In some developed Muslim countries, the method of slaughter is based on western technology i.e., machines slaughtering, while a tape recorder is playing takbeer continuously. A major chunk of this type of meat is imported from Brazil in the form of frozen food; packets show the label of "halal" and are authorized by the local government.
Can we trust the local government authorization that is not Shari’ah based or do we need to check/verify the source each time?
Even if one goes to the slaughter house and takes fresh meat, how can we be sure it has been fed with halal food?
Firstly: It is permissible to slaughter using modern machines on condition that (the blades) are sharp and that the esophagus and windpipe are cut.
Secondly: If the machine slaughters a number of chickens in the same continuous length of time, it is acceptable for the person operating the machine to say “Bismillah” once when he begins to operate it with the intention of slaughtering, so long as the person operating the machine is a Muslim or kitaabi (Jewish or Christian).
Thirdly: If the person is slaughtering by hand, he must say “Bismillah” separately for each chicken he slaughters, because each chicken is a separate entity.
Fourthly: The slaughter must be done in the slaughterhouse and the windpipe and two veins, or one of them, must be cut. Bakr Abu Zayd, Saalih al-Fawzaan, ‘Abdullah ibn Ghadyaan, ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abdullah Aal ash-Shaykh[1]
Regarding the eating of food or what the animals eat or do not eat, I think the safest approach is the presumption that the animal ate clean food unless there is daleel to prove otherwise. What I am trying to say is: If you didn’t see it eating dirt and you don’t have proof it did, then you assume it didn’t. If we are to assume all the time that maybe they ate dirty things then we won’t be able to do anything nor will we be able to eat anything including drinking water.
The basis for this is the fact that animals were slaughtered during the time of the Prophet (ﷺ) and the conditions were set during that time: that the blood veins should be cut and that the basmalah must be said.[2]
If these conditions are met when using technology then the ruling is the same, and if the conditions are not met then the ruling is different. [3]
Other Useful Links:
References:
[1] Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa’imah, 22/463
[2] Sheikh S Al-Fawzan, A Summary of Islamic Jurisprudence, 2/659
[3] http://islamqa.info/en/12776
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