Non-Muslim Britons are being forced to eat animals slaughtered in “appalling” pain because religious butchering is becoming so common, a former chief vet has claimed.
Prof Bill Reilly, ex-president of the British Veterinary Association, said cutting the throats of lambs, chickens and other animals without stunning them breaches legal requirements because it causes significant pain, fear and distress.
British and EU law permits the method of religious slaughter to account for Muslim and Jewish dietary practices, but stipulates that the animals must not be caused “unnecessary suffering.” Prof Reilly called for the practice to be dramatically curbed, suggesting that some slaughterhouses are refusing to stun animals simply to cut costs, rather than for religious reasons. Writing in the Veterinary Record, he said the number of animals having their throats slit while still fully conscious – a practice known as non-stun slaughter – was “unacceptable”. Referring to a report by the former Animal Welfare Council he claimed that “such a massive injury could result in very significant pain and distress”, particularly because the throat has a large number of nerve endings.