Consumers have a right to know if their meat is halal or kosher... Labour must act, writes Esther McVey

Consumers have a right to know if their meat is halal or kosher... Labour must act My new bill will give Britons full knowledge of what they are eating, writes Conservative MP Esther McVey Sign up to the Opinion Newsletter I agree to receive updates and information about my account, the GB News Community, and related products and services from GB News. Email address Sign up By signing up you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy and Community Rules.

Thank you for signing up! See the latest from GB News here . Choose GB News on Google - add us as a preferred source Choose GB News Support GB News Champion free speech and independent journalism while unlocking exclusive benefits. Support us Consumers have a right to know what they are eating. Yet everyday people are consuming halal and kosher meat without knowing it – that is meat where the animal has its throat slit and often is not stunned before slaughtering.

So, I am introducing a Bill for the compulsory labelling of halal and kosher meat to correct that. At its heart, this is a straightforward proposal built on consumer choice, animal welfare and transparency. It is not about banning halal or kosher meat but about the compulsory labelling of it, which is currently only voluntary, to ensure consumers know what they are buying. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say What began as a limited religious exemption has become an increasingly significant part of meat production.

Government figures show of roughly one billion animals processed in England and Wales in 2024, around 215 million were slaughtered for halal meat. And whilst Government guidelines say meat that results from non-stun slaughter must be intended for consumption by Jews or Muslims, analysis has shown total meat supplied by non-stun slaughter is about four times greater than the population of Muslims and Jews in the UK. And alarmingly, the UK has now become an exporter of halal meat to the United Arab Emirates.

Some of the UK's largest retailers, including Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda, sell halal or kosher meat without informing consumers. Major takeaway chains such as Domino's, Pizza Hut and KFC serve it without customers necessarily being aware. Non-stunned meat is also being served in schools by 17 local councils, most of which are not Islamic faith schools, meaning parents and pupils may have no idea how that meat was produced. The same issue exists in hospitals, where patients can be served meat without being given that information.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS Tory MP demands compulsory halal meat labels as millions of Brits are 'eating it without knowing' MPs demand halal and kosher meat warning as millions of animals slaughtered without stunning King Charles’s charity joins forces with UK halal meat supplier to tackle crisis Halal meat is a big business in Britain | GETTY As a nation of animal lovers, people want to know the welfare standards behind the food they buy. Yet consumers are often denied the information needed to make an informed choice because it is missing from the label.

This needs to change. Remarkably, Labour's 12,500-word animal welfare strategy found room to discuss issues from live lobsters and farmed fish to pig stunning, but not a single proposal for clearer labelling of halal and kosher meat, nor any mention of slaughter without prior stunning. The Food Standards Agency's Food and You 2 survey found that food production methods were consumers' most cited food concern in 2024. In the Government's 2022 call for evidence on animal welfare labelling, almost 99 per cent of respondents supported the introduction of method-of-slaughter labelling.

Research by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board also found 92 per cent of halal consumers consider clear halal certification important. The public has spoken. Consumers have a right to know how their food was produced. It is common sense. And it is long overdue. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter Opinion America's next presidential election is crucial for the future of the West Opinion Andy Burnham promised not to reopen Brexit wounds – now he's preparing the ultimate betrayal Opinion I just witnessed an American victory speech delivered in Arabic - what's coming for Britain sent a chill down my spine Opinion The US midterms are a warning to Donald Trump, but Britain should not expect his policies to change Opinion Shabana Mahmood's migrant surrender is another blow to Britain's social cohesion Opinion US Midterm results present opportunities for Britain, but Andy Burnham and Labour are too feeble to take them Analysis Opinion Democrats must not mistake a Republican rejection for an endorsement Opinion Shabana Mahmood's reputation was shattered in just MINUTES and that will cost the taxpayers BILLIONS Opinion Tonight could fire the starting gun on the next presidential election Opinion Our enemies could cripple Britain without firing a shot – and ministers are not ready Opinion Shabana Mahmood's U-turn proves sometimes a climbdown is right – now Reform and Tories must rethink ECHR exit Opinion Labour desperately needs to answer questions over North Sea oil and gas Opinion Andy Burnham should be Britain's greatest defender instead of backing those saying our country is stained Opinion Britain must tell Caribbean nations demanding slavery reparations NO – Andy Burnham's intervention is a disgrace Opinion Labour's chilling Orwellian legislation could backfire on the women it is supposed to protect Opinion Andy Burnham has given reparations campaigners exactly what they wanted – and Britain could pay the price Opinion Andy Burnham must follow Donald Trump's lead and slam Britain's door shut as 10,000 migrants arrive Opinion I’ve toured America ahead of the midterms – and there’s one thing that could decide Donald Trump’s fate Opinion Alastair Stewart: Memories, Friendship and a Week of Reflections Opinion GB News spent a week listening to Britain and the message to Westminster is clear Opinion Labour is failing women in towns like Middlesbrough and £15m won't make them safer Opinion Andy Burnham and John Healey have already run out of ideas – and Britain is paying the price Opinion Britain cannot defend itself with John Healey's empty promises and wishful thinking Opinion Donald Trump’s border chief has exposed the main flaw in Britain’s border policy Opinion Andy Burnham's U-turn on EU free movement may prove irreparable with working-class voters Analysis Opinion How King Charles navigated the slavery question on his Bahamas visit Opinion Israel’s election won’t change the fundamentals of war and peace in the Middle East Opinion A whopping £1.75 a month in supermarket savings?

Please, John Healey, don't insult our intelligence Opinion Taxpayers could once again be left footing the bill after John Healey’s growth gamble Opinion Labour have not provided a fundamental answer to the housing crisis