Should we know if our meat is Halal?

Rosie51

paddyann54

Are you also complaining about kosher meat? It’s killed in a very similar way yet has been available here for maybe 200 years .

Yes and it was traditionally only available from kosher butchers. There wasn't widespread slaughtering of animals according to kosher ritual. A supermarket selling kosher meat that isn't prepackaged will often have a dedicated concession counter. Today vast amounts of meat are halal butchered, far more than necessary to meet the Muslim population's need. Kosher meat will be marked as such, no observant Jew would accept it otherwise. Halal butchered meat should be labelled in exactly the same way so everybody knows what they're buying.

Good factual post.👍🏻

Graphite..to my knowledge I have never eaten kosher , I didn't mention it because the post was purely about my recent purchase.

I don't think the vast majority of meat consumers are aware of how cruel and horrendous factory farming as a whole has become the last few decades. There are virtually no "good old fashioned farms" left. Meat producers and supermarkets do their best to keep us in the dark. It's easy to stick a label on a pack of chicken breast to guarantee certain animal welfare standards. But those industrial standards are shockingly low. It's not like "normal" meat means a peaceful life then a quick, painless death for the animal. It's 24/7 suffering until further torture to slaughter.

Yes, Shel and I understand your concerns about halal-slaughter and poor labelling but I was just making the point that Tesco have the worst record for poor animal welfare in all contexts and we shouldn’t be turning a blind eye to that. They are also the worst for chiselling decent farmers on price. Look up Radmore Farms YouTube channel.

Apple3pie is spot on.

In British slaughterhouses , 88% of Halal meat is stunned before slaughter.

No kosher meat is stunned before slaughter.

I agree all UK (reared and slaughtered) meat should be correctly labelled. Not least because consumer choice
can then influence commercial producers.

Apple3pie

I don't think the vast majority of meat consumers are aware of how cruel and horrendous factory farming as a whole has become the last few decades. There are virtually no "good old fashioned farms" left. Meat producers and supermarkets do their best to keep us in the dark. It's easy to stick a label on a pack of chicken breast to guarantee certain animal welfare standards. But those industrial standards are shockingly low. It's not like "normal" meat means a peaceful life then a quick, painless death for the animal. It's 24/7 suffering until further torture to slaughter.

Maybe it depends where you live. Here we are surrounded by farms and our good local butchers tell you which farms their meat comes from - I see the cattle and sheep in the fields on a daily basis. I'm not going to give up eating meat, but I do my best to ensure that what I do buy and eat is locally sourced.

I buy my meat from a local farm shop, it’s owned by the farmer . The meat, poultry and game comes from local farms . As does their eggs and cheese. I’ve haven’t bought meat from a supermarket for years.
But going back to the OP , yes our meat and poultry should be labelled halal or kosher . My local Sainsbury’s has a big halal section in the fresh food section.

When you buy 'chicken pie' or any meat pie, you have no idea how the animal was slaughtered. Same goes for meat dishes in restaurants.
Maybe there should be a way for us to find out?

ViceVersa

It's possible that your local area scores better. On average:

"Over a billion animals are confined in factory farms every year – that’s 85% of all UK farmed animals."
"...there has been a 12% increase in the number of UK factory farms from 2016 to 2023. Even more concerning, is the 20% increase of large factory farms in pig and poultry units over this seven-year period." Source: www.ciwf.org.uk/

The scale of it is just horrendous.

There really isn't a "kind" way to slaughter an animal and I feel sure that if people had to do the slaughtering themselves they might feel less inclined to eat meat.

If people eat meat, coming over all squeamish about kosher and halal practices seems fairly pointless to me, when many animals are experiencing a daily living hell.

If you eat meat but are still concerned about the treatment of animals, rather than focusing on the method of slaughter, why not campaign for proper and more natural living conditions so at least these creatures' lives are more bearable.

My son, who works for Tesco, warned me not to buy any meat that is labelled NOT FOR EU because it won't have been reared to the same standard as our meat. I had presumed it was just some obscure political thing.

According to the food standard agency, 88% of animals slaughtered for halal meat in the U.K are stunned beforehand.

The methods used to stun animals can be just as inhumane. With pigs, the slaughterhouses use CO2 poisoning, put them into a gas chamber and suffocate them with CO2 until they become unconscious.

I once saw a documentary on salmon fishing and that put me off eating salmon altogether.

When I was growing up, we only eat meat once a week.

No animal should be killed without stunning. It's abhorrent; meat should be clearly labelled. The new animal right bill does not go far enough.

My neighbour had what I thought was a pet sheep: it was so friendly and adorable. Come Beiram, they cut its throat and the poor thing cried for several minutes. The whole family stood round, including children, and treated it as a celebration.

Much of the Lamb and Chicken is Halal certified it's easier for slaughterhouses to do that rather than segregate different batches. Then there is no extra cost.
It doesnt apply to pigs Muslims don't eat pork , Beef would be slaughtered specifically for Halal and Kosher. Quite a lot of specialist meats are imported

That is so sad barmcake.

Eloethan

There really isn't a "kind" way to slaughter an animal and I feel sure that if people had to do the slaughtering themselves they might feel less inclined to eat meat.

If people eat meat, coming over all squeamish about kosher and halal practices seems fairly pointless to me, when many animals are experiencing a daily living hell.

If you eat meat but are still concerned about the treatment of animals, rather than focusing on the method of slaughter, why not campaign for proper and more natural living conditions so at least these creatures' lives are more bearable.

Not in my case. I grew up and still live in the country and we frequently have rabbits, pheasants and even venison which my husband butchers himself (his mother was a butcher). As I say, I do my level best to ensure what meat we do buy has been locally sourced and where the animals have had a decent life. When it comes to kosher or halal meat, I just feel it should be clearly labelled so people have the choice whether to buy it or not.

I am a total carnivore but I would live on cabbage rather than eat Halal or Kosher. It is an evil process and should be outlawed in this country.

I read a year or so ago, that all school meats were Halal in order to cater for religious customs of other nationalities - forget ours, then.

I do understand why schools and institutions have to do this, it would be impossible not to.Supermarkets could be compelled to state on the food info on packs of meat tho if the will was there.

butterandjam

In British slaughterhouses , 88% of Halal meat is stunned before slaughter.

No kosher meat is stunned before slaughter.

I agree all UK (reared and slaughtered) meat should be correctly labelled. Not least because consumer choice
can then influence commercial producers.

I've been vegetarian since childhood.

We don't deserve to have these beautiful animals in our life. Anyone who's lived alongside any creature, knows that no two animals are the alike. They have their moods, experience pain and give love like humans. Poor darlings - I have no objection to people eating meat, it's the terrible suffering I object to.

There is suffering in any slaughterhouse no matter the kind of death.

There's no reason for animals to suffer prior to slaughter if it is done correctly by properly trained people who are used to handling animals. Stress to animals affect the quality of the meat, so abattoirs will do as much as possible to keep stress to an absolute minimum. I prefer to buy meat that has been processed through small local abattoirs because I know the animals have been travelled fewer miles, are slaughtered in small groups with animals that they are familiar with and spend little time between being unloaded and taken to be stunned prior to slaughter. It means the meat I buy is more expensive but it's not only better meat it's also from animals that have had decent lives. The problem is that many people want cheap meat and are prepared to ignore lower welfare standards to achieve that. If you buy supermarket meat, then you are part of the problem because small abattoirs are used mainly by butchers or meat that is sold from the farm or at local markets and over the years many small abattoirs have had to close as they have not been viable.

Some information. My farmer has one of these awards. That together with the most humane farming conditions, including natural surroundings, grass fed. Slow natural growth. No hormones, drugs etc.

1. Humane Slaughter Association (HSA)
The HSA is a UK-based charity that focuses specifically on the welfare of food animals during transport, marketing, and slaughter.
Humane Slaughter Award: This is a prestigious award given to individuals or organizations worldwide whose work has led to significant advances in humane slaughter techniques.
Focus Areas: Winners often include researchers and industry professionals who have developed better stunning methods (e.g., electrical stunning of fish, controlled atmosphere killing for poultry).
Recent Recipients: Dr. Mette S. Herskin (2022) for research into transport and slaughter; Dr. Dorothy McKeegan (2019) for work on controlled atmosphere stunning.

2. Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) - Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards
CIWF awards recognize companies that commit to higher welfare standards, including specifically humane slaughter requirements.

Good Chicken/Pig/Dairy Award: Recipients must meet strict on-farm criteria that often include requirements for pre-slaughter handling and approved stunning methods.
Special Recognition Awards: Given to companies demonstrating outstanding innovation in welfare. For exampleCermaq (2024) and Mowi ASA (2022) received this for adopting stun-kill percussive systems for salmon.
Good Turkey Award: Recently awarded to Klong Phai Farm in Thailand for using slower-growing breeds and higher welfare practices.

3. Certified Humane Raised and Handled (HFAC)
Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) administers this, which is a rigorous, third-party certification program.
Criteria: The "Certified Humane" logo guarantees that the animals were raised and slaughtered according to precise standards that minimize pain, such as the use of effective stunning methods.
Coverage: Covers meat, poultry, dairy, and eggs.

4. PETA UK Farming Awards
PETA UK has introduced farming awards that highlight compassionate, high-welfare practices.

Focus: Recognition is given to farms that prioritize animal welfare, including those that have switched to plant-based farming, thus eliminating slaughter entirely.

5. Other Notable Recognition
Farms Not Factories: This organization supports pig farmers who raise animals in high-welfare, outdoor systems. They have recognized Orchard View Farm and Glebe Farm for their high-welfare standards.
Shrimp Welfare Awards: In 2021Hilton Seafood UK was recognized for adopting an electric stunner for farmed shrimp, which is more humane than the industry-standard ice slurry method.

These organizations work to drive continuous improvement in the industry, encouraging a shift towards methods that are as painless and stress-free as possible for the animals.

Would be good if these award notifications were listed on tbe packaging.

Maremia

Would be good if these award notifications were listed on tbe packaging.

That would be a great idea.

I had to check up because I wasn't sure, most lamb and chicken is stunned and then the required religious actions take pace, most Muslims accept this as a practical solution. Strict Halal slaughter is available for those who require it but it is not likely to be sold outside specialist butcher.

The meat you buy in a supermarket or farm shop will have been stunned.