pete harte

I have introduced a bill to introduce compulsory labelling of halal and kosher meat. Consumers have a right to know what they are eating. Yet every day people are consuming halal and kosher meat without knowing it - that’s meat where the animal has its throat slit and often is not stunned before slaughter. At its heart, this is a straightforward proposal built on consumer choice, animal welfare and transparency. It is not about banning halal or kosher meat but about the compulsory labelling of it, which is currently only voluntary, so as to ensure consumers know what they are buying. What began as a limited religious exemption has become an increasingly significant part of meat production.