As a retired farmer, I think that these things should be known....

[painterman32]

We want proper labelling for our food. Did you know that ALL beef and lamb imported into this country from New Zealand is Halal?
I don't have to eat it thank goodness, but I do think that it should be marked so others had the option of eating it or not. I believe that an animal should be stunned before it's killed, so it suffers less - what do you think?

[Mamyalynne]

I think all food should be clearly labelled and then the consumer makes their choice.

[redman41]

Agree with Humane killing of Animals for our daily Food but this Halal seems to be spreading everywhere these days

[rowanwitch]

If this is true I won't buy it any more

[redman41]

Quoteabout Halal :-

Both the Jewish and Muslim religions demand that slaughter is carried out with a single cut to the throat, rather than the more widespread method of stunning with a bolt into the head before slaughter.

[redcrx]

not all according to this

sheep/lamb meat from New Zealand is halal, as long as it's not from one of the following abattoirs - code indicated on the packaging - ME 80; ME 103; ME 104; ME 108; ME 112; ME 131; ME 132; ME 133.

http://thinkislamic.c...-is-mostly-halal.html

and in new zealand the animal IS stunned before being slaughtered even if by halal method http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3604675.stm

[sandyRoe]

I'd guess that New Zealand exports lots of lamb to countries in the Middle East. They would want all the meat they imported to be halal.
If the animal welfare groups here in the UK can't stop this cruel method of slaughter why should we expect the groups in other countries to be more successful?

[237SJ]

Agree painterman. My family were farmers for 400 years. We didn`t spend years finding a humane way to kill animals only to chuck the idea out of the window because we want to please this country`s growing muslim population. I very rarely eat red meat so would have no problem avoiding it but I think it should be clearly marked.

[steg]

i would rather carve my own steaks of a live coo

[redcrx]

and ride the rest home, Steg?

[steg]

yea

[painterman32]

Redcry - Your 'info' is three years out of date. And redhelen, it's not 'scaremongering', it's a fact. Food should be properly labelled so people can make thier choice

[craft1948]

I'll ask my kiwi cousins about this.....

[McMouse]

I understand that in modern halal abattoirs the animals are hung upside down by their hind legs and a spinning blade automatically runs down the line slitting their throats. Nuff said.

[redcrx]

painterman,
can you please post the up to date links that state that ALL the meat is being slaughtered by halal and that the animals are not stunned prior to this.

Thank you in advance

[jomifl]

These customs are so deep rooted in various cultures that the need for them is never questioned. There may have been a need for them once but now they are outdated and unnecessarily cruel.

[McMouse]

The custom goes back thousands of years. It was necessary in those days to prohibit the eating of any meat from an animal that was sick, injured or found dead. In modern times our practice of pre-stunning is held by Islam and Judaism to involve 'injuring' the beast and therefore contrary to their food laws.

[China Doll]

Not going to lose sleep over it.

[painterman32]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...mes/b00tt59h#synopsis