M&S is to become first food giant to sell own-label halal ready meals at stores that attract high number of Muslim shoppers
- M&S said its ‘cruelty-free’ products including chicken ready meals are a first
- Supermarket said all British chicken used is certified by the Halal Food Authority
- Birds given form of electro-stunning approved by Humane Slaughter Association
Marks & Spencer is to become the first mainstream food giant to sell own-label halal ready meals in stores with a large number of Muslim shoppers.
Most supermarkets already sell branded halal products, from names such as Shazans, while many takeaways, butchers and food chains sell only halal meat.
But M&S says its ‘cruelty-free’ products, which include chicken ready meals, ranging from curries to Italian dishes and a hot pot, are a first.
At the same time, the company is trying to broaden its range to attract others who want food that meets their own ethical approach with, for example, the Plant Kitchen range catering for the increasing number of vegans.
Marks & Spencer is to become the first mainstream food giant to sell own-label halal ready meals in stores with a large number of Muslim shoppers (stock image)
Historically, slaughter methods for halal and kosher meat have been controversial as they did not allow animals to be pre-stunned before being killed with a knife.
Critics, including the British Veterinary Association, have long been concerned that animals that are not stunned can suffer, particularly if the slaughterman is careless or not trained properly.
M&S says all the British chicken used in its halal ready meals, which are sold in distinctive orange packs, is certified by the Halal Food Authority (HFA), which does allow pre-stunning.
The birds are given a form of electro-stunning, which makes them unconscious and is approved by the Humane Slaughter Association.
The company is trying to broaden its range to attract others who want food that meets their own ethical approach with, for example, the Plant Kitchen range catering for vegans
This means the only significant change from conventional slaughter is that the M&S chickens will be killed on premises where the HFA has an official to ensure religious rules are satisfied.
Halal also requires the recitation of a Muslim prayer. Some strict Muslims do not accept pre-stunning and so will not accept the M&S products as halal. The ready meals include chicken arrabbiata, chicken and mushroom tagliatelle, chicken hotpot and chicken tikka masala.
M&S said Muslim staff have played a part in creating the ready meals, which will be sold in 36 UK stores and by the company’s international franchise partner Al-Futtaim in places such as Singapore and Dubai.
Simon Pollitt-Khan, the M&S store manager at Temple Fortune in London, said: ‘There are still very few opportunities to eat different flavoured foods – like Italian or more traditional British dishes – in a convenient halal format.’