Labour criticised over plan to mark meat ‘stunned’ or ‘non-stunned’
Opposition wants to introduce the mandatory labelling of meat, which is criticised by community leaders as 'neither correct nor sufficient'
Jewish community leaders this week criticised the new proposal for domestic and imported meat to “include details on country of origin, method of production and method of slaughter” – this being either ‘stunned’ or ‘non-stunned’.
Current government policy does not include labelling. However, last week Animal Welfare Minister Lord Gardiner said the Conservatives may also consider a change after Brexit as part of broader considerations on food labelling.
Shimon Cohen, Shechita UK’s campaign director, took issue with this distinction of stunned or non-stunned meat, saying more accurate information was required.
“It is unfortunate that the Labour Party’s proposal regarding meat labelling is behind the curve,” he said. “Informed circles have now moved this discussion on to a comprehensive method of slaughter labelling.” Under this system, consumers would know whether their meat had been killed “by captive bolt shooting, gassing, electrocution by tongs or water or any of the other approved methods”, he said.
“It is neither correct nor sufficient for meat to be labelled as ‘stunned’ or ‘non-stunned’.We must be careful not to mislead the consumer into believing mechanical stunning is a kind medicinal process, sending the animal into a woozy unconsciousness,” he said. “Mechanical stunning is an aggressive procedure which many object to.”
Cohen added that a comprehensive method of slaughter labelling was “welcomed by religious communities and animal welfare groups alike” and urged the Labour Party “to urgently review their policy”.
Labour’s other policies include closing loopholes that allow fox and hare-hunting, banning foie gras, which is produced by force-feeding ducks or geese, and mandating drivers who run over and kill cats to report it, as is required for dogs.
Jackie Lipowicz of the Kosher Meat Traders Association said: “We have nothing to hide. We practice the highest standards of slaughter and we have always said we would be happy to label our meat as non-stunned, providing others also label how their meat was stunned, whether this be gassing or drowning.”
In a House of Lords debate earlier this month, animal welfare minister Lord Gardiner said: “The labelling issue is important. It is essential that everyone is allowed to make an informed choice. We will be consider this issue in the context of our departure from the EU.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
