Frequently Asked Questions

No, not all Muslims are vegetarian. Dietary practices vary by individual, as with any faith community. Some Muslims choose vegetarian diets and others do not. J&M® offers both meat-based and vegetarian halal certified meals to fit either preference.

Yes. All meat used in J&M® halal meals is hand-slaughtered by a trained Islamic slaughter man according to Dhabiha Halal requirements.

J&M® works with Islamic slaughter men and halal certifiers who require the poultry slaughter line to be slowed so a trained Islamic slaughter man can recite the blessing over each bird individually. Any bird missed in this process is removed from the line and sold as non-halal. Fully hand-slaughtered poultry supply chains are still developing across the U.S. halal industry, and J&M® is actively working with suppliers to expand this practice.

Dhabiha Halal (also spelled Zhabiha Halal) refers to meat, poultry, and meat by-products that are properly slaughtered by a trained Islamic slaughter man following specific religious procedures. It's the certification standard J&M® uses for all meat-based meals.

Halal means "proper and permitted" under Islamic dietary law. Halal-designated foods meet Islamic religious dietary requirements and are approved for consumption. All fruits, vegetables, and grains are halal by default; meat and processed foods require certification to confirm they meet halal standards.

Haram means "prohibited" or "forbidden" for consumption under Islamic dietary law. This includes pork, alcohol, carrion, and any meat not slaughtered according to halal requirements. Modern food processing and shared production facilities mean even traditionally home-made foods like breads, yogurts, or cereals can become haram if they use non-halal ingredients or shared equipment.

Kosher and Halal are separate certifications with different requirements, so a Kosher-certified product is not automatically Halal, and vice versa. Key differences: alcohol in flavors or colors is not a Kosher issue but disqualifies a product from Halal certification; Kosher slaughter does not fulfill the Islamic requirement of reciting a blessing over each animal; and many Kosher-certified vegetarian items (cheese, marshmallows, candy, baked goods, yogurt) may contain enzyme or gelatin ingredients that aren't Halal-compliant. Dual Kosher and Halal certification, like J&M® and My Own Meals® products hold, requires meeting both standards independently.

Processed foods often contain hidden non-halal ingredients in colors, flavors, processing aids, or sub-ingredients, and may be produced on shared equipment with non-halal products. The same facility can be approved for non-certified products but not for halal certified ones, so shared equipment requires special cleaning and inspection by an independent halal inspector before halal production.

You can reach J&M Food Products for halal meals via email at sales@halalcertified.com or by phone at (847) 948-1290. Our team can answer questions about ingredients, halal certification, ordering, and shelf life.

No. J&M® does not create custom meal options made specifically for federal or state correctional facilities. The 10 oz shelf stable pouch meals in our product line are the only format currently offered. If your organization is looking for a ration-style option instead, J&M® also offers MRE-style Meal Kits and Accessory Packs. Contact sales@halalcertified.com to discuss volume, specifications, and procurement requirements for correctional or institutional programs.

J&M® halal meals are ordered by institutions, hospitals, law enforcement and fire departments, U.S. and international government agencies and militaries, non-governmental organizations (including FEMA and the Red Cross), families needing school lunches or dinners, outdoor enthusiasts, and individuals managing food allergies or special dietary needs.

J&M® halal meals are made with high-quality ingredients and no fillers, fully cooked, ready to eat as-is or warmed for extra flavor, nutritionally balanced, and shelf stable with no refrigeration required before opening, making them a healthy, convenient alternative to home cooking.

J&M® does not process credit card payments directly on this website. To order, download the Order Form, complete it, and either fax it to (847) 948-0468, email a scanned copy to sales@halalcertified.com, or call (847) 948-1290. Include a contact phone number so J&M® can collect payment information.

Currently our Vegetarian Dual Certified Meals are available to purchase online through KosherByte, Amazon and Walmart.

180 cases fit on a pallet. TI HI is 36 x 5.

Case weight is 4.2 lbs and case dimensions are 8.72 x 5.47 x 7.378 in.

Orders below 48 cases are subject to a separate pricing structure, a per-order handling charge, and additional shipping charges. Download the current Pricing and Order Form for exact case pricing and fees at your order quantity: Order Form Under 48 Cases

J&M® applies a handling charge on orders smaller than 48 cases to help cover the cost of processing smaller shipments. Orders of 48 cases or more are not subject to this charge.

J&M® ships orders Monday through Thursday, typically on the next shipping day via UPS. UPS delivery generally takes 2–6 business days depending on destination. Full pallet orders ship via LTL freight and typically arrive within 2–14 business days.

No. TSA liquid restrictions apply to J&M® pouch meals based on total package weight, regardless of how much liquid is inside. Pack pouch meals in checked luggage instead, cushioned carefully to avoid puncturing the pouch or lid.

J&M® accepts U.S.-issued Visa and Mastercard. For credit card orders there may be a 4% credit card processing fee. See our current order forms for details.

Yes, J&M® may apply a 4% credit card processing fee to help cover the cost of accepting card payments. See our current order forms for details.

Nutritional labeling information is available on each product page. See OUR MEALS section to review each meal's information. For any questions, please email sales@halalcertified.com and J&M® will send details for the products you're interested in.

Yes. J&M® meals are fully cooked and safe to eat cold straight from the pouch, though they taste best when heated. This makes them a practical option in emergencies or outdoor settings where heating isn't available.

Yes. J&M® works with many customers managing specific food allergies and dietary restrictions. Visit our DIETS & ALLERGIES page for ingredient and allergen details. You can also find the information by meal on each product page. Visit OUR MEALS section to review each meal's information.

No. J&M® meals are made without preservatives, artificial flavors, artificial colors, or MSG. Just wholesome, halal certified ingredients.

Yes. J&M® offers two vegan meals: Vegetarian Stew and Hearty Lentil Stew.

Yes. J&M® offers several Kosher- and Halal certified vegetarian meals: Florentine Lasagna (dairy), Un-Stuffed Peppers (dairy), Mushroom Stroganoff (dairy), Hearty Lentil Stew (pareve), Vegetarian Stew (pareve), Tuscan Pasta & Beans (pareve), and Pasta with Garden Vegetables (pareve).

J&M Food Products Company is the Halal division of My Own Meals, Inc. Our vegetarian meals are branded as My Own Meals because they are dual certified Kosher and Halal, allowing the same meals to meet both Kosher and Halal dietary requirements.

J&M® pouch meals are microwaveable and can also be heated in a hot water bath, or eaten cold straight from the pouch, since all components are fully cooked. To microwave: vent the pouch about 1/4 inch at the tear-notch, stand it upright on a plate, microwave for 1 minute, then let it stand for 1 minute before enjoying. To heat on the stovetop: bring water to a boil, turn off the heat, carefully submerge the unopened pouch for 3–4 minutes, then let it stand for 1 minute before enjoying.

All of our pouches are made of PFAS Free PET Plastic Material.

Yes. In addition to individual 10 oz (283g) microwaveable stand-up pouches, J&M® offers full MREs and Meal Kits as a special contract order. Each standard J&M® halal certified MRE pairs one meal pouch with a companion accessory pack of brand-name snacks and accompaniments, totaling about 1,200 calories; Meal Kit calorie counts are adjusted to customer needs for special orders. MREs and Meal Kits aren't always available to the general public, so email sales@halalcertified.com for the appropriate order form.

30 cases fit on a pallet. TI HI is 6 x 5.

Meal Kits & Accessory Packs require a 2,500 case minimum order quantity (30,000 meals), assembled under contract.

Accessory Packs are custom made to your calorie and taste requirements. The combinations can include grains like pita chips, dry cereal and granola bars, dried fruits, nuts, beverage powders, condiments, utensils and paper products.

J&M® stand-up pouch meals have a 2.5-year shelf life from the date of manufacture when stored consistently between 50°F (10°C) and 80°F (26°C).

Store unopened J&M® pouch and tray meals at ambient temperature, ideally between 50°F (10°C) and 80°F (26°C), in a pantry, office, or locker. Never freeze or expose meals to high heat, as both can damage quality; refrigeration is not required before opening. Once heated, meals should not be returned to shelf storage. If a pouch is opened but not fully eaten, refrigerate the remainder promptly in a sealed container. Meals are not shelf stable once opened.

No, J&M® meals should not be frozen, as freezing can damage meal quality. Refrigeration isn't required either; store unopened pouches and trays at ambient temperature between 50°F (10°C) and 80°F (26°C). Once a pouch is opened, refrigerate any uneaten portion promptly in a sealed container, since meals are not shelf stable after opening.

The Best Used By date is printed on the back of each J&M® pouch in MM/YYYY format (two-digit month, four-digit year). It marks when the meal is at peak flavor and color. Meals remain safe to eat after this date, though flavor and appearance may decline. All orders ship First-In-First-Out (FIFO).

Each case of J&M® halal MREs, rations, and meal kits has two codes printed on the side: a Pack Date, formatted "PACK DATE: DD MONTH YEAR," showing when it was assembled, and a Best Used By date, formatted "BEST USED BY: MONTH YEAR." Because individual components inside a case may have later Best Used By dates, J&M® uses the earliest date among all components to set the Best Used By date for the entire case. Orders ship First-In-First-Out (FIFO); contact sales@halalcertified.com to confirm current dates before ordering if shelf life is critical, and to learn of availability from inventory or lead time for special orders over Minimum Order Quantities.