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Europe’s Muslims and Jews Unite to Fight Food-Labeling Proposal

Muslim and Jewish organizations in Europe are putting aside differences over the Middle East conflict to team up against a proposal by European Union (EU) lawmakers that would require ritually slaughtered meat to carry a label warning consumers about inhumane treatment to animals.

Approved in the European Parliament last June as part of food-information legislation, the amendment would require ritually slaughtered meat to carry the warning: "Derived from animals that have not been stunned prior to slaughter.” The amendment was vetoed by a committee of the EU Council of Ministers earlier this month, but critics and supporters agree the fight is far from over and expect to a revised amendment to be submitted next year. 

The rule would affect the makers of Islamic halal meat,  as well as those whose animals are slaughtered by the Jewish method of shechita, which renders the meat kosher. That has made allies of  BeHalal.org, a non-profit Halal consumer protection organization, and Shechita UK, a London-based Jewish group, the Muslim Council of Britain, the Association of European Imams and others.

Although they say it’s a secondary concern, the Muslim and Jewish groups fear that a warning label could impact sales.  While observant Muslims and Jews will eat halal and kosher meat no matter what, other consumers may be put off by the warning.  And, if sales to the non-Muslim and non-Jewish public fall, prices for halal and kosher products will inevitably rise to reflect the higher costs of serving smaller markets.   
http://www.themedialine.org/news/news_detail.asp?NewsID=30963 [1]