Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee considers investigation into disproportionate number of poultry ritually slaughtered without stunning

21 March, 2018

MPs sitting on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee are considering whether to open an investigation into the non-stunned slaughter of poultry, as figures suggest that 180 million birds in 2017 were slaughtered in this way. This is in excess of the proportion required to fulfil the demand of Muslim and Jewish consumers, for which non-stunned slaughter is permitted. Humanists UK, which has campaigned for a ban on non-stunned slaughter, has called upon the committee to take up this investigation.

Figures from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) suggest that between April and September 2017, 91 million poultry were not stunned or ineffectively stunned in accordance with ritual slaughter practices. This extrapolates to 180 million over the course of 2017 as a whole.

These figures suggest that most of these birds were not killed for exclusive use by religious consumers, and that the meat entered the general food market. Therefore, these birds suffered an unnecessarily painful death. The Veterinary Policy Research Foundation (VPRF) estimates that around 70 percent of all meat produced by the kosher method (none of which is stunned) is sold on the general market. The FSA estimates that over 10 percent of all meat produced in the halal method is not stunned at all, much of which also enters the general market. There is currently no requirement for non-stunned meat produce to be labelled as such.

Humanists UK Campaigns Officer Rachel Taggart-Ryan commented, ‘We’ve long campaigned against non-stunned slaughter because it causes unnecessary pain and suffering to the animal. And underlining the need for change here is that these figures strongly indicate that non-stunned meat is now entering the general meat market on a vast scale, much more so than in previous years.

‘For many humanists, a reduction in unnecessary animal suffering is a hallmark of a compassionate society. It is unacceptable that many animals are being needlessly subjected to non-stunned slaughter and that, as consumers, we are unable to make an informed choice about whether to purchase it.’

Notes

For further comment or information contact Humanists UK Campaigns Officer Rachel Taggart-Ryan, at rachel@humanists.uk or 07951 176 245.

Read our previous article on the recent increase in non-stun religious slaughter:
https://humanists.uk/2017/10/10/food-standards-agency-reveals-large-increase-in-animals-slaughtered-without-pre-stunning/Read more on our campaigns on animal welfare:
https://humanists.uk/campaigns/public-ethical-issues/animal-welfare/

At Humanists UK, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. Our work brings non-religious people together to develop their own views, helping people be happier and more fulfilled in the one life we have. Through our ceremonies, education services, and campaigning work, we’re committed to creating a fair and equal society for all.

Humanists UK recently changed its name from the British Humanist Association:
https://humanists.uk/2017/05/22/bha-becomes-humanists-uk/