What HMS can tell you
Has HMS certified Costco?
HMS does not currently certify Costco and has not inspected the supply chain behind the chicken sold at Costco. HMS cannot confirm that it is Zabiha Halal.
Why the package is not the proof
HMS certifies only what it checks. Meat is Halal only when a permissible animal is slaughtered by valid hand Zabiha with Bismillah pronounced for each animal, and that history has to stay traceable through the processor and distributor to the shelf. A species name, a store brand or wording printed on a package does not establish it, as what a Halal label proves and when chicken actually counts as Halal explain.
HMS certification can also be limited to particular products or production lines, so look for the HMS mark on the specific item and check it in the HMS certified directory rather than assuming everything sold under one company name is covered.
Suppliers, managers and menus change, which is why HMS relies on continued monitoring and surprise inspections rather than a single inspection at the beginning. A source that seemed acceptable last year may not be the same source serving you today.
Our advice: avoid it and eat HMS Certified only
A lower price or a shorter drive is never a reason to eat what is doubtful. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Leave that which causes you doubt for that which does not cause you doubt.”
Protect your deen: avoid it and look for HMS Certified only. HMS Certified stores and meat markets sell hand-slaughtered Zabiha meat from monitored sources, so you can feed your family with a clear heart. Find an HMS Certified place near you.
Answers in the Halal Knowledge Center reflect the standards followed by Halal Monitoring Services (HMS). HMS certifies only what it checks.