Canadian hospital starts serving halal meals for patients

The hospital in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada, has become the first in Alberta’s north zone to offer halal meal options.

The hospital in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada, has become the first in Alberta’s north zone to offer halal meal options.

The Northern Lights Regional Health Centre phased in the food in November, and has since served about 100 halal foods to patients.

“This was a gap that needed to be filled,” said Kiran Malik-Khan, Northern Lights Health Foundation board member.

There are about 10,000 Muslims in Fort McMurray, said Malik-Khan, who has been helping with the project for the last year.

Murray Crawford, a senior operating officer with Alberta Health Services, said halal options don’t cost more money.

“We want to make sure that when people come in here the last thing they’re worried about are things like food.”