Supermarkets confirm Islamic supply switch: Halal meat ‘the same’

JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
MAJOR supermarket chains have confirmed they sell halal meat in Geelong.
But butchers are confused about whether their meat is halal or not.
The supermarket’s confirmation followed Australian Meat Industry Employees Union telling the Independent last week that abattoirs including Corio’s MC Herd were slaughtering with halal practices.
A Coles spokesperson said halal meat processing was mostly the same as usual slaughtering practices.
“Australian beef, chicken and lamb processors often prepare their product to halal specifications to ensure it’s available to a wide domestic customer base as well as the export market.
“There’s certainly no change in the composition of the meat or to the high animal welfare standards expected.
“We have reviewed our policy on meat labelling and can confirm that our products are labelled in line with all legal and regulatory requirements.”
An IGA spokesperson said halal meat was not universal in its supermarkets.
“We have outlets that serve Muslim communities and some that sell kosher meat product for Jewish communities,” he said.
“Local supermarkets tend to source their meat from local butchers, so it varies from store to store.
“There’s no difference in the meat, so it (halal slaughter) doesn’t have to be declared.”
A Woolworths spokesperson said the company’s meat suppliers “complied with industry practice”.
Australian Meat Industry Employees Union assistant secretary Paul Conway told the Independent last week that many halal processors were killing animals without stunning them first.
He said stunning sometimes drew blood, meaning the animal could no longer be considered halal.
A Geelong mother, who declined to be identified, said she contacted eight local butchers after reading the Independent to ask whether their meat was halal.
Seven of the eight confirmed their supplier was MC Herd.
One butcher confirmed it lost a contract with Barwon prison because its meat was not halal, she said.
“The butchers themselves weren’t too sure about slaughtering techniques and presumed animals were stunned,” she said.
“I’m worried about the humane aspect and any method that reduces suffering should be used.
“This appears to be a regulatory problem.”