American Halal  Certification was developed as an online project to document the cultural history of halal food, its production, and consumption across the U.S. There are numerous research posts as well as other resources available on the site which give readers more insight into the meaning and the religious and social significance of halal. The production and distribution of halal food across the United States has also been discussed, covering the emergence of halal food over the past thirty years, including the regulations and inspections behind food being certified as halal. The public is also able to view debates on how halal foods have influenced the production and consumption of food in the United States. The American Halal project covers topics of interest to Muslims, who take their Halal diet seriously and is an excellent source of information for those who are interested in learning more about halal food. For Muslims, there are a set of guidelines indicating which foods are halal, and under which conditions they may deviate from the halal diet. Consuming food and drink such as pork or wine is not acceptable for Muslims, or any other meat which is considered unclean. American-Muslims, when shopping for consumables are to avoid both alcohol and pork, but also sometimes query whether or not the meat sold in American markets or restaurants is halal. This topic has caused a debate among Muslims in the United States and those who are living in Muslim majority countries. It can be difficult for them to adhere to their faith and be able to purchase halal food at all times. Both a national and international meat market for halal food has been developed to meet the needs of Muslim meat consumers, and the United States is an important participant in this market. The marketing of these halal meat products has led to criticism from Islamophobes, who see the market as a step towards implementing Sharia law. Animal rights activists, on the other hand, have complained about these markets stating that the "ritual slaughter" according to Sharia Law is considered as cruelty towards animals. From this information, it is evident that both the "dietary concerns" as well as the marketing of halal meat to the Muslim population are connected to the many social and political issues which Muslims in the United States are facing. There have, however, also been concerns regarding the fraudulent labeling of halal meat, which has received significant media coverage. This is a cause for concern to the diets and health of Muslim individuals who seek out good quality halal meat. Such a controversy is linked to the manner in which ethnic food markets are identified in a culturally diverse nation such as the United States. These and other topics which are covered in the project which addresses many of the issues around the cultural politics of the halal food industry in the United States.