Over the past two years, plant-based food consumption has grown by 49% across the EU, reaching a total sales volume of €3.6 billion.
United States: Halal food growth factors in the New York area
2025-05-15
Halal food
Many people often refer to Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines as "halal," but this is a bit of a misnomer, and part of the problem comes from using "halal" as a noun.
New York City's street food carts have primarily been halal in recent decades (a Queens College study indicates this trend began in 1990), with many featuring the word "halal" in their business names. Halal is most prominently displayed in this group, with bright yellow awnings and shirts boldly emblazoned with the word. These dishes primarily consist of rice, marinated skewers of meat, salad, and a thick white dressing, marking the beginning of a new era for halal food.
But other cuisines are also listed as halal. Chekima points to halal taco stands he's encountered in Florida, local restaurants like Minar in Troy (Indian cuisine), and Slavonian European Restaurant in Albany (Eastern European cuisine). Zaitoon Kitchen in Latham is halal-focused, with its menu inspired by the owner's Afghan roots (a visit to the restaurant's website lists three adjectives to describe its food: "cage, vegetarian, halal," and its menu page also includes a halal certification seal). Still, Halal Palace in Troy and Halal Shack on the University of Albany campus still adhere to New York City street food cart standards.
“When you say Indian or Pakistani food might be considered halal, it’s because the people serving it are from those regions, but by definition, halal doesn’t mean anything other than a customary meaning,” Chekima said.
According to Bloomberg, the halal-certified category has grown by more than a third since 2010, with sales of halal foods reaching $20 billion in 2016. The report noted that Whole Foods has seen double-digit growth since 2011.
These figures aren't just due to support from Muslims. Because halal food—especially meat—follows the same humane animal treatment practices as organic meat, many consumers who demand it choose halal-certified products.