- Halal slaughter involves one pass of the blade across the throat of the animal, severing the carotid arteries, jugular vein and trachea. Research (Schultz, Hanover University, Germany) indicates this process involves very little pain. Animals lose consciousness very quickly, yet the heart helps rid the body of blood.
Halal slaughter is sometimes sensationalized in the media and is viewed as a controversial subject. However, if done properly, researchers have found that Halal slaughter is both safe and humane.
For halal slaughter in Australia, all export and most domestic slaughtering establishments comply with standard slaughter practice where animals are stunned prior to slaughter using reversible stunning methods. For kosher slaughter there is no requirement for animals to be stunned prior to slaughter.
Minimally painful and complete bleeding is required during halal slaughter, which is difficult to perform in large animals [69]. Previous researchers have indicated an association between the location of the cut and the onset of unconsciousness during slaughter without stunning, such as in halal slaughter.
Halal food is that which adheres to Islamic law, as defined in the Koran. The Islamic form of slaughtering animals or poultry, dhabiha, involves killing through a cut to the jugular vein, carotid artery and windpipe. Animals must be alive and healthy at the time of slaughter and all blood is drained from the carcass.
The 'ritual' slaughter practised to ensure that meat is acceptable to Muslims involves severing the entire neck save for the spinal column and draining blood from the animal without anaesthetization. Under EU guidelines on hygiene standards with regard to slaughter, this practice is forbidden.
While pork is the only meat that categorically may not be consumed by Muslims (the Quran forbids it, Surah 2:173 and 16:115) other foods not in a state of purity are also considered haram. The criteria for non-pork items include their source, the cause of the animal's death and how it was processed.
Mammals and birds also experience fear and pain, as well as being deprived of their lives. In many countries animals are supposed to be stunned first so they don't suffer, or at least suffer less, when they are killed. Animals in slaughterhouses also undergo terrible psychological suffering.
According to a major halal abattoir based in Somerset, the stun used 'knocks the animal out for around 15-20 seconds. ' Opinion is that halal slaughter takes at least 4 minutes, and hence all that a 'low voltage stun' does is knock out the animal so that its throat can be cut with the least resistance.
All Shechita (Jewish) and some Halal (Muslim) slaughter involves cutting the animal's throat without stunning them first. Around 87% of animals slaughtered in the UK for Halal are stunned first.
When you buy Australian beef and lamb, you can be confident you are getting clean, safe and 100% guaranteed Halal meat.
Unstunned slaughter is most often associated with religious slaughter, however it is important to note that in Australia, the majority of halal slaughter is conducted with prior stunning so that the animal is unconscious before being bled out.
Secondly, all Coles meat products, excluding pork, is halal slaughtered including beef, lamb and chicken. This is similar for IGA and a slightly lesser degree Woolworths as they sell an organic roast chicken that is not halal slaughtered.
The slaughter process has two stages: Stunning, when performed correctly, causes an animal to lose consciousness, so the animal can't feel pain. The law states that, with few exceptions, all animals must be stunned before 'sticking' (neck cutting) is carried out.
Pork is a food taboo among Jews, Muslims, and some Christian denominations. Swine were prohibited in ancient Syria and Phoenicia, and the pig and its flesh represented a taboo observed, Strabo noted, at Comana in Pontus.
Religious slaughter
Around 95% of animals slaughtered in the UK for Halal are stunned first. All animals slaughtered under the Shechita (for Kosher) are non-stunned.
Slaughter by a woman is valid and halal to be eaten. Yes, some scholars said that the slaughter made by a man is prioritized over a woman. This is when one considers the angle of his strength and ability to slaughter an animal.
Halal animals must be slaughtered by a Muslim, who says a blessing, and by hand, not by machine (which is the way many chickens in the U.S. are killed. Once killed, the animal's blood must drain completely, since Muslims who eat Halal do not consume the fresh blood of animals.
The fundamental basis of slaughtering animals under Islam is to ensure blood is completely removed from the animal, the animal is not tortured, beaten, or maltreated, and is killed painlessly and quickly as possible.
Regardless of religious or cultural beliefs, prior to slaughter animals must be humanely and immediately rendered unconscious via stunning, and remain unconscious until death occurs. Abattoirs in Australia should install Closed Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) to assist in meeting animal welfare requirements.
“Apart from the physically dangerous employment conditions, the underlying violent nature of working in a slaughterhouse also poses a risk to the psychological well-being of employees and cases of cumulative trauma disorder have been reported.
Cow cries before slaughter. They sense their final destiny. Don't be a reason behind their suffering.
All food consumed at McDonald's comply with Halal requirements. Raw ingredients, cooking utensils and meals conform strictly with the Islamic Halal requirements of Bahrain. McDonald's applies the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) program to ensure food safety throughout the food supply chain.
Basically, even though there isn't an issue with non-Halal slaughter, you probably aren't aware of which other animals are slaughtered in the same place. So, in effect, there is a chance of cross-contamination from other animals. Therefore, cheddar cheese is viewed as haram.
According to a study, the quality of meat is lower, the more an animal is stressed during its lifetime or just before slaughter. On the other hand, the muscle glycogen is converted to lactic acid, if an animal is slaughtered in the halal way, which is why the meal becomes tender and flavorsome.