Food, Migration, and Identity: Halal food and Muslim immigrants in Italy

Abstract

Recent events have solidified an Islamic identity for North African immigrants in Italy. Parts of the Italian population have transformed their general prejudice against immigrants into an anti-Islamic sentiment. This sentiment is caused by a clash of created identities that do not necessarily correspond to ethnic groups. Food is an important aspect of personal identity, and in the case of Muslim immigrants, religious dietary guidelines make certain foods legal (halal) and other ones illegal (haram). Does halal food unite Muslim immigrants or are other aspects of personal identity that are more important? Halal butcher shops have become the symbol of this cultural identity, where both religion and national origin mix. I argue that immigrants recreate a personal and ethnic Muslim identity through food.