The social impact and business compliance requirements of expanding
religious food markets Expanding markets for kosher and halal food presents significant economic opportunities, but animal slaughter for meat raises issues around business compliance and cultural and religious differences. When slaughter without stunning was banned in Denmark in 2014, demand for non-stunned meat increased among Muslim consumers. Prepacked non-stunned meat was subsequently imported from countries such as the UK, where non-stun production is allowed, or via countries with lower standards. In the absence of a ban, and with social and political controversy increasing, UK businesses and certifiers attempted to protect commercial interests by being discrete about labelling stunned meat as halal and identifying the method of slaughter.
Market functioning and business compliance requirements
Global research
Understanding of consumer anxieties
Dr John Lever, Professor Gerard McElwee and Dr Gareth Downing at the University of Huddersfield carried out a body of mixed methods research on the social, political and business issues linked to the global halal and kosher markets and consumer understanding in the UK, Denmark and United Arab Emirates.
As the halal market expanded, ambiguous media reports enhanced consumer concerns about threats to animal welfare standards and British values. Combined with growing market complexity, these developments also enhanced consumption anxieties among religious consumers about what is and is not acceptable.
research.hud.ac.uk
Dr John Lever
The research revealed that although kosher and halal meat production and consumption are ultimately premised on divine order, religion is both conditioned and invigorated by the global market.
