Industry reacts to claims about halal meat in UK supermarkets

Videos have been circulating on social media in recent weeks claiming that a large proportion of meat products in UK supermarkets is religiously slaughtered, prompting discussion on animal welfare and stunning practices before slaughter. 

Many of the videos show slaughter numbers on meat packaging, including on RSPCA Assured products, with posts suggesting that the animals were religiously slaughtered, potentially without pre-stunning – a claim that has been refuted by industry figures, who have noted that abattoirs often do both stunned and non-stunned slaughter.

There has also been discussion around the use of low voltage stunning for halal.

Farmers Guide got in touch with supermarkets, assurance scheme providers, abattoir representatives and other stakeholders to explore the claims.

Whilst it is a legal requirement to stun animals before slaughter, there is an exemption for Jewish and Muslim communities – all Shechita slaughter (for kosher) and 12% of halal slaughter is done without pre-stunning. Animals slaughtered for halal meat can be stunned using an electrical method that produces reversible narcosis.

However, Food Standards Agency figures show non-stun slaughter for halal is rising – accounting for 29% of sheep slaughtered in the 2024 survey compared to 22% in 2022.

What have UK supermarkets said?

Most major supermarkets declined to share a comment but 100% of Lidl and Aldi meat is from pre-stunned animals, and while all Sainsbury’s own-brand meat is stunned before slaughter and is not halal or kosher, labelled, pre-stunned halal and kosher products are available.

M&S said all of its meat and poultry is stunned prior to slaughter in line with strict animal welfare policy. Meanwhile, 100% of Asda products use stunning before slaughter in a manner that renders the animal insensible to pain, but it does stock labelled halal and kosher products. 

An Asda spokesperson said: “We recognise the UK is made up of people from a broad range of different faiths, including Jewish and Muslim communities. For these communities we provide a range of carefully considered products and services in stores where they are most valued, and customers can find halal and kosher products suitably labelled with relevant certification or accreditation on pack.” 

Morrisons said it is aligned with the position of the British Retail Consortium, which is: ‘UK supermarkets only sell own-brand meat from animals that have been stunned before slaughter. Some might also sell branded halal products, which are clearly labelled and undergo a process that still requires the animal to be stunned.’

Waitrose and Tesco did not respond to a request for comment.

Is non-stun allowed by assurance schemes?

Responding to claims shared on X that RSPCA Assured labelled products are halal or non-stunned, a spokesperson confirmed to Farmers Guide that all RSPCA Assured products must be stunned before slaughter. 

The spokesperson said: “Both the RSPCA and RSPCA Assured are very much opposed to non-stun slaughter. As such, all RSPCA Assured animals are stunned prior to slaughter, and there are no RSPCA Assured products labelled halal or kosher. […]

“We acknowledge that religious beliefs and practices should be respected. However, we believe that all animals should be treated humanely at the time of killing.” 

Asked whether reversible stunning practices are permitted, RSPCA Assured said: “There are different stunning methods permitted by RSPCA welfare standards. Some methods stun and kill an animal, whereas others temporarily render an animal unconscious and insensible to pain for a period of time, until they are slaughtered.

“When using the latter methods, the RSPCA welfare standards have extremely strict time requirements within which the animal must be killed following stunning. The animal must not be in a position to recover from the stun before killing. This ensures that the animal is slaughtered in the most painless and humane manner possible.”

Similarly, Red Tractor confirmed that all livestock destined for Red Tractor labelled meat products must be stunned prior to exsanguination (throat cut/bleeding), but ‘simple stunning’ and non-recoverable stunning are permitted.

A spokesperson explained: “Stunning is defined as any intentionally induced process which causes loss of consciousness and sensibility without pain, including any process resulting in instantaneous death. […]

“The important point to note is that our standards permit a range of stunning methods that, regardless of the stunning method, all induce a loss of consciousness and sensibility to pain and, where the stun does not kill the animal, the stun duration lasts till death supervenes through loss of blood, therefore, not allowing any recovery of consciousness post stunning.”

Abattoir and processors refute claims

The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) chief executive Nick Allen said most of its members use stunning and still sell into the halal market – with just one member doing both stun and non-stun, and the process is heavily overseen by assurance schemes and retailers.

However, he said the proportion of non-stunned slaughter is rising quite dramatically – as there is “quite a vociferous non-stun community” that feels that stunning prevents the animal bleeding out properly, which is required for halal.

“In fact, there have been lots of trials to show that is not the case, the animal bleeds out just as thoroughly with stun as non-stun,” he added.

FSA, which enforces animal welfare in slaughterhouses on behalf of DEFRA and the Welsh Government, through Official Veterinarians (OVs) based on-site, notes that only 0.0033% of animals processed in 2024/2025 were detected as being affected by animal welfare breaches.

Meanwhile, the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) hit back at the online claims around halal slaughter in the UK as “misleading”, saying they “do not reflect the facts”.

A spokesperson said: “In practice, the majority of animals slaughtered for halal meat in the UK are effectively stunned before slaughter so that they are insensible to pain. 

“Where animals are slaughtered without stunning, this is permitted only under tightly defined legal exemptions and subject to stringent rules and constant veterinary oversight to ensure that welfare is safeguarded.”

Additionally, AIMS said no meat from animals unfit for human consumption, including TB-affected beef, enters the food chain for sale in supermarkets.

Dr Amer Rashid, technical director for the Halal Certification Organisation Ltd, provided the following comment:  “All parameters relating to halal pre-stunning of animals are carried out in accordance with legal requirements and without any compromise on animal welfare. 

“These processes are overseen by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) team or local relevant authority which consists of Official Veterinarians and Meat Hygiene Inspectors, with additional monitoring provided through CCTV surveillance.

“Halal standards strictly prohibit any compromise on animal welfare. They ensure that slaughter practices remain fully compliant with the law of the land, conducted only by trained and FSA-licensed slaughtered, and continuously monitored by qualified halal inspectors and auditors.

“Comments suggesting otherwise are based on misunderstanding and perception. Halal operations are stringently controlled by accredited halal certification bodies and are regulated by the FSA or local government authorities.”

Labelling and importance of halal market 

The claims have prompted a wider debate on labelling and whether consumers’ feelings about animal welfare and slaughter method actually translate into changes to purchasing behaviour.

A post on X by Northamptonshire farmer Ben Aveling, who has an on-site butchery and runs an online shop, went viral after he responded to a customer confirming his products are pre-stunned and non-halal.  

Here’s my take on Halal.
Buy it, don’t buy it.
Just be informed in the choices you make based on facts. #farming #farmer #halal #KeepFarming #farmtok pic.twitter.com/QGE1I6fSez

— Ben Aveling- Radmore Farm (@Radmore_farm) September 23, 2025

But while the post had 150,000 impressions, Ben notes he didn’t get 150,000 orders, despite many people claiming they would buy his products from now on to ensure meat was pre-stunned.

Whilst he believes animals should be pre-stunned, both for welfare and meat quality to prevent stress, he noted the sheep sector’s reliance on the halal market, as lamb consumption has seen a general decline in the UK. 

“The flip side to this, which actually I’ve had a lot of chats with people about, is that the Muslim trade is the reason our lambs are making any money,” he said.

Importantly, the debate shows the disconnect between the public and food production, even among farmers as Ben admitted he was previously unaware of many aspects of stunned versus non-stunned slaughter.

“The issue we have is people are so disconnected [from food production]. I’ve been a farmer for as long as I can remember, yet I didn’t know that about halal slaughter until last week. We need clearer information and more transparency. I think the conclusion of this is people are far too out of touch with how their food is processed, killed, and put on their plates.”

Campaigns on non-stun slaughter

Groups including the RSPCA and British Veterinary Association have long campaigned for an end to non-stun slaughter – though BVA said its short term aim for the coming year is to call for improved regulation, and it continues to press the government on reformed labelling.

The issue was debated in UK parliament earlier this year but no action has been taken by government to move forward with draft legislation. BVA said it is exploring options within existing systems to support increased animal welfare at the time of slaughter while also appreciating religious freedoms.

A Defra spokesperson said: “This government wants to see the highest possible standards of animal welfare at slaughter. 

“Strict laws are in place to protect animal welfare at slaughter, with Food Standards Agency vets present in every approved slaughterhouse to enforce them. Any breaches are thoroughly investigated by the FSA, and decisive action is taken to safeguard animal welfare.”

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