Meat from cattle slaughtered without stunning sold in the conventional market without appropriate labelling: A case study in Italy. (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: D'amico, Priscilla; Vitelli, Nicolò; Cenci Goga, Beniamino; Nucera, Daniele; Pedonese, Francesca; Guidi, Alessandra; Armani, Andrea
• Is Part Of: Meat science. Volume 134(2017)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 6
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Ritual slaughter -- Stunning -- Labelling -- Unwitting purchases -- Kosher -- Halal; Meat -- Periodicals; Meat industry and trade -- Periodicals; Viande -- Périodiques; Viande -- Industrie -- Périodiques; Meat; Meat industry and trade; Periodicals; 641.36
• DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2017.07.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0309-1740

Abstract

Abstract: In the European Union, slaughter without stunning is allowed for religious slaughter to obtain halal and kosher meat. Especially in the case of Jewish slaughtering, cuts which are not deemed as kosher are sold to regular market without any specific labelling. This survey, conducted in Tuscany in 2016, aimed to quantify the carcasses rejected in relation to the type of religious slaughter. 656 bovines were slaughtered without stunning: 538 (82%) for halal and 118 (18%) for kosher. All carcasses slaughtered by the Islamic procedure (dhabiha) were considered halal, while 77.1% of carcasses slaughtered by the Jewish procedure (shechita) did not pass the approval. Carcasses were rejected after chest cavity inspection (50%) and after the lungs control (50%). This study provides an important insight in this field and postulates how to amalgamate the concepts of freedom of religion, as enshrined by the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, with consumer rights and animal welfare. Highlights: This survey aimed to quantify the carcasses rejected during ritual slaughtering in cattle. 77% and 0% of animals were discarded during Jewish and Islamic methods of slaughter, respectively. Meat rejected during ritual slaughter were sold on regular commercial channels. In the EU, the labelling and identification of meat from animals slaughtered without stunning is not mandatory. Mandatory stunning after cutting is a solution to avoid unintentional purchases.