RTV UtrechtThe Food Bank in Leerdam
In association with
RTV Utrecht
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 12:23
The Food Bank in Leerdam is looking for halal meat and has therefore appealed to residents to help. “It would be nice if people united.”
About thirty Muslim families come by every week with a cool bag, but it is often returned home empty, says Martine Visser, coordinator at the food bank. RTV Utrecht. “And you want to provide these people with meat that is useful to them. Because that is often a major expense.”
According to Visser, the lack of halal meat has always been an issue in Leerdam. Meat comes in from various sponsors, but it is “by definition not halal”, she says.
Transport refrigerated
The food bank therefore raised the alarm on Facebook. Several responses soon came in, including from a board member of the Turkish mosque in Leerdam, who indicated that he would like to play a role. “That is very nice. Perhaps they can collaborate with, for example, a halal butcher or the Turkish supermarket in Leerdam,” says Visser.
What makes matters more difficult is that the food bank cannot just accept meat from everyone, Visser explains. For example, buying halal minced meat yourself and delivering it is not an option. Then it does not comply with the Commodities Act. “We have to be sure that the entire process has gone well, that the meat has been properly cooled, etc. That is not possible with private donations.”
Invest money together
Several people responded to the call and would like to help, including by donating money. Transferring money is indeed one of the ways in which people can help, Visser explains. It is useful if this is not a one-off, “because this is something permanent that comes back every week”.
Yet Visser hopes for a more sustainable solution. “I would love it if people united and agreed to buy halal meat at a local supermarket. And then we could pick it up and distribute it to the people who need it.”
According to her, supermarkets themselves can also play a role. For example, by encouraging customers to donate money for halal meat for the food bank. In any case, Visser finds it hopeful that there are many responses. “Hopefully that will also lead to a solution.”
A spokesperson for Food Bank Netherlands says that the problem does not occur everywhere. “We hear about it occasionally, but every food bank has its own policy in this regard. Halal products are explicitly mentioned in our standard shopping lists.”
2024-04-11 10:23:49
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