USANewsOnline.Com Desk, New York : January 19, the NYC community, faith leaders , and Students are very excited for NYC Mayor Eric Adams leadership. “I Congratulate Chancellor Banks and Mayor Eric Adams on the CEE cafeteria Expansion & The Halal food Initiative. this is a big deal for thousands of students and their families in New York City.
Remembering as my children ate food in the cafeteria in NYC.! This is a Major Success and well over due. Quality of life, Health, Education and Food go hand in hand. “Fresh Food for Life" Chaplain Aisha Hernandez Ahmed said.
“Our schools should always strive to serve culturally appropriate food that respects the dietary needs of New York’s diverse students. Thanks to Mayor Adams and the many community members who pushed to expand halal meals in NYC schools for making this important step towards educational equity and inclusion,” said NYC Comptroller Brad Lander.
“I applaud Mayor Eric Adams and the New York City Dept. of Education (DOE) for their commitment to expand halal food options in our schools,” said Council Member James F. Gennaro. “It is crucial that our schools accommodate our growingly diverse student body. I’d like to thank Mazeda Uddin and SAFEST for their continued advocacy on behalf of Muslim New Yorkers.”
The Mayor understands Food justice is about demonstrating respect for the values of families, for their religious beliefs and their children's adjustment and belonging. Food justice is moving toward cultural competency and respect by offering Halal meals.
“I applaud the Mayor’s commitment to ensuring that schools provide culturally-competent meals to our students across the city,” said Council Member Linda Lee, Vice-Chair of the Black, Latino, and Asian Caucus. “New York is a city of immigrants and diverse cultures, and no parent should worry about whether their child is able to focus in the classroom because of the lack of suitable dietary options. With the expansion of Halal Meals in NYC Schools and the Cafeteria Enhancement Experience, this City is ensuring the health and well-being of students practicing Islam. Thank you to the advocates and the leadership of the Administration for working to ensure cultural inclusion in our City’s public schools.”
About 1 in 6 public school students are Muslim and 40 percent of students are Muslim totaling approximately 500,000 children, according to the report. NYCDOE serves a diversity of students from many ethnic and religious backgrounds.
“Thank you to Mayor Eric Adams and Chancellor Banks for expanding the Cafeteria Enhancement Experience to 80 schools citywide and expanding access to Halal food for our Muslim students across New York City. Too many families, especially those in The Bronx, are facing food insecurity. It is essential that our students have access to culturally competent food options while at school. Congratulations to all the parent advocates who have worked toward this goal for years.” Said Council Member Amanda Farías (D-18).
"I am thrilled that New York will Expand Access to Halal Food In Schools. Halal food is important to Muslim students and their families," said Council Member Nantasha Williams(D-27). "This is an important step for educating students in a way that respects their religion and beliefs, and also helps them feel included and welcome in their own schools."
"It is important that we make sure all students feel included in our community and we should be conscious of the different ways we nourish them – whether that be academically, socially, emotionally, or from a nutrition standpoint. Especially, due to the fact that our population has a significant number of students who eat Halal, it is incumbent upon us to make sure that they have those things they need in order to feel welcomed, accepted, and a part of our community." Brian Condon: the Principal of Townsend Harris High School.
All 5 of my children graduated from New York City public schools (1985-2017)& they always came back from school hungry because there were never any halal options. We can now say that change has come & this is only the beginning of the dream.
“I am excited about the introduction of Halal Meals in NYC Schools. By adding Halal options in our school’s lunch cafeteria menu, we ensure that children who need halal meals will no longer leave a lunchroom hungry and enter the classroom without proper nutrition. I am glad Mayor Adams is implementing this critical program and grateful to Mazeda Uddin for tirelessly advocating on behalf of our NYC school children and South Asian communities.” Shekar Krishnan NYC Council Member for District 25 As a mother of 5 beautiful children, I started my activism journey many years ago to introduce the Bengali language in New York City & beyond; in addition, advocating relentlessly for Halal foods in New York City public schools.
“Congratulations to both the South Asian Fund for Education, Scholarship & Training (SAFEST) and Mayor Adams on the expansion of the Cafeteria Enhancement Experience to include halal meals in New York City Schools. Providing students with this nutritional option is especially important given the high prevalence of food insecurity among city students. School meals are an essential resource to address this and equitably meet student’s nutritional needs”. Stated NYS Assembly Member Jeffrion Aubry
“Our kids spend 8 hours a day at school and many of them rely on NYC public schools to provide students with nutritious, culturally competent meals that reflect the food they eat in their own homes. This investment from the Mayor’s Administration and the Department of Education will ensure that our students have access to halal lunches that align with their religious beliefs and dietary needs,” said Council Member Julie Won “Thank you to Mazeda Uddin and SAFEST for advocating for the needs of our students in public schools.”
As you know New York’s city council members and NYS legislators prepare for many legislative sessions. A broad-based coalition of New York advocates, faith based groups, parents and students to rally in support of legislation to provide halal meals in New York City public schools upon request as well as in support of efforts to extend the Universal Free Lunch for All program for all students in all New York City schools.
Even now newly elected Hon, City Council members are Muslims and also South Asians . "I’m so proud that our City is expanding Halal options for students," said Council Member Shahana Hanif. "This expansion would not have been possible without the continued advocacy and organizing of the Muslim community across New York City. This is a beautiful example of food justice in our schools and I hope to see more in the future."
New York City is home to an incredibly diverse population, with a growing number of students of faith attending New York’s schools. Providing food options for children with religious dietary restrictions will allow these students to have a nutritious meal with their peers at school, allowing students to freely exercise their faith while also increasing cultural exposure and understanding for all students.
Back in 2014, halal food in NYC Schools was just a dream. Thanks to the former councilmembers Rafael Espinal and Chiam Deutsch as well as Assemblyman David Weprin and many advocates like Mazeda Uddin for heeding the Muslim Community's call for halal food in our schools. With calls for halal food in our schools, we realized the council had the power to make it a reality. I'm proud of our work to get the city council to allocate 1 million dollars for a Halal food pilot. The pilot started in 10 schools and today 79 schools are providing halal food under the leadership of Mayor Adams, whom I have no doubt will support halal food citywide! Dr. Debbie Almntaser, Board President of the Muslim Community Network.
“When I was elected, I promised my constituents that I would fight to make sure that school options were inclusive for ALL students. I am proud to say that's a promise I've kept, as cafeterias are now preparing to roll out halal options for our Islamic students,” New York City Councilwoman Joann Ariola “Our student population is ever-growing in its diversity, and as such it is important that all students’ dietary restrictions are met, especially when those needs are based in religion,” Councilwoman Ariola added. “Serving halal meals, as opposed to just a vegetarian option, is a way of continuing our pledge to provide healthy and equitable options when addressing our immigrant population and ending food insecurity.”
“ The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says that everyone in the United States has the right to practice his or her own religion, how about that our kids Due to religious dietary restrictions in food, some of our kids don’t eat at all in public schools, But now we appreciate our Mayor Eric Adams” said Yasmeen Atef President of the Yemeni Women’s Association.
“This is a great day for New York City school students. Their food security has been enhanced and their ability to learn their daily lessons has been increased. I applaud Mayor Eric Adams and all those who worked so hard to obtain this excellent achievement.” Said Mazeda Uddin, the President of SAFEST in conclusion.

South Asian Fund For Education Scholarship and Training Inc is the organization to serve the South Asian Community throughout the City of New York and anywhere possible.
"We were here last year. We were here the year before that. And we will keep coming out to ensure all our students have the nutrition they need to succeed in our public schools." Veronica Hussain stated from the South Asian Fund For Education Scholarship And Training Inc and parents of the NYC Public Schools students. Press Release