What HMS can tell you
Has HMS inspected Restaurant Depot?
No. HMS does not certify Restaurant Depot and has not inspected the chain that brings the meat sold at Restaurant Depot to the shelf, so HMS is not able to confirm that it is Zabiha Halal.
What certification actually proves
HMS certifies only what it checks: hand Zabiha on a permissible animal, Bismillah pronounced individually, approved suppliers, and storage that keeps certified meat separate from everything else. A printed word on packaging carries none of that history with it, which is what when chicken actually counts as Halal and how to verify an HMS certificate are about.
Check the specific product rather than the store name. Certified products carry the HMS mark and are listed in the HMS certified directory, and certification can be limited to certain lines.
The safest habit is a simple one: check first, then order. The HMS directory is free to search, it shows what each certification actually covers, and it is kept up to date as businesses are certified, renewed or removed for non-compliance.
Protect your deen: choose 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), which operates as part of the Shariah Board of America. HMS certifies only what it checks.