Inside the Country Feeding the Muslim World (The Argentina Secret)

Argentina is an agricultural giant, but its role in the global Halal market is the real untold story. As Generation Z takes the lead, “Halal” is evolving from a dietary label into a demand for ethics and radical transparency.

In this exclusive for The Halal Times, we speak with Ms. Melody Amal Khalil Kabalan of The Halal Catering Argentina (THCA). With a 60-year family legacy, she reveals how Argentina meets strict global standards and what the new generation truly expects from Halal brands today.

The Halal Times: Assalamu Alaikum. This is The Halal Times. Today we have a very special guest with us, Ms. Melody Amal Khalil. She is from Argentina. She is associated with a very well-known Halal certification organization there. Let’s talk to her and find out what she’s doing and how they’re promoting Halal in Argentina. Melody, welcome to The Halal Times.

Ms. Melody: Thank you so much for the invitation. It’s a pleasure for me and for our organization, The Halal Catering Argentina, to be part of your program.

The Halal Times: Can you tell us something about your organization? What exactly are you doing?

Ms. Melody: Yes, of course. Our organization was founded by my grandfather, Mr. Kabalan Khalil, 60 years ago. He was a Lebanese immigrant who came to Argentina. He was the first one to start certifying Halal in Argentina. Now, it’s a family business. My father, Gustavo Khalil, is the Director, and I am the Director of International Relations. We certify all kinds of products, not only meat, but also poultry, dairy products, chemicals, and all kinds of food that Argentina exports to the world.

The Halal Times: Argentina is known for its meat. How do you ensure that the meat produced in Argentina is truly Halal?

Ms. Melody: We have a very strict protocol. We follow the international standards, especially the JAKIM standard from Malaysia and the GSO standard from the Gulf countries. We have Muslim supervisors in every plant that we certify. They are there every day, from the beginning of the slaughtering until the end. They check everything—the health of the animal, the stunning process (if it’s used, it must be reversible), and the manual slaughtering by a Muslim. We also check the packaging and the storage to avoid any cross-contamination.

The Halal Times: Our main topic today is “What Generation Z wants from Halal brands.” You meet a lot of young people in your work. What is your observation?

Ms. Melody: Generation Z is very different. They are very well-informed. They don’t just look for the Halal logo; they want to know the story behind the product. They care about sustainability, animal welfare, and social responsibility. They want to know if the company is ethical. For them, Halal is not just about the way the animal is slaughtered; it’s a lifestyle that includes being good to the environment and to other people. Brands need to be more transparent and use social media to show their process if they want to reach this generation.

The Halal Times: You mentioned “Halal Unity” in one of your recent speeches. What do you mean by that?

Ms. Melody: This is something very important to me. I believe that all the Halal certification bodies around the world should work together. We shouldn’t be competitors; we should be partners. We have the same goal: to provide Halal food to the Muslim Ummah. If we unify our standards and our work, we will be stronger, and we will make it easier for the industry to produce Halal products. That’s why I always talk about “Halal Unity”—to build bridges between different countries and organizations.

The Halal Times: That’s a very noble thought. Thank you so much, Melody, for your time and for the work you are doing in Argentina.

Ms. Melody: Thank you for giving me this space to share our work. I hope to see you again soon.