Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect my daughter to have access to non halal meat

547 replies

Bushmillsbabe · 06/10/2024 16:13

My daughters school now has only halal meat available for their school lunches.

I personally do not wish my child to have halal meat, I think its more cruel than other slaughter methods, however this thread is not intended to debate which is worse/better.

She is dairy and gluten intolerant, and her safe options tended to be things like roast chicken, the vegetarian options usually contain dairy. The pork sausages contain gluten so she would have the chicken sausages, she also eats burgers and meatballs but these are now also halal.

So if I don't give her halal meat, she is left with jacket potato with beans every day, which she does eat, but doesn't want to have every day.

I fully respect that Muslim parents wish their child to have halal meat, but am I wrong in thinking my dietary preferences for my daughter should also be respected and she should have access to non halal meat?

OP posts:
useitorlose · 06/10/2024 16:23

I live in the middle east, where meat is just meat. You either eat it or you don't.

When you fly with Emirates, Qatar, Etihad etc all meals are halal.

peppermintteacup · 06/10/2024 16:23

You should ask for the vegetarian option to cater to her other dietary needs.

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 06/10/2024 16:22

Muslim children eat the pescetarian options at my school. We don't offer halal meat.

Clumsy12345 · 06/10/2024 16:22

We have the opposite, we don’t eat pork but are not Muslim so sometimes the options are only halal chicken, pork or vegetarian and my son gets told he isn’t allowed the children because he is “not halal” which is annoying as he often doesn’t like the vegetarian option. I think he should be allowed the halal.

curtaintwitcher78 · 06/10/2024 16:22

You'll die when you hear how non-halal meat lives before it is murdered.

Laserwho · 06/10/2024 16:22

Send a packed lunch.

Ponderingwindow · 06/10/2024 16:21

School meals are not providing high quality, ethically sourced meat regardless of what label gets put on the package. You should just let your daughter eat the food that she can and wants to eat.

AutumnGarland · 06/10/2024 16:20

My school only had halal meat, hasn’t done me any harm.

TwattyMcFuckFace · 06/10/2024 16:20

TheDoorsOpen · 06/10/2024 16:19

YANBU.

We are not a Muslim country so why is halal the default?

Why isn't there one halal option?

Cost.

Given the majority of parents are ok with their kids eating halal meat, it make sense to go with the majority.

sauvignonplonk1 · 06/10/2024 16:20

TheDoorsOpen · 06/10/2024 16:19

YANBU.

We are not a Muslim country so why is halal the default?

Why isn't there one halal option?

Totally agree.

Favouritefruits · 06/10/2024 16:20

Give her a packed lunch if you’re not happy? Not everything needs to be a big fight! No school meat is from well cared for animals

NinetyNineOrangeBalloons · 06/10/2024 16:20

There is a non-halal meat option - the pork sausages. You could always ask if there is a gluten free version of that available?

I do think there should be at least one non-halal meat option available, but realistically schools have limited budgets so it’s difficult to cater for personal preferences (as opposed to dietary requirements)

TheDoorsOpen · 06/10/2024 16:19

YANBU.

We are not a Muslim country so why is halal the default?

Why isn't there one halal option?

SoupDragon · 06/10/2024 16:19

If you're OK with eating dead animals then a small difference in how they are slaughtered really shouldn't be a problem.

Soontobe60 · 06/10/2024 16:19

There’s a big difference between a dietary preference and a diary need.
You would prefer that your DC doesn’t eat halal, she has a need to not eat diary or gluten (I’m assuming she has medically diagnosed allergies). With regards to school dinners, her choice will be very limited as a result of your preference.
What solution would you want the school to come up with - because buying non halal meat definitely won’t be one of them I’m guessing.

TwattyMcFuckFace · 06/10/2024 16:18

If you expect the school to buy in a separate supply of meat for the tiny minority who won't eat halal, I'd be interested to know how much you'd be willing to pay for her school dinners?

UprootedSunflower · 06/10/2024 16:18

I think eating cheap school meat is a wider problem if you are concerned about animal cruelty.
Either you care about all animal cruelty, or you don’t. But it’s not organic free range meat either way

Gretcort · 06/10/2024 16:17

I suspect you’re being disingenuous over the “more cruel” aspect. Did you check on the conditions that the non halal chickens were kept in before letting her eat it?

olympicsrock · 06/10/2024 16:16

This is political correctness gone mad.

Comedycook · 06/10/2024 16:16

Yabu.

Even if it wasn't halal, do you think schools serve up organic, free range hand reared meat....?

If you care so much about animal welfare, go veggie.

Procrastrinata · 06/10/2024 16:16

Sorry meant and voted YANBU

Procrastrinata · 06/10/2024 16:15

I think YABU. We are not a Muslim country. I also don’t want to eat halal and it gave me a final push to turn vegetarian/vegan recently.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread