The halal meat industry is today a reality in many regions of the world, including the European Union. The main religious laws in the area of halal meat production were legislated in ancient times and may be unchangeable due to their sanctity perceived by faithful Muslims, while the modern technology used in the meat industry is constantly evolving and being updated. The objective of this study is to highlight the points of controversy between the principles of halal and the technological means currently used in the meat industry. Modern slaughter practices, including animal fasting prior to slaughter, animal body position, the location of the incision during slaughter, stunning and mechanical slaughter, are reviewed. The purpose of preslaughter feed availability according to halal criteria could be to ensure greater welfare for animals, though feed withdrawal is necessary today. Although there is no clear unified opinion among the Islamic sects, reversible stunning of animals is generally accepted. A neck cut at a higher position than the conventional low cut in cattle may reduce the compromise in welfare (the onset of unconsciousness), minimise false aneurysm and be compatible with halal criteria. This study may contribute towards consideration being given to technology that is not in conflict with the religious legislation, while at the same time meeting the requirements of the modern meat industry.

Department of Meat Hygiene and Technology Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno Palackeho tr 1946 1 612 42 Brno Czech Republic

Zobrazit více v PubMed

Thomson Reuters State of the Global Islamic Economy 2018–2019 Report. [(accessed on 29 July 2019)]; Available online: https://haladinar.io/hdn/doc/report2018.pdf.

Van der Spiegel M., van der Fels-Klerx H.J., Sterrenburg P., van Ruth S.M., Scholtens-Toma I.M.J., Kok E.J. Halal assurance in food supply chains: Verification of halal certificates using audits and laboratory analysis. Trends Food Sci. Technol. 2012;27:109–119. doi: 10.1016/j.tifs.2012.04.005. DOI

WHF . Halal Market Potential, a Regional Focus. World Halal Forum; The Hague, The Netherlands: Nov 17–18, 2009.

Benzertiha A., Kierończyk B., Rawski M., Józefiak A., Mazurkiewicz J., Józefiak D., Messikh M.S., Świątkiewicz S. Cultural and practical aspects of halal slaughtering in food production. Med. Weter. 2018;74:371–376. doi: 10.21521/mw.6023. DOI

Bonne K., Verbeke W. Religious values informing halal meat production and the control and delivery of halal credence quality. Agric. Hum. Values. 2008;25:35–47. doi: 10.1007/s10460-007-9076-y. DOI

Ceranic S., Bozinovic N. Possibilities and significance of HAS implementation (halal assurance system) in existing quality system in food industry. Biotechnol. Anim. Husb. 2009;25:261–266. doi: 10.2298/BAH0904261C. DOI

Riaz M.N., Chaudry M.M. Halal Food Production. CRC Press LCC; Boca Raton, FL, USA: 2004. p. 400.

Fuseini A., Knowles T.G., Lines J.A., Hadley P.J., Wotton S.B. The stunning and slaughter of cattle within the EU: A review of the current situation with regard to the halal market. Anim. Welf. 2016;25:365–376. doi: 10.7120/09627286.25.3.365. DOI

Masri B.A. Animal Welfare in Islam. Revised ed. The Islamic Foundation; Leicester, UK: 2007.

Kohilavani E., Zzaman W., Febrianto N.A., Zakariya N.S., Abdullah W.N.W., Yang T.A. Embedding Islamic dietary requirements into HACCP approach. Food Control. 2013;34:607–612. doi: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2013.06.008. DOI

Chandia M., Soon J.M. The variations in religious and legal understandings on halal slaughter. Br. Food J. 2018;120:714–730. doi: 10.1108/BFJ-03-2017-0129. DOI

Rahman S.A. Religion and Animal Welfare—An Islamic Perspective. Animals. 2017;7:11. doi: 10.3390/ani7020011. PubMed DOI PMC

Awan J.A., Sohaib M. Halal and humane slaughter: Comparison between Islamic teachings and modern methods. Pak. J. Food Sci. 2016;26:234–240.

FAO . Guidelines for Slaughtering, Meat Cutting and Further Processing. FAO Animal Production and Health Paper 91. FAO; Rome, Italy: 1991. Techniques and Hygiene Practices in Slaughtering and Meat Handling.

Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005, of 22 December 2004. on the Protection of Animals During Transport and Related Operations and Amending Directives 64/432/EEC and 93/119/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1255/97. OJ L.3, 1–44. [(accessed on 20 March 2019)]; Available online: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2005/1/oj.

Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 of 24 September 2009 on the Protection of Animals at the Time of Killing. OJ L. 303, 1–30. [(accessed on 20 March 2019)]; Available online: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/1099/oj.

Marahrens M., von Richtofen I., Schmeidduch S., Hartung J. Special problems of long-distance road transport of cattle. Dtsch. Tierarztl. Wochenschr. 2003;110:120–125. PubMed

Dewell G. Heat Stress in Beef Cattle. Iowa State University, Ames. [(accessed on 21 March 2019)]; Available online: https://vetmed.iastate.edu/vdpam/about/production-animal-medicine/beef/bovine-disease-topics/heat-stress-beef-cattle.

Pereira R.E.P., Martins M.R.F.B., Mendes A.A., Almeida P.A.Z.I.C.L., Komiyama C.M., Milbradt E.L., Fernandes B.C.S. Effects of pre-slaughter fasting on broiler welfare, meat quality, and intestinal integrity. Braz. J. Poult. Sci. 2013;15:119–122. doi: 10.1590/S1516-635X2013000200007. DOI

Mendonça F.S., ZambardaVaz R., Leal1 W.S., Restle J., Pascoal L.L., Marcia Vaz M., Farias G.D. Genetic group and horns presence in bruises and economic losses in cattle carcasses. Semin. Ciênc. Agrár. 2016;37:4265–4274. doi: 10.5433/1679-0359.2016v37n6p4265. DOI

Karaca S., Erdoğan S., Kor D., Kor A. Effects of pre-slaughter diet/management system and fasting period on physiological indicators and meat quality traits of lambs. Meat Sci. 2016;116:67–77. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2016.01.014. PubMed DOI

O’Neill H., Webb E., Frylinck L., Strydom P. Effects of short and extended fasting periods and cattle breed on glycogenolysis, sarcomere shortening and Warner-Bratzler shear force. South. Afr. J. Anim. Sci. 2018;48:71. doi: 10.4314/sajas.v48i1.9. DOI

Velarde A., Rodriguez P., Dalmau A., Fuentes C., Llonch P., von Holleben K.V., Anil M.H., Lambooij J.B., Pleiter H., Yesildere T., et al. Religious slaughter: Evaluation of current practices in selected countries. Meat Sci. 2014;96:278–287. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2013.07.013. PubMed DOI

Gibson T.J., Johnson C.B., Murrell J.C., Chambers J.P., Stafford K.J., Mellor D.J. Components of electroencephalographic responses to slaughter in halothane anaesthetised calves: Effects of cutting neck tissues compared with major blood vessels. N. Zeal. Vet. J. 2009;57:84–89. doi: 10.1080/00480169.2009.36883. PubMed DOI

Zulkifli I., Goh Y.M., Norbaiyah B., Sazili A.Q., Lotfi M., Soleimani A.F., Small A.H. Changes in blood parameters and electroencephalogram of cattle as affected by different stunning and slaughter methods in cattle. Anim. Prod. Sci. 2014;54:187–193. doi: 10.1071/AN12128. DOI

Gregory N.G., Fielding H.R., Von Wenzlawowicz M., Von Holleben K. Time to collapse following slaughter without stunning in cattle. Meat Sci. 2010;85:66–69. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2009.12.005. PubMed DOI

Gregory N.G., von Wenzlawowicz M., von Holleben K. Blood in the respiratory tract during slaughter with and without stunning in cattle. Meat Sci. 2009;82:13–16. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2008.11.021. PubMed DOI

Gregory N., Von Wenzlawowicz M., Von Holleben K., Fielding H., Gibson T., Mirabito L., Kolesar R. Complications during shechita and halal slaughter without stunning in cattle. Anim. Welf. 2012;21:81–86. doi: 10.7120/096272812X13353700593680. DOI

Sinclair M., Idrus Z., Burns G.L., Phillips C.J.C. Livestock Stakeholder Willingness to Embrace Preslaughter Stunning in Key Asian Countries. Animals. 2019;9:224. doi: 10.3390/ani9050224. PubMed DOI PMC

Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Guidelines for Ritual Slaughter of Food Animals without Pre-Slaughter Stunning. [(accessed on 1 July 2019)]; Available online: https://inspection.gc.ca/food/food-specific-requirements-and-guidance/meat-products-and-food-animals/guidelines-for-ritual-slaughter-of-food-animals-wi/eng/1542387114106/1542388400893.

Anil M.H. Religious slaughter: A current controversial animal welfare issue. Anim. Front. 2012;2:64–67. doi: 10.2527/af.2012-0051. DOI

Anil M.H., Gregory N.G. Slaughter, Ethics and the Law. In: Dikeman D., Devine C., editors. Encyclopedia of Meat Sciences. Academic Press; San Diego, CA, USA: 2014. pp. 280–283.

Lever J., Miele M. The growth of halal meat markets in Europe: An exploration of the supply side theory of religion. J. Rural Stud. 2012;28:528–537. doi: 10.1016/j.jrurstud.2012.06.004. DOI

EBLEX The halal meat market: Specialist Supply Chain Structures and Consumer Purchase and Consumption Profiles in England. [(accessed on 7 May 2019)]; Available online: http://beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/p_cp_EBLEX_Halal_Meat_FINAL_111110.pdf.

Food Regulation Standing Committee (FRSC) FRSC Technical Report No. 3: Australian Standard for the Hygienic Production and Transportation of Meat and Meat Products for Human Consumption. [(accessed on 7 May 2019)]; Available online: http://www.publish.csiro.au/Books/download.cfm?ID=5553.

RSPCA What is Halal Slaughter in Australia? [(accessed on 7 May 2019)]; Available online: https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/what-is-halal-slaughter-in-australia/

Standing Committee on Agriculture and Resource Management (SCARM) Livestock at Slaughtering Establishments: Report 79. [(accessed on 7 May 2019)]; Available online: https://www.publish.csiro.au/ebook/download/pdf/2975.

Farouk M.M., Pufpaff K.M., Amir M. Industrial halal meat production and animal welfare: A review. Meat Sci. 2016;120:60–70. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2016.04.023. PubMed DOI

Robins A., Pleiter H., Latter M., Phillips C.J.C. The efficacy of pulsed ultrahigh current for the stunning of cattle prior to slaughter. Meat Sci. 2014;96:1201–1209. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2013.10.030. PubMed DOI

Small A., McLean D., Keates H., Owen J., Ralph J. Preliminary investigations into the use of microwave energy for reversible stunning of sheep. Anim. Welf. 2013;22:291–296. doi: 10.7120/09627286.22.2.291. DOI

Rault J.L., Hemsworth P., Cakebread P., Mellor D., Johnson C. Evaluation of microwave energy as a humane stunning technique based on electroencephalography (EEG) of anaesthetised cattle. Anim. Welf. 2014;23:391–400. doi: 10.7120/09627286.23.4.391. DOI

Farouk M.M. Advances in the industrial production of halal and kosher red meat. Meat Sci. 2013;95:805–820. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2013.04.028. PubMed DOI

Farouk M.M., Al-Mazeedi H.M., Sabow A.B., Bekhit A.E.D., Adeyemi K.D., Sazili A.Q., Ghani A. Halal and kosher slaughter methods and meat quality: A review. Meat Sci. 2014;98:505–519. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2014.05.021. PubMed DOI

Fuseini A., Wotton S.B., Hadley P.J., Knowles T.G. The perception and acceptability of pre-slaughter and post-slaughter stunning for halal production: The views of UK Islamic scholars and halal consumers. Meat Sci. 2017;123:143–150. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2016.09.013. PubMed DOI

Department of Islamic Development Malaysia Malaysian Protocol for the Halal Meat and Poultry Productions. [(accessed on 20 March 2019)]; Available online: http://www.hdcglobal.com/upload-web/cms-editor-files/.pdf.

European Food Safety Authority Welfare Aspects of animal Stunning and Killing Methods. European Food Safety Authority–AHAW 04-027. Scientific Report of the Scientific Panel for Animal Health and Welfare on a request from the Commission related to welfare aspects of animal stunning and killing methods. EFSA J. 2004;45:1–29. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2004.45. DOI

Schilling M.W., Vizzier-Thaxton Y., Alvarado C.Z. Slaughter-Line Operation: Poultry. In: Dikeman M., Devine C., editors. Encyclopedia of Meat Sciences. Academic Press; San Diego, CA, USA: 2014. p. 303.

Halal Monitoring Committee Issues of Mechanical Slaughter and Stunning. [(accessed on 20 March 2019)]; Available online: https://halalhmc.org/resources/issues-of-mechanical-slaughter-and-stunning/

Rao M.A., Knowles T.G., Wotton S.B. The effect of pre-stun shocks in electrical water-bath stunners on carcase and meat quality in broilers. Anim. Welf. 2013;22:79–84. doi: 10.7120/09627286.22.1.079. DOI

Sabow A., Nakyinsige K., Adeyemi K., Sazili A., Johnson C., Webster J., Farouk M. High frequency pre-slaughter electrical stunning in ruminants and poultry for halal meat production: A review. Livest. Sci. 2017;202:124–134. doi: 10.1016/j.livsci.2017.05.021. DOI

Oliveira S.E.O., Dalla Costa F.A., Gibson T.J., Dalla Costa O.A., Coldebella A., Gregory N.G. Evaluation of brain damage resulting from penetrating and non-penetrating stunning in Nelore Cattle using pneumatically powered captive bolt guns. Meat Sci. 2018;145:347–351. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2018.07.016. PubMed DOI

Gibson T.J., Oliveira S.E.O., Dalla Costa F.A., Gregory N.G. Electroencephalographic assessment of pneumatically powered penetrating and non-penetrating captive-bolt stunning of bulls. Meat Sci. 2019;151:54–59. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2019.01.006. PubMed DOI

Hollenben K.V. Handling and restraining issues for the most important species. EU Commission DG Sanco. Training workshop on animal welfare concerning the stunning and killing of animals at slaughterhouses and in disease control situation, Zagreb, Croatia, 15–19 October 2007. [(accessed on 6 August 2018)]; Available online: http://www.sancotraining.izs.it/news_corso03/training%20aid/16%20October%202007/von%20Holleben.pdf.

Lambooij E., van der Werf J.T.N., Reimert H.G.M., Hindle V.A. Restraining and neck cutting or stunning and neck cutting of veal calves. Meat Sci. 2012;91:22–28. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2011.11.041. PubMed DOI

Blackmore D.K., Newhook J.C. Effects of different slaughter methods on bleeding sheep. Vet. Rec. 1976;16:312–316. doi: 10.1136/vr.99.16.312. PubMed DOI

Johnson C.B., Mellor D.J., Hemsworth P.H., Fisher A.D. A scientific comment on the welfare of domesticated ruminants slaughtered without stunning. New Zealand Vet. J. 2015;1:58–65. doi: 10.1080/00480169.2014.964345. PubMed DOI

Gregory N.G. Recent concerns about stunning and slaughter. Meat Sci. 2005;70:481–491. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2004.06.026. PubMed DOI

Grandin T. Evaluation of Methods of Restraint for Holding (Fixation) of Cattle, Calves and Sheep for Kosher and Halal Slaughter. [(accessed on 7 May 2019)]; Available online: http://www.grandin.com/ritual/evaluation.restraint.methods.kosher.halal.html.

DIALREL Report on Good and Adverse Practices: Animal Welfare Concerns in Relation to Slaughter Practices from the Viewpoint of Veterinary Sciences. [(accessed on 7 May 2019)]; Available online: http://www.dialrel.eu/images/veterinary-concerns.pdf.

Tagawa M., Okano S., Sako T., Orima H., Steffey E.P. Effects of change in body position on cardiopulmonary function and plasma cortisol in cattle. J. Vet. Med. Sci. 1994;56:131–134. doi: 10.1292/jvms.56.131. PubMed DOI

Lambooij E., Pieterse C., Hillebrand S., Dijksterhuis G. The effects of captive bolt and electrical stunning, and restraining methods on broiler meat quality. Poult. Sci. 1999;78:600–607. doi: 10.1093/ps/78.4.600. PubMed DOI

Warriss P.D., Leach T.M. The influence of slaughter method on the residual blood content of meat. J. Sci. Food Agric. 1978;29:608–610. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.2740290706. DOI

Khalid R., Knowles T.G., Wotton S.B. A comparison of blood loss during the Halal slaughter of lambs following Traditional Religious Slaughter without stunning, Electric Head-Only Stunning and Post-Cut Electric Head-Only Stunning. Meat Sci. 2015;110:15–23. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2015.06.008. PubMed DOI

Velarde A., Gispert M., Diestre A., Manteca X. Effect of electrical stunning on meat and carcass quality in lambs. Meat Sci. 2003;63:35–38. doi: 10.1016/S0309-1740(02)00049-9. PubMed DOI

Gracey J.F. Thornton’s Meat Hygiene. Balliere Tindall; London, UK: 1981. p. 436.

Sahih Bukhari. [(accessed on 20 March 2018)]; Available online: www.sahih-bukhari.com.

Helmut P. Review of Stunning and Halal Slaughter. Meat & Livestock Australia; North Sydney, Australia: 2010. pp. 1–26.

Gregory N.G., Schuster P., Mirabito L., Kolesar R., Mc Manus T. Arrested blood flow during false aneurysm formation in the carotid arteries of cattle slaughtered with and without stunning. Meat Sci. 2012;90:368–372. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2011.07.024. PubMed DOI

Fuseini A., Knowles T.G., Hadley P.J., Wotton S.B. Halal stunning and slaughter: Criteria for the assessment of dead animals. Meat Sci. 2016;119:132–137. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2016.04.033. PubMed DOI

Gibson T.J., Dadios N., Gregory N.G. Effect of neck cut position on time to collapse in halal slaughtered cattle without stunning. Meat Sci. 2015;110:310–314. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2015.03.026. PubMed DOI

Aghwan Z.A., Bello A.U., Abubakar A.A., Imlan J.C., Sazili A.Q. Efficient halal bleeding, animal handling, and welfare: A holistic approach for meat quality. Meat Sci. 2016;121:420–428. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2016.06.028. PubMed DOI

Grandin T., Regenstein J. Religious slaughter and animal welfare: A discussion for meat scientists. Meat Focus Int. 1994;3:115–123.

Raj A.B.M. Stunning. In: Dikeman M., Devine C., editors. Encyclopedia of Meat Sciences. Academic Press; San Diego, CA, USA: 2014. pp. 401–406.

Al-Darwish A. The Standing Committee for Scientific Research and Issuing Fatwas. Dar Al Moayyed; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: 2003. pp. 461–464.

Shahdan I.A., Regenstein J.M., Shahabuddin A.S.M., Rahman M.T. Developing control points for halal slaughtering of poultry. Poult Sci. 2016;95:1680–1692. doi: 10.3382/ps/pew092. PubMed DOI

Muftī Shafʿī Jawāhir al-Fiqh. Deoband, India, 1968. [(accessed on 8 April 2019)];:363–416. (in Urdu) Available online: https://ia800603.us.archive.org/2/items/Jawahir-ul-Fiqh-Volumes1-2-3-4-6-7-ByShaykhMuftiMuhammad/Jawahir-ul-Fiqh-Volume6-ByShaykhMuftiMuhammadShafir.a.pdf.

Nakyinsige K., Man Y.B.C., Aghwan Z.A., Zulkifli I., Goh Y.M., Abu Bakar F., Al-Kahtani H.A., Sazli A.Q. Stunning and animal welfare from Islamic and scientific perspectives. Meat Sci. 2013;95:352–361. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2013.04.006. PubMed DOI