Little-known Woolworths roast chicken detail stuns customers

If you've picked up a hot roast chicken from Woolworths lately, you might have noticed it looks a little different. Some BBQ chooks are now packaged in all-black bags instead of the store's usual yellow and black packaging and there's a good reason behind it.

The roast chickens packed in a black bag are halal, making it easier for Muslim customers to identify. One Woolies shopper recently noticed the difference and shared her discovery on TikTok.

Showing a roast chicken in an all-black bag, the customer confirmed that the label specifies it's halal. She added that she picked up the item at Woolworths in Bankstown for the same price as a regular chook.

Fellow Woolies shoppers were surprised by the shopper's find, saying it was the first time they'd heard halal roast chickens were available at Woolies. "Finally!" one viewer exclaimed.

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Woolworths confirms change

A Woolworths spokesperson confirmed to Yahoo News Australia that they currently stock the item at six stores. "Our Woolworths hot roast chicken has always been a customer favourite," the spokesperson said. "At select stores in areas with a large Muslim community, we also offer a halal-certified hot roast chicken so it can be enjoyed by more of our customers."

Commenting on the video, a viewer claiming to be a Woolworths employee explained how the halal chickens are cooked. "Comes in a separate box with halal labelled on the box. Goes in halal-only oven toaster. Halal tongs and utensils are used strictly," the TikTok user stated.

Halal chicken is prepared in a way that is acceptable for Muslims to eat as it has been prepared in a way that adheres to the teachings of Islam. "Halal food laws specify not only what types of foods and beverages are allowed to be eaten, but also how the food is prepared," the Australian Chicken Meat Federation states on its website, adding that "halal chicken has been processed and prepared according to Islamic law".

Yahoo News understands the halal variety of hot roast chicken was first introduced at Woolworths Roselands before being rolled out to several other Sydney stores including Bass Hill, Auburn, Lakemba, Bankstown and Granville.

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