Topic: On cultural differences

[Stephen Lindsay]

I am cynical about it, and this is the reason why. My friend once worked as a computer programmer for an company IT company. One of their clients was a chicken processing plant, i.e. live chickens in one end, chicken breasts in polystyrene/celophane/label etc. the other.

The "halal" chicken was exactly the same process as non-halal, the only difference being that the Imam for the local Mosque recited a prayer as the chickens were being killed.

I'm not saying that all halal poultry or meat is like this but just giving this example which shows that halal doesn't always mean different just as products labelled low fat might be full of calories from sugars.

[Peripatetic Phil]

The "halal" chicken was exactly the same process as non-halal, the only difference being that the Imam for the local Mosque recited a prayer as the chickens were being killed.

Now there are two ways of interpreting that :  either all were slaughtered according to the requirements of the Qur'an (except that those not sold as Halal were not slaughtered in the name of God), or none were, and all were slaughtered according to normal Western abbatoir practice.  Can you say which it was, Stephen ?  According to a veterinary surgeon :

The methods used in the production of halal meat fall way short of the welfare standards we expect for animals here. In my opinion we should not allow it.  (I do have extensive experience of what happens in slaughter houses as part of my job and my training before anyone jumps in suggesting I don't know what I'm talking about).  There is currently a massive increase in the number of food animal species bleeding and asphyxiating to death in pain while fully conscious in this country because some hospitals, schools and other large catering establishments are finding it easier to change over completely to halal meat instead of offering a choice.

As to whether this is normal practice, all I can say is that I know of one T/A owner, himself a devout Muslim, who went every Sunday to observe the hens being slaughtered so that he could serve them as Halal with 100% confidence.

** Phil.