Halal-only school meals plan sparks parent anger / London

Parents have reacted with anger to a plan to serve halal-only meals to primary school children.

Animal welfare groups are also unhappy at the proposal by Harrow Council in north-west London to serve only food from animals killed and prepared under Islamic teaching.

‘It is commendable for schools to provide halal meats but there must be an alternative for non-Muslims,’ said Masood Khawaja, of the Halal Food Authority.

The council said it would not yet introduce the scheme because of parents’ complaints.

The halal method involves an animal’s throat being cut and it being left to die while the blood drains out.