School serves ‘Halal only’ lunches as local council faces demands for urgent answers

A local council is being quizzed by a leading Conservative politician after a secondary school started offering “Halal only” lunches.

Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies approached the Vale of Glamorgan Council after a constituent flagged Cowbridge Comprehensive School only provided specific meat options.

In a letter to Cllr Rhiannon Birch, Davies said: “My constituent’s daughter attends Cowbridge Comprehensive School, and claims she was told that all meat options served in school meals are Halal meat.

“She requested a non-Halal meat meal for her daughter, but was told this was not available.

“I would be grateful if you would confirm if this is the case, and if so, whether it is a country wide policy.”

He added: “Non-Halal meat options should be available in all school meals, and it is essential action is taken to ensure this is provided.”

The process of ensuring meat is certified as Halal when it adheres to Islamic law as defined in the Koran.

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The Islamic form of slaughtering animals or poultry, dhabiha, involves killing through a cut to the jugular vein, carotid artery and windpipe.

Animals must be alive and healthy at the time of slaughter and all blood is drained from the carcass.

During the process, a Muslim will recite a dedication, know as tasmiya or shahada.

However, the RSPCA has claimed the process causes unnecessary suffering, pain and distress compared to other processes, including stunning.

The 2021 Census also revealed 0.9 per cent of the Vale of Glamorgan identifies as Muslim, with Cowbridge’s Muslim population dropping to 0.2 per cent.

The proportion of people who identify as Muslim across Wales is slightly higher at 2.2 per cent.

More than half of Cowbridge, 56.2 per cent, identifies as Christian and a further 37.2 per cent practices no religion whatsoever.

GB News has approached Cowbridge Comprehensive School and Cllr Birch for comment.