Esther McVey says there should be ‘clear compulsory labelling’ (Image: Getty)
Shoppers have a right to know if they are buying halal or kosher meat, according to a Conservative MP who is trying to change the law. Proposed legislation to ensure meat is clearly labelled was backed by MPs from Labour, Reform, Restore and the DUP when it was put forward by Tory former minister Esther McVey.
She said more than one in five animals processed in England and Wales are now slaughtered in line with Muslim or Jewish religious practices, meaning members of other religions, or no religion at all, are eating the products without knowing it. Kosher meat and some halal meat is produced without stunning the animal before slaughter, which critics say causes unnecessary suffering. The proposed law would not ban the practice, but would “introduce clear compulsory labelling so that consumers know exactly what they are purchasing”, the MP said.
Ms McVey said major supermarket chains and takeaway outlets were selling the products without making it clear to customers. She added: “Non-stunned meat is also served in schools by 17 local councils, the majority of which are not Islamic faith schools, meaning that parents and pupils may have had no idea what children were eating. It is also being served in UK hospitals, where patients do not know what they are eating.”
The MP said: “To produce halal and kosher meat, an animal’s throat is cut at the point of slaughter. In the case of halal meat, the animal is often stunned before it is killed, although it may not be.”
Presenting her proposed legislation to the House of Commons, she said: “The Government’s own figures show that, of the approximately one billion animals processed in England and Wales in 2024, an estimated 215million were slaughtered to produce halal meat. On those numbers, what was meant to be an exemption – an exception – is certainly not one.
“Government guidance is clear that meat resulting from non-stunned slaughter must be intended for consumption by Jews or Muslims, but production is clearly going way beyond that.
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“Alarmingly, the United Kingdom now exports halal meat overseas. Between 2018 and 2019, there was an almost 700% increase in sheep meat exported to the United Arab Emirates.”
Ms McVey also criticised Labour for publishing an animal welfare strategy in late 2024 which made no reference to the slaughter of animals without prior stunning.
MPs backing her proposed new law included Labour MP Graham Stringer, Reform MPs Lee Anderson and Sarah Pochin, the DUP’s Sammy Wilson and Restore MP Rupert Lowe, as well as fellow Conservatives Dame Karen Bradley and Sir Edward Leigh.
Ministers say there are no regulations that require the labelling of religiously slaughtered meat. The Government respects religious freedoms and expects the food industry “to provide consumers with all the information they need to make informed choices”, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Ms McVey’s attempt to change the law is unlikely to succeed unless it receives government backing.
Shoppers Are Being Sold Halal Meat ‘Without Being Told’ in UK Supermarkets
A growing debate has emerged in Britain over the sale and labelling of halal meat in major supermarkets, with some shoppers expressing concern that they may be purchasing meat produced according to religious slaughter practices without being clearly informed. The controversy has raised questions about consumer choice, food transparency, religious freedom and whether supermarkets should provide more detailed information about the products they sell.
For many British consumers, knowing where their food comes from and how animals are slaughtered is an important part of making purchasing decisions. Some shoppers choose meat based on animal welfare standards, while others have religious, ethical or personal reasons for preferring particular production methods. Critics argue that consumers should have access to clear information so they can decide what they are comfortable buying.
Halal meat refers to meat prepared in accordance with Islamic dietary requirements. Depending on the method used, animals may be slaughtered with or without prior stunning. Some halal certification bodies accept pre-slaughter stunning, provided the animal meets their religious requirements, while others follow different standards.
This distinction is important because halal meat is not produced through one universally identical process. Certification organisations can have different requirements, and consumers should not assume that every halal product involves the same slaughter method.
The controversy has largely focused on the visibility of halal information on supermarket packaging. Some shoppers argue that labels should clearly identify whether meat is halal-certified, allowing customers to make informed decisions before purchasing it. They believe that additional transparency would prevent confusion and strengthen confidence in Britain’s food retail sector.
Others point out that food labelling already operates under legal requirements designed to ensure that information provided to consumers is accurate and not misleading. The central question is whether existing arrangements provide enough detail about religious certification and slaughter practices.
<WritingBlock id=”62482″ variant=”document”># Shoppers Are Being Sold Halal Meat ‘Without Being Told’ in UK Supermarkets
A growing controversy has erupted across Britain over claims that supermarket shoppers are purchasing halal meat without being clearly informed. The issue has sparked an intense debate about consumer rights, animal welfare, religious freedom and transparency in the food industry. Critics argue that customers should have the right to know exactly how the meat they purchase has been produced, particularly when religious slaughter methods are involved.
The controversy gained renewed political attention following a campaign by Conservative former minister Esther McVey, who has called for compulsory labelling of halal and kosher meat. Her proposed legislation has received support from MPs across several political parties, including Labour, Reform UK, the Conservatives and the DUP.
McVey argues that British shoppers deserve clear information about whether the animals used to produce their meat were slaughtered according to religious practices and, crucially, whether they were stunned before slaughter. She believes that the current system does not provide sufficient transparency and leaves consumers unable to make fully informed purchasing decisions.
At the centre of the dispute is an important distinction between halal certification and non-stun slaughter. Halal meat is produced according to Islamic dietary requirements, but not all halal meat comes from animals slaughtered without stunning. Many halal certification organisations accept pre-stunning, provided their religious requirements are satisfied.
According to the Food Standards Agency, most halal meat comes from animals that are stunned before slaughter. Its 2024 survey found that approximately 88 per cent of halal chickens in England and Wales were stunned before slaughter. This demonstrates why halal certification should not automatically be treated as evidence that an animal was slaughtered without stunning.
Nevertheless, the absence of compulsory labelling has become a significant source of disagreement. Under current British regulations, animals must generally be stunned before slaughter, but exemptions exist for slaughter carried out according to recognised religious rites. Meat produced under these exemptions does not have to carry a mandatory label identifying the slaughter method.
This means that consumers may not always know whether the meat they purchase comes from animals that were stunned before slaughter. For shoppers who consider animal welfare, religious requirements or personal preferences when buying food, this lack of information can be frustrating.
McVey has argued that major supermarkets and food outlets should be required to provide clearer information. She has specifically raised concerns about major retailers, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Marks & Spencer, as well as restaurants and takeaway businesses.
However, the situation is not identical across all retailers. Tesco, for example, states in its animal welfare reporting that all its own-brand livestock products are pre-stunned. It also acknowledges that a small number of stores sell separately branded non-stunned halal or kosher meat, which is clearly labelled. The company says at least 99 per cent of animals destined for its own-brand and branded products are stunned before slaughter.
The government’s position is that existing food labelling rules require information to be accurate and not misleading, but there is currently no general legal requirement to identify meat produced through religious slaughter. Ministers have said they respect the religious freedoms of Muslim and Jewish communities while expecting food businesses to provide consumers with information that supports informed choices.
The animal welfare argument is another important part of the debate. Organisations concerned about slaughter practices argue that stunning before slaughter reduces the risk of animals experiencing pain and distress during the killing process. They want the government to strengthen transparency and consider whether existing exemptions remain appropriate.
Supporters of religious slaughter exemptions, however, argue that religious communities must be able to obtain food prepared according to their beliefs. They warn that changes to the law should not undermine religious freedom or unfairly target Muslim and Jewish consumers.
Importantly, the proposed compulsory labelling campaign is not necessarily an attempt to ban halal or kosher meat. McVey’s stated objective is to make information more accessible so that shoppers can decide what they wish to purchase.
The issue has also raised questions about schools and hospitals. McVey has claimed that non-stunned meat has been served in some public institutions without parents, pupils or patients necessarily being aware of the slaughter method. She has called for greater transparency in public catering arrangements.
Parents may want to understand the food served to their children, while hospital patients may have particular dietary, religious or ethical preferences. Clearer information could help institutions respond to those expectations and improve confidence in their catering services.
There are also economic considerations. Britain’s meat industry supplies different markets, including domestic consumers and international customers. Halal products are an important part of the food industry, and producers must meet the requirements of the communities and markets they serve.
The government must therefore consider the practical implications of additional labelling requirements. Any new system would need to be consistent, affordable and sufficiently clear to prevent consumers from confusing halal certification with the separate question of whether an animal was stunned before slaughter.
The wider controversy demonstrates how food labelling has become an increasingly important consumer issue. People want to know where their food comes from, how animals are treated and whether products meet particular ethical or religious standards. Greater transparency could help shoppers make decisions with confidence.
Ultimately, the debate should not become a source of hostility between Britain’s religious communities. Muslim and Jewish consumers have legitimate rights to access food prepared according to their religious traditions. Equally, other shoppers have legitimate reasons to request information about production methods and animal welfare.
In conclusion, the controversy surrounding halal meat in British supermarkets highlights an important gap in consumer information. Current regulations do not generally require meat to be labelled according to religious slaughter methods, even though the distinction between stunned and non-stunned slaughter matters to many shoppers. Esther McVey’s campaign has brought renewed attention to the issue and increased pressure on ministers to consider compulsory labelling. The government now faces the challenge of balancing religious freedom, animal welfare and consumer choice. Whatever decision is eventually reached, shoppers should have access to accurate information, supermarkets should communicate clearly and all communities should be treated with fairness and respect.