Would you eat halal meat?

[poppppy]

Just seen something trending on twitter and im curious to know if non Muslims eat halal meat and if not, why?

Yes, why wouldn't I?

You don't eat it because it's not your "culture"? 😂

So you wouldn't eat Chinese food? Never eat curry? You don't eat pizza or pasta then because that's Italian culture?

By all means don't eat it if you don't want to but saying you won't eat a certain food just because its from a different culture is laughable. Imagine how boring our diets would be if we only stuck to culturally "English" foods...

Yes, because I happily eat both meat and dairy. The animal is still going to die, so it seems unhelpful to get pearl-clutchy about the manner of death. There are arguments that dairy farming is 'more cruel' anyway...

I get the point your trying to make, but you know that's not what I mean. It's the principle of not catering for the majority. Why have halal meat as the go to in a Christian country? From what I have read the process of producing halal meat is more painful and prolonged suffering for the animal, I just find it unnecessary and like something from the middle ages to be honest. Are you a child, the emojis are suggesting so. I don't debate with children sorry

No, I never eat anything halal or kosher. 🙂

@Mjmum10 Halal meat isn't the go to in this country, it's an option that's available. If you go to some tescos Asda etc you'll see a much smaller section dedicated to Halal meat in comparison to non halal. We are also a very diverse country so would you rather not cater for halal eaters?

Also the concept of halal is actually meant to reduce the pain and suffering of the animal - but if that’s a concern then you shouldn’t be eating non halal meat either. Please don’t just make an assumption of people’s posts especially if they have no knowledge of Islamic teachings around ‘halal’. You are clearly an adult so maybe do some independent research before saying it’s something from the ‘middle ages’ - like it's a bad thing?

Ps I’m an adult and I use emojis so that’s a really odd comment to make

I don't agree with halal meat, I'm not making an assumption I have researched it. I should be able to eat meat without it being halal in the uk. The concept and reality can be two completely different things. And many places, my childhood school for example only served halal meat. This was a c of e school that you either had to pass an exam to get into or attend church. My problem is with it being the only option. I stand by my comment it's a barbaric practice

@Mjmum10 I'm curious to know why you consider the process of halal and non halal meat to be different? Is non halal meat slaughter in a less barbaric way?

I get your point that you rather have the choice.

My understanding is that the process of slaughter is the same, with the main difference being that traditional halal requires the animal to be conscious. Standard methods involve initially stunning the animal, so it is unconscious when killed.

There are a few caveats to this. Firstly, in the UK, halal meat can be deemed halal even if stunning has taken place before slaughter. As long as the animal is alive when it is killed, and the stunning did not kill the animal. There is also a prayer (not sure of the traditional language) recited.

Additionally, mistakes happen. Animals can be improperly stunned or other things I’d rather not describe happen, that mean the slaughter of the animal is more distressing regardless of method.

Both methods are equally brutal. However, if I were looking at halal vs non-halal from the sole perspective of animal welfare (which I wouldn’t normally) and being non-Muslim, I would probably look at standard methods of slaughter as being marginally better, as I would be assuming that it is better for the animal to be unconscious before being killed. That’s what I would be expecting to happen, whilst as I previously mentioned, traditional methods of halal slaughter mean the animal should be conscious, and the moments it takes for death to come in that situation, seem extra brutal for those who are looking at it simply.

@Bananafoster I understand your point of view. My point of view is different in that I believe the stunning process prolongs the slaughter and causes more pain to the animal. I only eat halal meat which doesn’t involve the stunning process as the cut off the main vessels will usually if not most of the time kill in the animal instantly. Though I think a majority of Muslims in the UK do eat the pre stunned meat, Nando’s for example (never had it myself as it’s pre stunned meat). Sorry to those who don’t want to read stuff like this but I started the thread to get opinions of meat eaters really, not of non meat eaters as my questions isn't relevant to you.

I respect peoples opinions about wanting to eat non halal as that’s your choice just like eating halal meat is my choice. If it wasn’t readily available in the UK, I’d simply be a vegetarian, but grateful for the options we have. We live in a diverse country and even if you don’t agree with the process of halal meat in comparison to non halal (which I find bizarre if you argue animal welfare but again my opinion doesn’t have to be your opinion and that’s ok!) it would be nice just for people to accept (if you don’t want to respect it) that the option is available to Muslims.

No

[I]t would be nice just for people to accept (if you don’t want to respect it) that the option is available to Muslims.

This is almost universally accepted, except maybe by a few extreme right-wingers.

What's not universally accepted is the fact that, while there are people whose objection to halal meat is primarily driven by racist and Islamophobic beliefs, there are also many people with legitimate reasons to want to avoid halal meat, both religious and non-religious, whose beliefs should be accommodated.

People who want to eat meat but not halal meat are often accused of Islamophobia regardless of their reasons (which are presumed to be merely a false justification to cover their bigotry), or told that their concerns are invalid, or that if they cared that much they would go vegan/vegetarian. Their beliefs and preferences are not respected or accepted — instead, threads like this get filled with people gloating about the fact that those people may be unwittingly eating halal meat every time they eat supermarket lamb, or go out for curry/a kebab/chicken, or eat mass-catered food.

Personally I've no problem eating halal or non-halal meat, but I respect people's right to choose non-halal meat, as well people's right to choose halal meat.

Agree. I'm Muslim eat halal and I have no problem with non Muslims simply wanting to eat non halal because they WANT to. Saying animal welfare reasons is bizarre, just say you prefer non halal full stop.

If anyone doesn't want halal cause they're an Islamophobe, then you are not worth debating with.

No, you're not getting it. You're mocking and belittling someone's beliefs. I don't call your reasons for choosing halal meat bizarre.

@LockForMultiball Actually if you don’t understand the concept of halal then you may find it bizarre. Bizarre is something that is unusual to you.

Im not mocking or belittling.. I’m confused and don’t understand, you’re killing an animal end of..not sure how you can care about animal welfare when you’re gna be eating the animal for dinner.

It's not my position so I'm not going to argue for it. Plenty of other people have explained it though.

It's rude to describe somebody's beliefs as bizarre. Despite what you've said, I don't think you'd be happy if someone called your beliefs bizarre.

😂😂😂

'I love animals! I am perfectly fine with something I 'love' being tortured and killed for my own pleasure'.

No.
I wish people who ate animals would just admit that they love SOME animals (e.g. their dog/cat/whatever) and don't care about others (the ones they consume). You can't 'love' something while paying for its torture and death. Unless your definition of 'love' is very different to its actual meaning.

I wanted to reiterate that my reason for avoiding Halal is NOT because of animal welfare.

I explained my understanding of the slaughter comparison, to really illustrate why some people may feel that non-halal is ‘kinder’.

I have seen plenty of shorts on twitter, of animals being slaughtered in the halal way, and it really doesn’t look that quick or humane. However, I wouldn’t presume to tell you that you should agree.

Perhaps the view of stunning is ignorant, and something we tell ourselves is better, as the animal is unconscious when the inevitable happens, but it can appear that way to people who have grown up in a western society that has told us this is ethical.

Therefore, I personally don’t think it’s a bizarre reason for not eating halal. I think it’s a perfectly reasonable reason, even if the person is mistaken in their overall view of slaughter. It’s their reason and as valid as your reason for eating halal.

My actual reason for not eating halal, is that as a Roman Catholic, I feel uncomfortable eating food prepared in accordance to another religions guidelines. I understand that there is nothing that tells me I shouldn’t eat it, but it feels wrong. So similarly to yourself, I have deep rooted beliefs that determine my choice.

I have consistently stated however that I believe that we should all be catered for equally.

What I find distasteful is the ignorant suggestion that anyone who doesn’t eat halal is using an excuse to disguise Islamophobia or racism. And that’s how these threads tend to go…with people who don’t care what they eat (fair enough, their decision) virtue signalling and calling others racist. It’s quite disgusting and intolerant when you think about it.

My actual reason for not eating halal, is that as a Roman Catholic, I feel uncomfortable eating food prepared in accordance to another religions guidelines. I understand that there is nothing that tells me I shouldn’t eat it, but it feels wrong. So similarly to yourself, I have deep rooted beliefs that determine my choice.
^
Me too.

Ignoring the meat v vegan angle - I am a meat eater. However I resent having to eat meat which has had spells cast over it. I choose not to, and I strongly object to halal meat being the default in schools or hospitality.

I can understood not eating it for animal welfare reasons
But it's weird to apply that logic to takeaway food/cheap meat/cheap canteen food. Since the meat in that situation whether Halal or not has not been raised in a high welfare situation. The way it was killed is the least of its problems. I know that's the similar argument vegetarians use against people that only buy free range. But it is weird to say "I don't care if the animal is kept in horrendous conditions, I just really need it to be killed in a specific way"

Spells cast over it?

There is no spell! A simple prayer is said as the animal dies. A blessing. Even though I'm not religious, I rather like this. It shows the animal is seen as a sentient being, perhaps a creature with a soul that needs blessing before it dies. Our way is to treat animals like products.
Halal animals are also supposed to be raised in a non-abusive way. If any animal is being maltreatef it should be nurtured back to health.
A prayer being said and care for the animals' welfare certainly wouldn't put me off eating halal (if I ate meat).

Prayers and spells are basically the same thing. Examples of positive thinking and expressions of gratitude. A pagan will cast a spell, someone religious or spiritual in a different way may pray for something.

Well I love eating cows and they are also my favourite animal 😊