The Ruling on Foods Imported from Non-Islamic Countries

Question:
He has a final question in this message, in which he asks: What is the ruling on eating canned meats imported from non-Islamic countries?

Answer:
There is a distinction regarding canned meats. If they are imported from the lands of the People of the Book, namely the Jews and the Christians, the default ruling is that they are lawful, because Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has permitted us the food of the People of the Book. And it is obligatory for us to be careful and to avoid what Allah has forbidden to us.
This applies if there is contact between us and the Jews; otherwise, currently, there is nothing between us and them but war. However, regarding the intentions of the People of the Book, such as the Christians in France, England, America, and their like, the meats that come from them are lawful for us, provided we do not know that they were slaughtered in a manner contrary to the Shari'ah, such as strangling, striking the head until death, or the like. Likewise, if a person were to receive food from the People of the Book, whether Jews or Christians, the food of the People of the Book is lawful for Muslims, except if the Muslim knows that they slaughtered it in a non-Shari'ah manner. As for the canned slaughters of the Majus, the worshippers of idols, who are among the communists from the Soviets, from the People's Republic of China, from Bulgaria, from Romania, and the communist countries, the slaughters of these countries are not lawful until a Muslim or a person from the People of the Book takes charge of them. If, however, a communist, an idolater, or a Majus takes charge of them, their slaughters are forbidden due to their disbelief, their misguidance, and the fact that they are more disbelieving than the Jews and the Christians. We ask Allah for safety. Yes, may Allah reward you with good and may Allah bless you.