menus and zoning preferences, it creates parallel systems favoring religious requirements over secular standards, risking permanent cultural shifts.

The post How Long Before a Texan Steak Becomes a Halal Falafel Burger? appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.