Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions below
General
Using a combination of data available publicly, user submissions and direct outreach to some food outlets
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Halal
Halal means permissible under Islamic law — it refers to how animals are slaughtered and how meat is handled, not the meat itself being inherently cleaner or tastier.
Yes — a large proportion of meat sold in Britain for sheep and goats is produced under halal methods. Consumers (Muslim and non-Muslim) often buy it from supermarkets or restaurants without realising it.
The majority of animals are cited as receiving a lighter stun than non-halal meat. Some do not get stunned at all.
After this, a sharp knife is used to cut the throat of the animal and quickly stop blood flow to the brain.
This is with the aim of ensuring that the animal loses consciousness rapidly as most of the blood drains from the body.
After this, a sharp knife is used to cut the throat of the animal and quickly stop blood flow to the brain.
This is with the aim of ensuring that the animal loses consciousness rapidly as most of the blood drains from the body.
Stunning is a method (electric or mechanical) that makes an animal unconscious before it’s killed, so it cannot feel pain during the final cut.
Most welfare charities, vets and scientific bodies say that full stunning is the most humane method currently available.
Most welfare charities, vets and scientific bodies say that full stunning is the most humane method currently available.
UK law allows an exemption for religious slaughter — this can mean the animal is not stunned before the cut in some halal or Jewish (kosher) processes.
The *UK Government* states that you can legally slaughter without stunning if it is done according to specific religious requirements.
The *UK Government* states that you can legally slaughter without stunning if it is done according to specific religious requirements.
In the UK there are still millions of animals slaughtered without prior stunning across all religions. For example, chickens, sheep and some cattle are part of that total.
Most common farm animals can be halal, such as:
Cows
Sheep
Goats
Chickens
Pork is never halal, regardless of how it is prepared.
Pork is never halal, regardless of how it is prepared.
There a number of restaurants and chains that quote EU regulation and stunning before slaughter.
Given EU law permits "low stun" or reversible stun slaughter, we do not categorise such as Halal Free, given there is evidence that animals can recover and/or suffer during slaughter.
Without a clear statement on animals being fully stunned, it is not possible for us to make a Halal Free determination on Halal meat status
Given EU law permits "low stun" or reversible stun slaughter, we do not categorise such as Halal Free, given there is evidence that animals can recover and/or suffer during slaughter.
Without a clear statement on animals being fully stunned, it is not possible for us to make a Halal Free determination on Halal meat status
Kosher
Kosher meat is meat prepared according to Jewish dietary law, known as kashrut. It covers:
Which animals can be eaten
How the animal is slaughtered
How the meat is checked and prepared afterwards
It’s not about blessing the meat — it’s about rules and process.
It’s not about blessing the meat — it’s about rules and process.
Only certain animals are allowed.
Permitted (if slaughtered correctly):
Cows and beef cattle
Sheep and lamb
Goats
Chickens and turkeys
Not permitted:
Pork (pigs)
Horses
Shellfish
Rabbits
Permitted (if slaughtered correctly):
Not permitted:
Kosher slaughter is called shechita.
It involves:
A single, uninterrupted cut to the throat with a sharp, perfectly smooth knife
Performed by a highly trained specialist called a shochet
The aim is to cause immediate unconsciousness through rapid loss of blood to the brain.
In the UK, this method is legal under religious exemption.
It involves:
The aim is to cause immediate unconsciousness through rapid loss of blood to the brain.
In the UK, this method is legal under religious exemption.
Critics argue that the lack of pre-stunning in kosher slaughter can cause unnecessary suffering, and that modern stunning methods are more humane.
Groups like RSPCA oppose slaughter without stunning.
Groups like RSPCA oppose slaughter without stunning.
It is relatively niche, with most kosher meat is sold through specialist butchers.
London and Manchester have the largest kosher food outlets.
The majority of UK consumers never knowingly buy kosher meat.