Halal slaughter
The Danish poultry abattoirs have over the
years been asked about halal slaughter by consumers. The questions from the
consumers and the media on halal slaughter are often about how it is done;
particularly whether the chickens are stunned prior to the slaughter. Many also
wish to know how the connection is between the Danish poultry industry and the
Muslim organisations that certify that the chickens have been halal
slaughtered.
How is halal slaughter
done?
It is important to start by stating that the
slaughter method for poultry is exactly the same regardless of whether it is
halal slaughter or not.
One of the misunderstandings about halal
slaughtered poultry is that it is believed that the animals are not stunned
prior to slaughter. This is not the case; all poultry must, according to the
law, be stunned prior to slaughter. Poultry can, in very special circumstances,
be slaughtered without stunning, but this is not practiced at poultry abattoirs
that are members of the Danish Poultry Meat Association.
The poultry is stunned to achieve an
unconscious condition by transfer through an electrified water bath. The current
must not be strong enough to kill the animal.
Both neck arteries of the animal are severed
after the stunning to ensure fast death and de-bleeding. The slaughter is done
manually or with a rotating knife.
The slaughter must, according to the law, be
observed by an abattoir operator to ensure that the animals do not suffer
unnecessary harm. At Danish poultry abattoirs these operators are Muslims.
When slaughter starts, and every time there has
been a break, the Muslim operator says a prayer to himself. It says in
translation: "In God's name. Allah is the greatest". This is the only factor by
which halal slaughter differs from 'ordinary' slaughter.
Why is halal slaughter used in
Danish poultry is halal slaughtered because
large quantities are exported to Muslim countries. It is not known at the time
of slaughter where the poultry is to be sold. The slaughter method does not
differ from what would be done for export to non Muslim countries. It is
therefore most practical to halal slaughter the complete production.
Will the Danes have to pay for the halal
labelling?
The customers in
When poultry is exported to Muslim countries it
must be accompanied by a certificate guaranteeing that the meat is halal
slaughtered. The certificate is not free of charge and must be signed by a
Muslin organisation in
The extra cost for these certificates is paid
by the importers in the Muslim countries. Non-Muslim countries do not require
this certificate, and there is therefore no extra cost for importers in these
countries or Danish supermarkets for buying halal slaughtered poultry meat.
Consumers in
Is it possible to get poultry that is not halal
slaughtered in
Vellingegaard Slaughterhouse is the only member
of the Danish Poultry Meat Association, which produces poultry exclusively for
the home market. Therefore it does not perform halal slaughter.
