Halal Chicken Labelling in the United Kingdom: An Analysis of Power-Knowledge, Discipline, and Normalization through Michel Foucault’s Perspective

Abstract

The halal food industry in the United Kingdom has witnessed rapid growth over recent decades, driven in part by the increasing Muslim population and the growing interest of non-Muslim consumers in products associated with ethics, quality, and hygiene. Halal chicken has become one of the main products officially labeled and widely distributed by major UK supermarket chains such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s. This article aims to analyze the dynamics of halal labeling on chicken in the UK through Michel Foucault’s theoretical lens, particularly the concepts of power-knowledge, discipline, and normalization. This research employs a qualitative approach using a literature study and respondent interviews. Data were obtained from secondary sources such as journal articles, official websites of halal certification bodies in the UK, and information provided by several respondents residing in the country. Foucault’s theoretical framework is used to understand how halal certification institutions not only set standards but also participate in the production of knowledge, oversight of industry actors, and the construction of consumption norms in society. The findings show that institutions such as the Halal Food Authority (HFA) and the Halal Monitoring Committee (HMC) perform power-knowledge functions by establishing and disseminating recognized halal standards. The stringent certification process reflects disciplinary practices within the production and consumption chain, while the availability of halal chicken in supermarkets represents the normalization of religious values within the UK’s multicultural market. Thus, through Foucault’s theory, the halal label on chicken is not merely a marker of religious compliance, but also a product of modern power relations that govern daily consumer practices.