Acknowledging halal restrictions with appropriate meat labels

While thinking of all of the different groups that a company needs to address with food labels can be taxing, it’s essential to respect the customer and keep the credibility of your business secure.

The BBC has reported on contention between religious authorities and meat producers in the UK over whether or not the meat being sold in that country complies with the halal standards of the Islamic faith. These pertain to the way that the animal is treated before being processed for meat, and specifically to how they are slaughtered.

The source notes that a joint letter from the representatives of two faith-based organizations, one Jewish and one Muslim, was sent to the Telegraph requesting that the means used to kill an animal later processed for food should be detailed on the package. This also concerns whether the animals were stunned before being killed.

If food meets a certain criteria of religious importance, then noting this information might help to inform all consumers, not just those who practice the faith in question. The Bristol Report recently quoted Andrew Opie of the British Retail Consortium on how, at this time, it doesn’t feel the need to disclose the method by which the food animals it harvests are killed.

“As the overwhelming majority of meat sold in UK supermarkets is own brand and from animals that have been stunned prior to slaughter we do not see the requirement to separately label meat based on the method of slaughter,” he said.

With meat sources properly described on their packaging, companies might risk using more space, but they might also make gains in terms of the audience they bring to their product. If official government regulations are missing on this point, then custom printed labels can be made to fill this function instead.