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.

Global research

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.

Dr John Lever

Market functioning and business compliance requirements

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.

Understanding of consumer anxieties

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.

Educating and informing key policy stakeholders

This research has educated and informed key policy stakeholders. It has influenced debates on non-stun slaughter and enhanced awareness of the need for business compliance and better product labelling in line with industry regulations and religious standards to enhance market transparency.

Reframing policy debate

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) is a leading advocate of banning non-stun slaughter. They recognise the significance of Dr Lever’s work on the history of kosher meat production and Jewish nonstun slaughter practice for situating and reframing their current work on halal practices. The BVA has a membership of 17,000, meaning that Dr Lever’s input has an impact across the majority of the 20,000 veterinary professionals in the UK.

Reducing consumer anxiety

The lack of meat market transparency has enhanced anxieties amongst religious and non-religious consumers, and Dr Lever has advocated for better labelling. In 2019 Dr Lever was asked to share his research with the Government as part of a debate on labelling and improving meat market transparency at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). With other stakeholders, the team of Huddersfield researchers has since developed a new meat production label.

Enhancing business compliance

The work of Dr Lever and Dr Johan Fischer from Roskilde University in Denmark has enabled the business partners of the Halal Food Authority (HFA) to understand and determine the appropriate standards and certification criteria required to capitalise on market opportunities.

For more information on the research in this article email: j.b.lever@hud.ac.uk or visit pure.hud.ac.uk