In a passionate address before the city council, activist and community advocate Adama Bah raised pressing concerns about the integrity of halal food served in city shelters.

She questioned the legitimacy of the certification process and the lack of transparency in how halal meals are handled and prepared.

“There is no definitive proof that the food meets halal standards,” Bah stated, highlighting that the vendor responsible for supplying the meals—a non-Muslim—acquired certification online. She emphasized that this raises serious doubts about whether the food truly complies with halal dietary laws.

Beyond the certification issue, Bah criticized the city’s approach to halal food, particularly its association with specific ethnic groups.

“The city should avoid associating halal food with specific ethnicities,” she argued. “Halal food is not unique to South Asian or Arab cuisine—this association overlooks African, Eastern European, and Latin American Muslims, which is troubling.”

Another major point of concern was the financial aspect of the arrangement. The vendor in question has reportedly been awarded a million-dollar contract to serve halal meals to Muslim shelter residents, despite the ambiguity surrounding the sourcing and preparation of the food.

Bah’s remarks have sparked discussions about the need for stricter oversight in halal food procurement for public programs.