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Parents angered as every pupil is given halal school meals
Last updated at 23:07pm on 16.12.06
Kids: Uproar as mixed faith state schools only serve Halal meat.
Halal meat is being served to pupils in state schools without their knowledge, even if they believe the religious slaughter is cruel.
Parents have reacted furiously after being sent letters telling them their children's school dinners have been all-halal for 'some time'.
To conform with Jewish and Muslim religious tradition, animals are prepared for halal products by having their throats slit while conscious - a method many people believe is inhumane and which the RSPCA has condemned.
The meat was introduced at four schools in the Reading area with a high proportion of Muslim pupils. But parents of non-Muslim pupils - between 20 and 50 per cent of the schools' roll -say they were not consulted.
Coach driver Andrew Weston, 37, who has a son and daughter at St John's primary school, said: "We received a letter saying only halal meat was being served and had been for some time. I was shocked.
"The way the animals are killed for this meat is barbaric and cruel. Our children should have a choice."
Abdul Dean, ethnic minorities officer for the Christian Peoples Alliance, said: "Christian children should be given an equal chance to have non-halal meat. The school should have explained the situation to parents at the outset."
Last month, a head teacher in Rotherham caused an outcry when she said she intended to replace traditional turkey with halal chicken to create an 'integrated Christmas'. Jan Charters, head of Oakwood School, backed down after complaints by MPs.
A spokesperson for Reading Borough Council said: "The decision was taken several years ago. Schools thought it was the appropriate choice for their multi-cultural community. We are increasing options at the four schools by offering fish each day."
The other schools where only halal meat is served are New Town, Oxford Road and Alfred Sutton primary schools.
Earlier this year, an RSPCA pamphlet stated: "Muslim communities in the UK should review their slaughter practices. Research demonstrates that slaughter of any animal without stunning can cause unnecessary suffering."
Reader views (10)
I doubt whether this is even legal. There is a specific exemption from the law on humane slaughter for those who have religious objections to pre-stunning. The government's Farm Animal Welfare Council recommended in 2003 that all animals should be pre-stunned before slaughter. Their report is available to download via their website.
- Rosemary, UK
Well no suprise the veggie brigade has seized on this with a fit of self rightiousness. The issue is hoodwinking the pupils and parents who have a right to know how their food is prepared. Can you imagine the uproar if western practices were forced on muslim schools?
- Steve, Hereford
The conflict shouldn't be about the meat or how it is prepared.
The conflict should be about how two minority religions are allowed to dictate the behavior and conditions of the majority.
Similar to the peanut allergy issue: One kid in a school of 1000 is allergic. Thus no one in the school can have any food that contains peanuts.
All the effort and energy and money spent to not offend one person is destroying the rights of the others.
- Trunk, US
Oh look! Religion causing problems again!
- Steve R, London, UK
This is sickening! Who gave the school authority to make the switch without consulting the parents? Personally I would remove my child from any school that served this meat. If I had to, I would pay for a private school to ensure the welfare of my children and the needs of its Christian pupils are not ignored. More and more everyday, the needs of minorities are being favored over the needs of British Christians. It's PC gone mad!
- Mark Ward, London UK
I wouldn't be surprised if this is happening across the country in our schools, we really do live in a barbaric country. It would appear that we are accepting cruel practices as a convenience just to save money.
- Mike, Bedford
I'm a vegetarian and I would advocate vegetarianism for any person, religious or otherwise who is bothered about HOW the meat is slaughtered. The ONLY humane way to kill an animal is NOT to kill it in the first place!
- Kim, London
According to a recent research, vegetarians are more intelligent and animal rearing is the main cause of climate change, so why serve any meat to children?
Buddist Kung Fu monks are the tops in physical fittness and they eat no meat.
- Rob, B'ham UK
Jews are not permitted to eat Halal meat. Jewish law does not require non-jews to eat kosher food and we would never countenance introducing it in such a dishonest and underhand manner. Measures such as this have a negative effect on community relations.
In response to the RSPCA stance: "Research demonstrates that slaughter of any animal without stunning can cause unnecessary suffering.". Slaughter of any animal for food will cause suffering with or without pre-stunning. If you are that concerned then don't eat animals.
- Shimon, Stanmore, UK
Kosher and Halal foods are more healthy as attested by all health agencies world wide. If such families desire hog meat and or meats slaughteed by a blunt instrument killing them thus, whereas the blood remains in the animal's body adding to potential for disease. All health experts advise against eating blood, for instance.
Further, for commercial reasons, the food industry support such killing because the blood makes the meat heavy and therefore more costly for the consumers. Perhaps the students (halal and kosher) should eat together while the others eat their favorite meats likewise.
- Gn Kashif, washington, dc
