Wellington: The New Zealand government has come under fire for not providing halal-certified school lunches, which comply with Muslim dietary laws, as per media reports on Sunday. The issue surfaced when Compass, a school lunch provider, disclosed that its "halal" meals are not genuinely halal certified but are instead labeled as "halal friendly."

According to Anadolu Agency, the meals offered by Compass include halal-certified chicken and beef. However, the facility where these meals are prepared does not possess halal certification, as reported by Radio New Zealand (RNZ). Halal food guidelines require not only the ingredients but also their preparation to adhere to specific standards.

Associate Education Minister David Seymour commented that achieving full halal certification for the meals would result in an 'unjustified expense.' He explained that it would necessitate separate preparation facilities, packaging, and distribution, which he believes would not be a reasonable expenditure.

"The expense of fully halal certifying these meals by creating separate preparation facilities is not justified," Seymour stated.

In response, Abdur Razaaq Khan from the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand criticized Seymour's stance, labeling it as 'lazy.' Khan argued that halal-certified lunches could be prepared in the existing facilities without needing an additional kitchen.

Khan expressed concerns about the message being sent to children, highlighting that the current approach implies a divide between those who fit into the mainstream dietary practices and those who do not. He also urged the prime minister to take action in the halal certification process, citing instances where children received ham sandwiches in meals that were supposed to be halal.