News From : DagangHalal.com (04 Oct 2010)
LONDON, Oct. 4, 2010 (News Agencies) – The head of Halal Food Authority in the United Kingdom has asked companies to let public know if the food prepared by them is halal.
Masood Khawaja said the failure to indicate what type of meat was being produced was tarnishing the name of Muslims in Harrow and undermining their efforts to meet EU directives.
He said: “We absolutely deplore any situation in which people or clients are not informed about the meat they are eating. The names of Muslims everywhere are being tarnished by this, despite the fact that we work tirelessly to comply with labelling laws to ensure people know exactly what they are buying or eating.
“We are grateful that institutions are recognising the eating requirements of Muslims, but this is a democratic country where people have the right to believe in what they want, and where they should be given a clear choice of what they eat.”
Mr Khawaja also hit back at claims that the preparation of halal meat was tantamount to cruelty to animals and that often, like non-halal meat, the animal is stunned first. He explained: “Again, the way in which the animal is slaughtered is entirely in keeping with EU law and scientific progression means that, in some instances, the animal can be stunned beforehand too.”
– News Agencies