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What is Halal meat? What is halal meat?
(about 1 hour later)
There have been calls for clearer labelling of Halal products in shops and takeaways. But what is Halal food? And why are campaigners so concerned? There have been calls for clearer labelling of halal products in shops, restaurants and takeaways. But what is halal food? And why are campaigners so concerned?
What is Halal meat? What is halal meat?
Halal is Arabic for permissible. Halal food is that which adheres to Islamic law, as defined in the Koran.Halal is Arabic for permissible. Halal food is that which adheres to Islamic law, as defined in the Koran.
The Islamic form of slaughtering animals or poultry, dhabiha, involves killing through a cut to the jugular vein, carotid artery and windpipe.The Islamic form of slaughtering animals or poultry, dhabiha, involves killing through a cut to the jugular vein, carotid artery and windpipe.
Animals must be alive and healthy at the time of slaughter and all blood is drained from the carcass. Animals must be alive and healthy at the time of slaughter and all blood is drained from the carcass. During the process, a Muslim will recite a dedication, know as tasmiya or shahada.
During the process, a Muslim will recite a dedication, know as tasmiya or shahada. Stunning cannot be used to kill an animal, according to the Halal Food Authority (HFA), but it can be used if the animal survives and is then killed by halal methods.
According to the Halal Food Authority (HFA), stunning cannot be used to kill an animal. But it can be used if the animal survives and is then killed by Halal methods.
How widespread is stunning?How widespread is stunning?
The RSPCA says slaughter without pre-stunning causes "unnecessary suffering".The RSPCA says slaughter without pre-stunning causes "unnecessary suffering".
EU research from 2006 indicated that 75% of cattle, 93% of sheep and 100% of chickens slaughtered in the UK for Halal meat were stunned before they died. UK Food Standards Agency figures from 2011 suggest 84% of cattle, 81% of sheep and 88% of chickens slaughtered for halal meat were stunned before they died.
Figures produced by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in 2011 give a similar picture: 84%, 81% and 88%, respectively. Supermarkets selling halal products say they stun all animals before they are slaughtered. Tesco says the only difference between the halal meat it sells and other meat is that it was blessed as it was killed.
Supermarkets who sell Halal products have said they stun all animals before they are slaughtered. Tesco has said the only difference between the Halal meat is sells and other meat is that it was blessed as it was killed. Stunning of livestock has been mandatory in the the EU since 1979, although member states can grant exemptions for religious slaughter.
Stunning of livestock has been mandatory in the the EU since 1979, although member states can grant exemptions for religious slaughter. Some countries, including Denmark, have opted to ban non-stunning slaughter altogether. Some countries, including Denmark, have opted to ban non-stunning slaughter altogether. The UK government says it has no intention of banning religious slaughter.
The UK government has no intention of banning religious slaughter, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs says. Is it different from kosher meat?
Is it different from Kosher meat?
Kosher food complies with Jewish dietary law (kashrut), again governing what can and cannot be eaten by those practicing the faith.Kosher food complies with Jewish dietary law (kashrut), again governing what can and cannot be eaten by those practicing the faith.
There are similarities in the method of slaughter but also distinct differences. For instance, Jewish law strictly forbids the use of stunning. A kosher slaughterman must also be specially trained and use a surgically sharp knife.There are similarities in the method of slaughter but also distinct differences. For instance, Jewish law strictly forbids the use of stunning. A kosher slaughterman must also be specially trained and use a surgically sharp knife.
Meats are not blessed in the same way - for example, unlike for halal, kashrut does not require God's name to be said before every slaughter. Kashrut also forbids the consumption of certain parts of the carcass, which is not the case for halal.Meats are not blessed in the same way - for example, unlike for halal, kashrut does not require God's name to be said before every slaughter. Kashrut also forbids the consumption of certain parts of the carcass, which is not the case for halal.
What are the rules on labelling?What are the rules on labelling?
Currently, there is no requirement for Halal or Kosher meat to be specifically labelled. Currently, there is no requirement for halal or kosher meat to be specifically labelled.
Why are retailers and restaurants selling it?Why are retailers and restaurants selling it?
By ensuring food meets Halal criteria, retailers and restaurants are making their products suitable for the UK's Muslim population. By ensuring food meets halal criteria, retailers and restaurants are making their products suitable for the UK's Muslim population.
Under HFA guidelines, slaughterhouses must be completely Halal compliant. Under HFA guidelines, slaughterhouses must be completely halal compliant.
That means they cannot have some areas that that meet standards and other which do not. That means they cannot have some areas that meet standards and others which do not.
An HFA spokesman said many slaughterhouses will have chosen to move to completely Halal processes so that they do not lose Muslim customers. The HFA says many slaughterhouses will have chosen to move to halal processes so they do not lose Muslim customers.
According to the latest census, there are 2.7 million Muslims in the UK with a spending power estimated in the region of £20bn. The latest census suggests there are 2.7 million Muslims in the UK, with a spending power estimated in the region of £20bn.
The population is rising and in London more than one in 10 inhabitants is now Muslim. How widespread is halal in the UK?
How widespread is Halal in the UK? A number of supermarkets including Marks and Spencer, Tesco, Morrisons, and the Co-op all sell halal lamb. Some Waitrose lamb products are given a Halal blessing, but are not supplied separately and are therefore not considered halal on the shelves, the chain said.
A number of supermarkets including Marks and Spencer, Tesco, Morrisons, the Co-op and Waitrose all sell Halal lamb. The Sun newspaper prompted a debate after running a front page reporting that all chicken served at Pizza Express was halal and customers were not being told.
Pizza Express has already revealed their chicken is killed according to Islamic tradition. The HFA estimates 15% of all meat slaughtered in the UK is halal compliant.
The HFA estimates 15% of all meat slaughtered in the UK is Halal compliant.
What changes are being suggested?What changes are being suggested?
Campaigners and politicians are calling for clearer labelling of Halal products is to give consumers more information on how their food is prepared. Campaigners and politicians are calling for clearer labelling of halal products to give consumers more information on how their food is prepared.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said customers should know what they are eating. Jewish and Muslim leaders agree, and have called for "comprehensive labelling" of meat.
He told LBC: "I personally have absolutely no problem eating a pizza with Halal meat on it at all. It's just a question of telling consumers." They say consumers should be told whether an animal has been stunned before being slaughtered, along with the method of slaughter.
The Muslim Council of Britain agree. In a joint-letter with Henry Grunwald, chairman of Shechita UK, which represents the Jewish method of religious slaughter, they said faith communities should support comprehensive labelling.
They wrote: "Consumers should be informed whether an animal has been mechanically stunned before being slaughtered and whether it has endured repeat stuns if the first attempt was ineffective.
"They should also be told the method of slaughter: captive bolt shooting, gassing, electrocution, drowning, trapping, clubbing or any of the other approved methods."