Should you be told if the meat you're served is halal?

[YouWillNeverGuessMyUsername]

If you go to a restaurant or cafe or cafeteria at work or whatever. Would you expect to be informed that they were serving halal meat?

If the animal is stunned pre-slaughter is not being definition halal meat.

That is the uk compromise which seems fair enough to me

Because some people rightly or wrongly do not like the idea of eating halal meat. All I am asking is should they be informed before eating so they can make a choice?

What harm or detriment does it cause people if they don’t know, given that halal meat and non halal meat are exactly the same product, unless you are Muslim and the use of a prayer or not is relevant to you? What is it that you need to know, and why would you avoid halal meat if you did know?

Presumably the Muslims in your workplace are already aware that the meat served is halal, so those who have a religious care to know are already informed.

Because some people rightly or wrongly do not like the idea of eating halal meat. All I am asking is should they be informed before eating so they can make a choice?

You can ask and they are required to tell you.

But there is no legal requirement to advertise it in advance.

It’s wild to me that some people believe it’s outrageous to care if meat is halal … unless you believe an imaginary man in the sky has forbidden you to eat non- halal meat.

😂😂

Yes — consumer disclosure is good. And it has ethical implications for many people (one direction or the other).

Most Halal meat is from animals that have been pre-stunned (which I think is the only ethical issue here?). Additionally, there are many practices in abattoirs and in farming generally that are significantly distressing for animals.

Some abattoirs - halal and non-halal - are run badly and cruelly. Others are run better. I wouldn't be surprised if animals who are pre-stunned, but who are killed in badly run abatoirs, feel at least as much distress as animals who are killed in well-run halal abattoirs.

So, no, I wouldn't expect to be informed that I am eating halal meat. Or kosher meat - I think I'm right in saying that kosher slaughter has the same legal permission as halal slaughter to skip stunning?

Did they not mark it anywhere as halal? No halal sticker or mention anywhere? Because it's tedious to keep telling every person every day it's halal..it is assumed you'd ask if you cared.

No mention or sticker or label anywhere (unless you ask and they will tell you)

Then they are following legislation correctly.

Im sure those for whom it would be a problem ask for themselves.

It does yes. And no kosher meat is stunned, whereas most halal meat is.

Whoah! So it isn't the ethical issues around animal welfare that concern you? It is the thought that a prayer may have been uttered? Is't that a bit odd? If you aren't a believer, what significance can you attach to the fact that some words have been said?

Surely those that mind either way will ask?

But it clearly is morally relevant to many people (Muslims and non-Muslims for different reasons). Isn’t that enough to make it important to disclose?

I’m not vegan but I think it’s important that the vegan/non-vegan status of food be disclosed, for the same reason.

If you're Muslim then I assume you'd want to know.

Me personally I don't care. If killing animals for food is cruel, having a prayer read out over a tannoy while it's happening doesn't make it any better or worse.

I just assume it's Halal anyway.

Always struck me as ridiculous the number of people who make a pretence of being outraged at the prospect of consuming Halal, yet happily order curries on takeaway, tuck into a kebab at the end of the night and so on.

@GeneralPeter but vegan/non-vegan makes a material difference to the food you are being served. Halal/non-halal meat products are identical products.

I assume these people are doing it for (the fig leaf of) welfare?

Then choosing a vegetarian option or asking for higher welfare meat in the canteen would be much more effective.

I couldn't give a shit about whether it's halal or not. I don't even eat meat.

I am just wondering if this needs raising or not, because some people would be incredibly upset to know they'd unknowingly been fed halal food. Just like some people would be incredibly upset if they hadn't been given halal meat..

I think a Muslim might dispute that.

Morally relevant to Muslims perhaps

but to none Muslims the only moral I can think of is racism

I would imagine that any employee who is concerned to know whether the meat served is Halal or non-Halal will have the wherewithal to ask, just as you did?