How Halal are you : how do Muslim youths in Singapore make sense of their dining practices?

Abstract

Halal food is an integral part of Islam. It defines the parameters for food consumption and also social activities. In Singapore’s halal food industry, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) holds monopoly in halal certification. This study analyses the understanding of halal food among Muslim youths in Singapore, by studying the dining practices of these individuals. 17 Muslims undergrads were interviewed about their understanding of halal food and their dining practices. Hence, this study aims to answer the question of how Muslim youths make sense of their dining practices. It argues that there is governmentality of MUIS over Muslims in Singapore to maintain and regulate the religious control they have over halal food. While respondents show an initial reflexivity about halal food, they showcase behaviors that are overly trusting and reliant of the MUIS halal certificate.