Image: Esther McVey MP

Clear labelling of ritually slaughtered meat be it halal or kosher is a common-sense approach and long overdue

Earlier this week Conservative MP Esther McVey put forward a motion for leave to bring in a bill to ensure halal and kosher meat are appropriately labelled so that the public have a choice in what they are buying from supermarkets and restaurants. The Network of Sikh Organisations (NSO) welcomes the motion on grounds that clear labelling is absolutely essential for British Sikhs, who need to know exactly what they are buying as consumers, in order to adhere to the requirements of their own faith, which prohibits the consumption of any ritually slaughtered meat – with halal specifically highlighted as a prohibition in the Sikh Code of Conduct (the Sikh Rehat Maryada). This is on grounds of animal rights and preventing animal suffering, but also the belief that praying over an animal prior to its slaughter is an act of superstition. 

McVey said, ‘it is important that consumers have such information so that they can make an informed choice about what they are buying. Currently consumers do not have that information, and many are purchasing and consuming halal and kosher meat without their knowledge and agreement.’

We acknowledge that both stunned slaughter and non-stunned slaughter exists, when it comes to ritually slaughtered meat – be it kosher or halal. Most of the slaughter is stunned, and non-stun slaughter results in more suffering for the animal. Animal slaughter is regulated by assimilated EU regulation 1099/2009 and the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015. But as McVey acknowledges, ‘Under these laws, animals must be stunned before they are killed, but exemptions exist for killing without stunning in accordance with specific religious rites. Added to that, there are currently no requirements for such meat to be labelled’. 

We were not surprised to learn supermarkets like Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Marks and Spencer have sold kosher and halal without informing the consumer, but restaurants like Domino’s, Pizza Hut and KFC have done so to. Given our historical lobbying on the issue of having choice in schools, so Sikh children can have a non-halal option, we were also not surprised to learn that non-stunned meat is being used by 17 local councils in schools, many of these schools are not Islamic and parents have been none the wiser. Hospitals and local councils are also using non-stunned meat. By using such meat, the councils and public bodies in question are in breach of their responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010, and the Public Sector Equality Duty that stems from the Act.

In a response to our concerns raised about the lack of availability of non-halal meat in schools to cater for the needs of Sikh children (and others who choose not to eat it, like Hindus, and Christians) with the government back in 2018, we were informed by the then junior minister for Children and Families, Nadhim Zahawi, that the Schools Food Standards do not specify food requirements in terms of religious and cultural needs. This remains the case. 

Around the same time The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) told us: 

‘With regards to the availability of non-halal meat options in schools, this is a matter for the department of education..’ 

DEFRA, did, however, explain its policy in relation to ritually slaughtered animals, informing us that there were no domestic or EU regulations in place that require the labelling of halal or kosher meat, but where such information is voluntarily provided, it must be accurate for the consumer. 

The NSO therefore support McVey’s motion for leave to bring forward a bill so that labelling is not voluntary (as is the case under existing legislation), but mandatory – so that all consumers are informed and have a clear choice in what they are buying. 

Freedom of religion and conscience are important for all faiths and beliefs in Britain, and that includes the right for Sikhs (and others) as consumers, to have the right to know the meat that they are purchasing and consuming is non-halal or non-kosher.

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