At least 18 councils are supplying non-stunned meat to schools, new research has revealed, despite pressure from veterinary organisations to ban the practice.
Around one in 10 UK councils supply non-stunned halal meat to schools, research from the National Secular Society (NSS) shows.
Around 18 councils are supplying at least 140 schools with non-stunned meat – most of which are not Islamic faith schools.
At least on council is supplying non-stunned meat even though no schools have requested it.
Revelations come as Lancashire County Council considers ending the supply of non-stunned meat to schools.
The veterinary industry has been critical of the practice. The British Veterinary Association (BVA), a trade body representing UK vets, has said that slaughter without stunning "unnecessarily compromises" the welfare of animals at the time of death, and has called for all livestock to be stunned before slaughter. [FARMINGUK] Read more
