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Medill News Service – May 24, 2006
Two Chicago companies supply meals to meet
Muslim, Jewish military personnel needs
BY DALIA HATUQA
Dietary requirements of Muslim and Jewish military personnel were long overlooked by the armed forces, leaving many strict followers to survive on peanut butter, fruits and vegetables, and cereal.
Thanks in large part to two Chicago companies, these troops now have everything from lamb and lentil stew, and cheese tortellini, without feeling a burden on their consciences.
My Own Meals Inc. and J&M Food Products Co. are the U.S. military's sole suppliers of prepackaged meals that meet Muslim and Jewish dietary standards.
Produced and packaged under the careful eye of Jewish and Muslim inspectors, the kosher and Halal meals Ready to Eat have only been available in the military since the mid-1990s.
Jewish or Muslim personnel make up .5 percent of the U.S. military, said Mary Anne Jackson, president of My Own Meals.
"While the numbers aren't necessarily big, the demand is changing," she said. "A new market niche is emerging."
The two Chicago companies also provide ready-made meals to Iraqi and Afghani troops being trained by the U.S. military. The companies do direct marketing outside military channels as well, throughout the United States and in countries such as Kuwait, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
While packaging takes place at a Deerfield plant, the slaughtering process for the different meals is carried out in different locations around the country. Halal beef is slaughtered in California, kosher beef in Iowa and Halal chicken in Georgia.
In order to religiously certify meals, the plant must be cleaned to strict specifications and only certain ingredients can be brought in.
Manufacturing of kosher and Halal meals, which takes place in Oregon, is made separately under the supervision of the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America and the Organization of Orthodox Kashruth Supervision, which is under the direction of Rabbis Aaron and Moshe Soloveichik.
When Halal meals are made, only Muslim workers are allowed into the plant.
"Halal follows the religious requirements of Islam," said Joseph D'Onofrio, president of J&M Food Products. "The slaughter of animals is done by Muslims and they supervise the production of the meals."
http://nwitimes.com/articles/2006/05/24/news/illiana/487a1254409ed841862571780002f30a.txt
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