Dinner Lady...the Other Side Of The Story

[sp1814]

Remember earlier this week, when we discussed the sacking of the dinner lady who served the Muslim kid gammon and was subsequently sack?

Some of us commented that the story (as reported by the Daily Mail), seemed 'wrong'.

Presenting the other side of the story:

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/08/02/alison-waldock-row-muslim-parents-speak_n_3694477.html

Does this now change anyone's opinion one the story?

[emmie]

the method of slaughter, if it the way i have witnessed, admittedly on film, then its not the way i think animals should be killed. not stunned first,
some on here say things like they die anyway, but surely that isn't the point, you aren't given the choice.

[emmie]

some who don't care for it

http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/10308743.Row_over_Halal_meat_at_school/

[emmie]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halal

[hc4361]

ummm, what is wrong with Halal is there is an exemption from the very strict slaughter rules that apply to non-Halal abattoirs so that Muslims can eat meat that suits their religious requirements.

I have no problem with Muslims eating Halal, Jews eating Kosher and vegetarians eating no meat. I exercise my right not to eat Halal or Kosher.

[emmie]

but it is served up to people who aren't necessarily aware that it is. One should have the choice, and it's a nonsense that this woman was sacked. and if it wasn't the first time, why on earth did she work for them for so long, 11 years, if it was a long term problem why didn't they get rid of her sooner.

[boxtops]

I have no problem eating halal meat - I don't care for what goes on in ANY slaughterhouse, and goodness knows some "conventional" ones have been shown up to be cruel in practice to the animals they are processing. I won't go through the halal stunning argument etc again, it's been done before - but our local independent butcher only buys in halal chicken which he imports from Holland, his customers much prefer the taste to mass-butchered local chicken. Some of it's economics.

[ummmm]

I didn't read all the wiki link but it does say that the animal is to be slaughtered by a Muslim whilst chanting something about Allah...

So...are our abattoirs staffed mainly by Muslims?

[Gromit]

The school provide a vegetarian menu everyday. And on the meal order form they can choose the Halal option for meat. The children pay for those meals per term (35 days).

The school Menu
http://queenedithschool.org.uk/uploads/School%20Meals/Queen%20Edith%20and%20%20Emma%20%202nd%20Half%20%20Autumn%20Term%20Menu%202012.pdf

Order form
http://queenedithschool.org.uk/uploads/School%20Meals/meal%20changes%202nd%20Half%20%20Autum%20Tern%202012.pdf

The dinner ladies would see the pupils every day. The sacked dinner lady had been at the school for 11 years. Surely she would start to know the children and learn their requirements?

[pixie373]

At the end of the day, she was incompetent at her job.

[hc4361]

ummm, that chanting is a tape recording on a loop. There is no Imam present - it's a nonsense.

boxtops, why on earth are you eating imported chicken when a good butcher will sell you local, free range or organic chicken? Holland's poultry sheds leaves a lot to be desired. Holland hasn't got the best record for processed chicken products for which it imports chickens from Thailand.
Much of the cheap chicken in supermarkets is from Holland.

It's not that long ago that Holland tried to ban Halal meat altogether but the upper chamber of the Netherland's parliament voted against it but insisted the animals are stunned for at least 40 seconds. There is lot of concern in the Netherlands about Halal meat

[hc4361]

All the meat at that school, except pork, is Halal.

[emmie]

tend to agree with HC on buying halal

The food must come from a supplier that uses halal practices. Specifically, the slaughter must be performed by a Muslim, who must precede the slaughter by invoking the name of Allah, most commonly by saying "Bismillah" ("In the name of Allah") and then three times Allah Huakbar. Then, the animal must be slaughtered with a sharp knife by cutting the throat, windpipe and the blood vessels in the neck (while the animal is conscious), causing the animal’s death without cutting the spinal cord. Lastly, the blood from the veins must be drained. This final step is performed because blood can harbor harmful bacteria, and also to ensure that there are no blood clots, thus keeping the entire body safe and clean to be eaten.

[boxtops]

HC - I'm not eating it, I said he was selling it, not that I am buying it.

[emmie]

of course we don't know about non halal slaughterhouses, but one has to hope they are adhering to the rules laid down in UK.

[hc4361]

Ooops, sorry, boxtops - I will try and dismount this very high horse I am on.

I am trying to campaign that all meat and meat products be labelled Halal if that is the case, rather like the V symbol for 'suitable for vegetarians'.

I want the choice.

[ummmm]

I did read somewhere that it a recording so surely that's not proper halal?

When supermarkets do deals on chicken it's usually imported from Thailand. There's an interesting book called 'Not On The Label' it really put me off chicken.

[hc4361]

That's the point, emmie, there are exemptions from a lot of the slaughter laws

[emmie]

hc and so do i... choice that is all. as everyone should have...

[tonyav]

Why would I want to eat Halal meat, I'm not a Muslim and I don't agree with their method of slaughter. I would also like to see meat labelled accordingly.

[emmie]

we once passed some chicken farms, i confess the smell was absolutely revolting... massive farm sheds, with thousands packed in tight...