A Modern Moral Question

I am an inexpert cook living alone in a “diverse” bit of London. As such, I am a far-too-frequent customer of local restaurants both for eating out and home delivery. If I were Jewish and kept kosher, none would offer any guidance as to whether I could eat from their kitchens. Many are keen to assure me however that their food is “halal”. I am grateful for that information as it allows me to withhold my custom.

I’m not happy to eat meat from animals slaughtered to the requirements of either religion. Both faiths have been granted exceptions to such rules as The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015, under which all livestock must be electrically or mechanically stunned before slaughter so they are insensible to pain. Non-stun slaughter must still take place in approved abattoirs by licensed slaughterers holding a certificate of competence.

Interestingly, the exceptions are only for slaughter performed in accordance with kosher shechita or dhabihah halal of animals intended for consumption by those communities. Restaurants in mixed communities must know that much of the halal meat they order is not intended for such consumption. As must local authorities ordering halal meat for all pupils in state schools.

Jews don’t matter enough in modern England to affect everyday conduct. However, the general law is being deliberately ignored wherever there is a significant Muslim presence. Those of us who support the ethical principles underlying that law are being denied its protection.

I grew up next to my grandad’s farm. I am no sentimental townie. I know where meat comes from. Still, like most farmers, I want the animals who nourish me to be treated kindly up to — and including — the moments of their deaths. I don’t blame legislators, Jews or Muslims for the fact that I cannot now assume that where I live in England. I blame the political authorities who — in the same way and for the same reasons they’ve turned a legal blind eye to other moral horrors in our midst — are failing to enforce the law.

Equality before the law is the only equality that matters. As a general principle, a law that requires exceptions is a bad one. Either pre-stunning is humane or it’s not. Either food animals deserve to die painlessly or they don’t.

This exception is therefore wrong per se. It’s doubly wrong in its practical application. Suppliers, restaurants and other caterers in mixed areas are being allowed to serve halal meat to all of us. That’s neither what the law prescribes nor intends. Jews and Muslims must face their own consciences for the suffering their religious laws require. They have no right to blight my conscience.

As a country we have far too much law. Usually I advocate for less not more. In this case – ideally – I’d repeal the religious exceptions. If that’s not politically possible, I still don’t think we need more law. We just need to apply the one we have, without fear or favour, rather than casually allowing it to be ignored.

The only new law I’d suggest (if the exceptions are to continue) is that the relevant meats must be prominently labelled as halal or kosher not just on any packaging but at the point of sale. It should be named as such on restaurant menus. I am just as entitled to know that my food was produced humanely as Jews and Muslims are to know theirs wasn’t.