Texas Districts Discontinued Halal Poultry Service
Wylie and Hays school districts addressed the presence of halal-certified products in cafeteria meals.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Islam
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In April 2026, Wylie ISD discontinued the service of halal-certified chicken patties at elementary, intermediate, and junior-high campuses. Meanwhile, officials at Hays CISD discovered that some cafeteria products served in their district qualified as halal without prior administrative awareness.
Why it matters
School districts often received these items through the USDA purchasing system, which supplies manufacturers that market halal-certified goods specifically for the National School Lunch Program. Wylie ISD chose to stop serving the chicken patties following feedback from local families and taxpayers.
Gold Creek Foods manufactured the chicken patties provided to Wylie ISD. Texas law requires retailers to clearly label products as halal when they are prepared according to Islamic religious requirements, such as including Tasmiyah prayer invocations.
The players
Wylie ISD
This Texas public school district serves students across elementary, intermediate, and junior-high campuses.
Hays CISD
This Texas school district identified that cafeteria items served to students were halal-certified without administrative awareness.
Suleman Lalani
He is a State Representative who introduced legislation during the 2025 session to mandate halal meal options in schools.
Gold Creek Foods
This entity is a food manufacturer that produced the chicken patties served by the Wylie school district.
Miguel Bustillos
He is a pastor who authored public commentary regarding the implications of serving halal-certified food.
The details
Texas school districts obtained these products through the federal USDA purchasing system, which includes items marketed for the National School Lunch Program. Officials in Hays CISD reported in April 2026 that some menu items were halal-certified, despite district staff not knowing the certification status of the food.
Timeline
State Rep. Suleman Lalani introduced halal meal mandate bills during the 2025 legislative session.
A Hays CISD official discussed the status of halal products during a board workshop on April 20, 2026.
Wylie ISD discontinued its halal chicken patty service in April 2026.
Pastor Miguel Bustillos published commentary on the subject of halal food on September 24, 2026.
Culture Shift
The move to phase out these products follows the introduction of House Bill 625 and House Bill 667, which proposed legislative mandates for halal options. This reflects an ongoing tension regarding the intersection of federal food procurement and local religious dietary standards in Texas schools.
Parents and students in the affected districts may notice changes in school menu offerings as administrations adjust procurement practices. These shifts reflect broader administrative responses to community feedback regarding dietary standards in public institutions.
The takeaway
The situation highlights the complex role that federal procurement plays in providing food for diverse student populations. Districts are increasingly balancing state legislative proposals with local taxpayer feedback when evaluating the certification status of cafeteria meals.
Further reading
For additional context, explore more information on Islam in Texas.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Dallas Express.
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