The Meat Industry Association says that a misconception is partly to blame for the hot debate that's taking place in the UK over the labelling of halal meat - much of it focusing on New Zealand lamb.
Photo: AFP
MPs there rejected a proposal that would have meant supermarkets and other food outlets would have had to clearly label halal or kosher meat.
Some had criticised the practice of not labelling the food, questioning the humaneness of halal slaughter and one Christian leader had described the large amount of halal meat for sale as the "Islamification of food".
New Zealand Meat Industry Association trade and economic manager Phil Houlding said most New Zealand lamb was slaughtered using halal methods.
But Mr Houlding said there was a difference between halal slaughter here and in the United Kingdom.
"What we're seeing from the correspondence that's coming through to us is that the major concerns people have are around animal welfare.
"We think the reason for that is that in the UK there is actually an exemption for halal slaughter which means the animals don't need to be stunned before they're killed.
"In New Zealand, of course it's compulsory to have stunning before the animals are killed, so we are able to reassure most of the people who are getting in touch with us."
Mr Houlding said the Meat Industry Association was aware of a handful of people who had objected to Muslim prayers being said over livestock before they're slaughtered.
