
Met Council Makes Effort to Ensure Access to Faith Based Foods
- foodfightadmin
- November 23, 2022
- Hunger In America
- rsc pages
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During early stages of the pandemic, NYC based Met Council, the largest kosher food pantry network in the United States, noticed a concerning pattern. During a pivotal meeting at the mayor’s office early in the pandemic, government officials scrutinized over 800 food pantries to ensure equitable access to the city’s emergency food system. It came to the Council’s attention that many of the at risk pantries were associated with the Muslim community.
To address this imbalance, Met Council decided to take action, recognizing the importance of supporting these organizations. As a mission committed to assisting all New Yorkers in need, regardless of race, ethnicity, or religion, they began offering food and technical assistance to help Muslim groups connect with emergency food systems.
Understanding the significance of religious diets was crucial in meeting the diverse needs of NYC residents. Analysis of 311 calls to the city’s GetFoodNYC Emergency Food System revealed that nearly 21% of participants specifically requested kosher or halal food. These appeals were not merely preferences but genuine dietary requirements influenced by religious beliefs. In response, Met Council has been advocating at both local and national levels to ensure that food banks and pantries can cater to those with kosher or halal preferences.
To establish a foundation for their efforts, Met Council first sought to understand the extent of the issue, relying on demand-driven data provided by the residents themselves. These reports underscored the importance of offering client choice to achieve fairness in catering to religiously informed diets. Recognizing that religious communities are relatively easy to serve, the Council emphasizes the need to provide choice, as what may be considered kosher or halal for one person might differ for another. Moreover, certain food categories, such as fresh produce, automatically qualify as both kosher and halal.
One common misconception that Met Council aims to dispel is the notion that kosher or halal food is always more expensive. While kosher or halal meat may involve additional steps for certification and, therefore, cost more, an analysis of food prices in New York revealed that many kosher items, such as canned corn, were actually less expensive than their non-kosher counterparts. The Council is also addressing the issue of labeling and storing kosher and halal products, as some food banks face challenges doing so. To help, Met Council is actively providing education and training to food pantries and banks, while also engaging stakeholders in states with sizable Jewish and Muslim communities.
Met Council‘s advocacy extends to the national level, where they recently participated in a listening session linked to the White House Conference on Nutrition and Hunger. They have also provided guidance to the USDA on expanding the availability of halal and kosher friendly foods through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). While the program had limited kosher and halal offerings in the past, the Council’s efforts are expected to expand the TEFAP list to include eight kosher items by January.
Recognizing that change within government requires patience, Met Council has advocated for legislation that would mandate collaboration between TEFAP and Jewish and Muslim community leaders, developing training materials for proper handling and distribution of kosher and halal products.
At the local level, Met Council has hired a halal pantry coordinator to enhance access to kosher and halal food. The organization emphasizes collaboration with Muslim communities, aiming to offer assistance and to amplify their voices rather than imposing its own programs.
Jessica Chait, Managing Director of Food Programs at Met Council, remains optimistic that the current climate is conducive to change. The Council’s ongoing efforts to ensure access to religious food for all New Yorkers underscore their dedication to inclusivity and their commitment to meeting diverse dietary needs.