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Halal food consumption and the halal market economy in Europe have been steadily growing among both Muslim and non-Muslim populations. This growth has been propelled by the rising number of Muslim immigrants in European countries. The purpose of the present study was to systematically review and synthesize a multitude of existing scholarly findings extracted from peer-reviewed research and reliable web-based sources on the role of Muslim immigrants in the acculturation of halal food in European countries. An electronic database search in the available literature was conducted to identify and select data from cognate studies. The collected data were examined and analyzed employing a systematic review methodology. The combined findings of Muslim immigrants' role and contributions to halal food acculturation in Europe are discussed. A systematic search of major electronic bibliographic databases, printed books, verified fact-based newspaper articles, and credible web-based sources was conducted. A cross section of a total of sixty-four data sources was included in this review. Findings suggest that the acculturation of the halal food process in European countries has been effective and facilitated by waves of Muslim immigrants, centuries of colonization of Muslim countries by many former European colonizers, adhering to religious requirements to consuming halal food, cultural and peer influences on halal food consumption, perceived control over consuming halal meat, developing a bicultural identity in the host country, as well as the increasing acceptance of the non-Muslim European consumer to consuming halal food as a healthier alternative to fast food and processed food products. There is a need for further research to better understand the economic and socio-cultural impact of the acculturation of halal food on the behavior of non-Muslim European consumers. This might serve as a paradigm for future research to better understand what influences halal food product consumption in non-Muslim European countries and globally.

AbstractThe purpose of this meta-analysis study is to examine the acculturation process of halal food to the American food culture. Further, is to determine the effects the acculturation of halal food on the consumer and food economy in the U.S. and globally. Irrespective of where a Muslim resides or travels to, consuming halal food is an obligatory religious dietary requirement for all Muslims worldwide. According to recent census estimates, there are nearly 3.3 million Muslims living in the U.S. This number represents nearly 1% of the total U.S. population. By 2050, this number will more than double. The U.S. is considered a melting pot of a mélange of many ethnic groups and is one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse countries in the world. Through both Muslims immigration to the U.S. and trade globalization, halal food was introduced to the American food culture. Migrant Muslims have not brought only their Islamic religious traditions to the U.S., but also their traditional halal food preparation, including butchering of animals for consumption, their distinct cooking styles, and other Islamic dietary practices. This paper offers an analysis of the process of acculturation and transition of halal food products to both the Muslim and non-Muslim American consumers. This paper further examines the impact of the burgeoning halal food economy on the U.S. food industry and its share of the growing global halal food economy. There a need for further research to study the long-term socioeconomic and environmental sustainability impact on growing global Muslim populations living in low-income counties.

This cross-sectional study examined the association between sociodemographic characteristics, ethnocultural identity, dietary habits, and related health behaviors of the Chinese Han and Hui populations. Participants in the study were 662 male and female adults randomly selected from four Chinese cities in three provinces. A modified 23-question self-administered questionnaire was employed to collect data from the respondents pertaining to their ethnic group affirmation, demographic characteristics, dietary habits, food consumption patterns, and related health practices. A t-test was conducted to determine interactions between the parametric variables and Chi-square analyses were conducted to determine interactions between the nonparametric variables. Hans were more likely to have a higher level of education than Huis, Hans were more likely to drink water frequently vs. all other non-water drinks than Huis, both Hans and Huis were more likely to consume their last meal of the day between 17:00-24:00 PM, Huis were more likely to shop for fruits frequently, eat breakfast regularly, cook healthy food (all the time), and bake food more and fry it less frequently, married couples were more likely consume breakfast and shop for fruits more regularly than their single counterparts who were more likely to be have a higher level of education. The level of education does not appear to translate into adopting a healthier dietary behavior such consuming daily breakfast on a regular basis by the more educated single respondents. There is a need to develop both short-term and long-term strategies aimed at further improving the dietary habits and related health practices of both ethnic groups. However, there is a need for the Hans to focus more on improving 6 out of the 8 dietary factors such as consuming regular daily breakfast, and for the Huis to focus more on improving the level of education and 3 out of the 8 dietary factors.