HUNDREDS of restaurants secretly serving Muslim halal meat to unsuspecting diners sparked a storm of protest yesterday.
Customers are not warned their meals come from animals that were slaughtered by having their throats slit without being stunned.
The butchery method ordered by Islamic law has been condemned as “barbarically cruel” by animal welfare organisations.
But that has not stopped caterers secretly dishing up halal meat to thousands in hotels, restaurants, schools, top hospitals such as Guy’s – and at sports venues Ascot, Wembley and Twickenham.
Masood Khawaja, president of the Halal Food Authority, said: “This is completely wrong. As Muslims have a choice of eating halal meat, non-Muslims should also have the choice of not eating it. Customers should know it is halal meat.”
Mr Khawaja, whose organisation approves most halal suppliers in Britain, said: “Everyone has the right to choose and should be given the right information.”
Muslims are forbidden to consume blood. If an animal is stunned before slaughter, not all its blood will drain away.
The RSPCA said: “The public have a right to know how their meat is produced.”
The Farm Animal Welfare Council, which advises the Government, has called for a ban on halal meat in Britain.
PETA – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals – has videos of ritual halal slaughtering which show animals convulsed in pain as they take up to three minutes to die.
Whitbread – owner of Brewers Fayre, Beefeater, Table Table, Costa Coffee and Premier Inn chains – uses 80 per cent halal chicken.
A spokesman said: “It is not mentioned on menus because we don’t think there is customer demand for that information.”
An Ascot racecourse spokesman said: “All our chicken is halal. This is not advertised as menus are kept as simple as possible.”
An FA spokesman confirmed halal meat is served at Wembley.
A Twickenham spokesman said: “Our consideration is more for those who want halal, to ensure they get it.”
More than 200 schools serve halal meat without telling parents.
The Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, and London hospitals Guy’s and St Thomas’ also serve halal meat without advertising the fact.
