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When does Halal meat become non-Halal?
2025-05-15
Fast food chain KFC is trialling halal meat in certain restaurants, but some Muslims say it hasnt been killed in the correct Islamic way. Catrin Nye asks when is halal meat not halal meat?
KFC is experimenting with halal meat in some of its restaurants, but some Muslims believe the animals aren't slaughtered according to Muslim practices. Catrin Nye asks when is halal and when is it not?
It may claim its food is "finger lickin good", but until recently strict Muslims might have seen a problem with it.
Now fast food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) is trialling halal meat - meaning it has been killed in accordance with Islamic dietary laws - in eight of its UK restaurants. But the trial has sparked a debate over what is and what isnt halal, with some Muslims boycotting the restaurants because they say the meat has not been killed correctly.
KFC is trialling halal meat slaughtered according to halal methods in eight of its UK restaurants, but the trial has sparked heated debate over what is and is not halal, with Muslims boycotting the restaurants because they believe the meat is not being slaughtered correctly.
The issue is whether meat can be halal if it has been slaughtered using mechanical methods.
Traditionally, halal meat is killed by hand and must be blessed by the person doing the job. But some Muslims say a mechanised form is also now acceptable.
Halal is the description of food and drink Muslims are allowed to consume under Halal dietary laws defined in the Koran and in the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. Classifying of halal food can only be carried out by a Muslim expert in the laws.
The question arises as to whether a permissible animal is halal if it was slaughtered mechanically. Generally, halal meat requires Muslims to pray and slaughter it by hand. However, some Muslims believe that machine-slaughtered meat is also acceptable. Halal refers to food and drink permitted to Muslims according to Islamic law. Only experts well versed in Islamic law can determine what is halal.
The meat is traditionally prepared by slaughtering the animal with a quick cut to the throat with a sharp knife to allow all blood to drain out, the idea being that the meat is cleaner. The slaughterman is required to say the traditional proclamation of faith in one god as the animal is killed.
Halal meat is usually slaughtered by quickly cutting the animal's throat with a sharp knife to allow the blood to drain, making the meat cleaner. The butcher recites the name of Allah before slaughtering the meat.
At present two separate organisations regulate the halal food industry in the UK. The Halal Food Authority (HFA) says using machines is OK, as long as the meat is still blessed. It argues that advances in technology mean methods have to change and though a machine does the killing, the meat is still blessed by a Muslim slaughterman.
But the Halal Monitoring Committee (HMC) says animals should be slaughtered by hand and using a machine is not halal and not permissible. It argues mechanisation contradicts a fundamental principle of halal - that the person who slaughters the animal is the same person who recites the words over it.
Two independent organizations currently regulate the halal food industry in the UK. The Halal Food Authority says machine slaughter is acceptable. They argue that technological advances mean methods must change, and that even though the meat is machine-killed, it must still be blessed by a Muslim butcher.
However, the Halal Control Committee believes that animals should be slaughtered by hand, and that machine slaughter is not halal and is not permitted. They believe that mechanical slaughter is inconsistent with the halal principle that the person who slaughters and recites the halal must be the same person.
Call for single body
"Halal is a very sacred part of a Muslims diet and many Muslims do not even know what they are eating when its certified as halal in this way," says Yunus Dudhwala, chairman of the HMC.
"I think the majority would be very upset to find out that its been mechanically killed."
KFC says it is following the guidance offered by what it considers a reputable adviser.
"We are working with the Halal Food Authority, one of the most widely recognised bodies in the UK and overseas, who have audited and approved our halal suppliers, distribution and our trial store environments," says a spokesperson for the company.
"Halal is a sacred part of Muslim diet and many Muslims do not even know what they are eating when a product is halal certified," said HMC chairman Yunus Dudhwala.
"I think most people would be sad if they knew it was slaughtered by machines."
KFC said it was following guidance provided by what it considered a reputable consultant.
"We work with one of the most extensive organisations in the UK and overseas, the HFA, who audit and certify our suppliers, logistics and trial store environments," a company spokesperson said.
The debate has prompted calls for a single body to regulate the halal food industry which has a clear set of guidelines on animal slaughter.
"The onus is not on individuals to identify each and every item that they eat, if the seller says its halal thats enough," says Ajmal Masroor, an Imam and spokesman for the Islamic Society of Britain. He neither approves nor disapproves of either certification process and therefore does not endorse or reject KFCs methods.
The debate has prompted calls for an independent body to regulate the halal food industry and establish clear guidelines for animal slaughter.
"There is no obligation to verify everything they eat; if the seller says it's halal that's enough," said Ajmal Masroor, a spokesman for the British Society for Halal Imam. He neither agrees nor disagrees with the certification process, and therefore neither endorses nor rejects KFC's approach.