Nearly a year ago Musa Abdus-Salaam, from Richmond, discovered that he and his family had unwittingly violated the Qur’an by eating beef they bought from a Norfolk shop they later found out to be not Halal.

"It is a major sin in our religion," Abdus-Salaam said.

Virginia, home to more than 350,000 Muslims, is currently considering three proposals.

"In my research, I realized that Virginia does not have a program to certify kosher (specific method of slaughtering) or other religious foods," said Del. Kenneth Alexander, D-Norfolk, who sponsored the bill at his constituents' request.

Another is making selling Halal knockoffs a misdemeanor punishable by up to $500 in fines.

Also a legislation involves asking vendors to provide certification information and a toll-free number or Web site for confirmation of Halal and kosher foods. Violators could face up to six months in jail and $1,000 in fines.

But so far, the bills are pending in legislative committees.

Last year, New York introduced a law demanding Halal food distributors to register with the state.

Similar laws are under consideration in other U.S. states, including California, Illinois and Michigan.

The growing Muslims communities in Virginia is bringing the Muslims’ needs to the forefront, said Imad Damaj, president of the Virginia Muslim Coalition for Public Affairs.

Halal foods are vital for the expanding Muslim community in the United States. Halal food, or lawful food range from meat to potato chips, depending on things like additives and even what something's cooked in. Seafood is automatically Halal.

Daily Press