CA Penal Code Section 383c

Every person who with intent to defraud, sells or exposes for sale any meat or meat preparations, and falsely represents the same to be halal, whether the meat or meat preparations is raw or prepared for human consumption, or as having been prepared under and from a product or products sanctioned by the Islamic religious requirements; or falsely represents any food product, or the contents of any package or container, to be so constituted and prepared, by having or permitting to be inscribed thereon the word “halal” in any language; or sells or exposes for sale in the same place of business both halal and nonhalal meat or meat preparations, either raw or prepared for human consumption, who fails to indicate on his or her window signs in all display advertising in block letters at least four inches in height “halal and nonhalal meats sold here”; or who exposes for sale in any show window or place of business as both halal and nonhalal meat preparations, either raw or prepared for human consumption, who fails to display over each kind of meat or meat preparation so exposed a sign in block letters at least four inches in height, reading “halal meat” or “nonhalal meat” as the case may be; or sells or exposes for sale in any restaurant or any other place where food products are sold for consumption on the premises, any article of food or food preparations and falsely represents the same to be halal, or as having been prepared in accordance with the Islamic religious requirements; or sells or exposes for sale in a restaurant, or other place, both halal and nonhalal food or food preparations for consumption on the premises, not prepared in accordance with the Islamic ritual, or not sanctioned by Islamic religious requirements, and who fails to display on his or her window signs in all display advertising, in block letters at least four inches in height “halal and nonhalal food served here” is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof be punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100), nor more than six hundred dollars ($600), or imprisonment in a county jail of not less than 30 days, nor more than 90 days, or both that fine and imprisonment. The word “halal” is here defined to mean a strict compliance with every Islamic law and custom pertaining and relating to the killing of the animal or fowl from which the meat is taken or extracted, the dressing, treatment, and preparation thereof for human consumption, and the manufacture, production, treatment, and preparation of other food or foods in connection wherewith Islamic laws and customs obtain and to the use of tools, implements, vessels, utensils, dishes, and containers that are used in connection with the killing of animals and fowls and the dressing, preparation, production, manufacture, and treatment of meats and other products, foods, and food stuffs.

Source: Section 383c, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=PEN§ionNum=383c.­.

Last Updated

Aug. 19, 2023

§ 383c’s source at ca​.gov