What is Halal Meat?

[FreeSpirit89]

My friends DS goes to a different school to my DS, and she contacted me today about the introduction of a few Halal meat dishes at her DS school. So from what I understand they have a choice of 3 main dishes per day, a standard meat option, a veggie option and a Halal option.

She is upset about this, and asked if our school had done the same. I told her it hadn't and she responded that I should worry as it will probably follow suit.

Now I didn't say it at the time, but What is Halal meat? Have I been living under a rock or something? I have no idea what the big deal is about it.

Is there a place I can go to find out maybe a website of some description? I have had a quick google, but I only seem to come across forum threads like this. I'm sort of looking for factual advice not opinions.

Thank you.

Really ?

What waithorse said.

HTH First hit on a google search...

Yawn

And, FWIW, there were no fora discussions on the entire first google search page

www.thekitchn.com/good-question-what-is-halal-me-60979

Yes, I too am wondering what the OP was searching for, given that no forum discussions came up on the first page when I searched either.

Seriously you dont know. Even as a meat eater i do go out of my way to avoid halal meat as i dont like the way its done. Suggest goggle op.

Yes really.

I tend to be somewhat OCD and suffer anxiety. I have bought the same food stuffs for myself for years, and the last time I ate outside of my own four walls was about a year ago. For fear of getting sick.

My son has just started school, and I get the feeling its something I should have at the very least heard about before.

Sorry I asked.

Do you own a TV OP? And visit supermarkets?

Apologies to those who might read this......(please dont read below if you dont want to know). Hope that answers your question. The problem is the animal is not stunned before.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Traditional halal meat is killed by hand and must be blessed by the slaughterman. Islam has strict laws on the proper method of slaughtering an animal. One, called dhabihah, requires a swift, deep incision with a sharp knife on the neck that cuts the jugular vein.

The links above should tell you what it is, OP - it's basically meat slaughtered in a way that satisfies religious requirements. Some people think it's more/less animal friendly, some people dislike the prayer aspect, some people don't care.

Thanks leedy that explains it better than my cut and paste. Hope what i cut and paste hasnt upset anyone xxxx

I visit supermarkets yes, and I own a TV but avoid the news channels. I only read the local paper and as far as I am aware, I haven't seen anything in there. I may have done but perhaps wasn't paying attention.

Thank you Londonrach, and to the other posters who posted the links.

Some people think it's more/less animal friendly, some people dislike the prayer aspect, some people don't care.

This.

Londonrach I believe it is sometimes stunned before- it depends which halal guidelines you read. The controversy recently centred around the UK public not being able to know which mean was or wasn't stunned first.

Sorry, x-posted with others

Hi OP, the word halal means 'lawful'. Muslims can only eat meat which has been killed in a certain way, by cutting the throat of the animal and letting the blood drain. A short prayer ("in the name of Allah (God)") is said when the animal is slaughtered. In most British abbatoirs (no idea how to spell that word) animals are stunned first, due to fears of the animal suffering. For meat to be halal there are also rulings about how the animal is reared and treated (without suffering) as Islam states that animals are a trust given to humans and while we can benefit from them e.g. by eating their meat we must also give them their rights.
British halal meat has to meet the same health and safety standards as all UK meat, plus extras for being halal (the Halal Meat Council stamps meat it has checked), so there shouldn't be any health concerns. However, if you feel uncomfortable you could just tell your DS not to eat the halal option?

Is there a website you can go to? Um yes, have you heard of Wikipedia? That's always a good place to start.

I just googled 'halal meat'. Second result - Wikipedia, third result - BBC 'what is halal meat', a few down 'what is controversial about halal meat' and so on.

What's different about your search engine?

It's probably Bing.

As stated above, Halal meat is slaughtered in accordance with Muslim beliefs. It is the only form of meat which Muslims are permitted to eat. However, since there are two other options, why do you care? Ask the staff to ensure that your son eats one of those, if it matters to you. Similarly why does your friend mind that her son can eat two thirds of the daily menu?

It probably is bing. Bing is the default search box on my work PC and it amazes me how shit it it every time I accidently use it rather than google.

Regardless of whether the OP has been living under a rock or whatever, she has done the right thing. She's looking for actual facts rather than just having a knee jerk reaction.

What was your friend's objection to their being a halal option at her child's school (especially if it's an additional option)?

She just doesn't agree with it. That's what I was trying to find out, weather there was some glowingly awful reason she was against it.

I myself having never had any real dealings with the issues, wanted some facts so I could see what the fuss was about.

I believe the concern is about whether animals are stunned before having their throats cut.

They may be required to be stunned in the UK (worth checking) but meat may be imported from places where that is not the case. It may be impossible to make a distinction once it enters the UK market.

So it's an ethical issue about animal welfare. You might, having checked the facts, take a view that halal meat is / can be an unethical product which you cannot support the school buying, as a member of the school community.

It won't taste any different, so there's no physical difference to the person eating it. They may choose to avoid it as a matter of conscience.