The teachers should have informed the parents about the food served. It's important for them to make choice. Personally what I think is the Halal/Kosher meat is more healthy, because it does not contain blood and has some religious tradition to god of Abraham.

Nishant, Falkirk, Stirlingshire

I'm pretty sure that there was an experiment done using the halal method and the western method which actually showed that the halal method is better for the animal as its feels less pain, although it looks gruesome wheras the western method it felt more pain but did not look as painful and easier to butcher cos it can't move about. And anyway all you objecting because of animal rights where were you when chickens were mass produced in such horrific conditions? too busy eating it i expect.

s, Leicester,

How can a parent disagree with the way halaal meat is slaughtered, and rather that their child is fed meat which is kept and transported inhumanely, killed with a bolt to the head (which bursts the brain of the animal)?
I wish our local schools would serve halaal meat, with alot of kids going off campus to eat.

Jasmine, Scotland, UK

It is incorrect for the head teacher to say that Halal meat is not forbidden by any religion or culture, Halal and Kosher meat is prohibited by the Sikh faith.

A large number of UK schools have begun serving Halal meat without informing parents. You will also notice that pork has vanished from the menu.

G Singh, Harrow, Middlesex

Animal rights activists have been trying to stop this practice for years, but are up against big business. Exports to Islamic countries are massive.In the UAE halal products are clearly labelled as such. A similar system in Britain would ensure consumers know what they're getting.

BE, Dubai, UAE

Think of the financial implications for the meat industry if school and other public services start doing this. It will be cornered by Muslims.

william, northwood,

This article seems to be brushing over the fact that the animals are not just "killed in a particular way", they are killed in a barbaric, inhumane way. The government's own report from the Farm Animal Welfare Council in 2003 said that the practise caused "severe suffering to animals" as they took up to several minutes to die after having their throats slashed. They recommended that it be banned unless the animals are stunned first, as it is in Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, Holland and Austria. Of course the government ignored the report.

James, London, UK

Unless this is an Islamic faith school (which it isn't) I think it is inappropriate for the school to espouse such a muslim-specific practice as policy. I feel it is important for non faith-based schools to remain secular in all that they do, and to not favour any religion over another. As someone else here has said, why not Kosher? I say why not Vegetarian? It'd be cheaper.

It is important for us all to be aware of different religious and cultural practices and these certainly should be part of a child's philosphical and moral education. However within the policies of running a school, it is impossible to honor all religious practices equally and fairly.

Eating Halal is a choice. As is eating Vegie or Vegan. Those who wish to eat specific to their ethic, religion, or other dietry requirement (such as dairy-free, or nut-free for those who suffer with allergies) should bring their own food with them.

Hannah, London,

it ia ridiculous that the school did not inform the parents. ok, the meat is part of the muslim culture but they should be aware that this is britain therefore they cannot say that they want halal meat. also the understanding should be that meat is meat- it was an animal and now its dead and on a plate. who cares if it is halal or british?

snoopy, leicester, leicestershire

Why not serve only kosher meat while they're at it. And provide two sets of plates to keep the meat and dairy products separate. While the schools are trying to placate Islamic parents and students, in all fairness, they should research the religious customs and laws of every individual student in the schools, and see to it that their religious rights are not being violated. Get the point?

Lynda, Boston, MA, USA

The Hala method is to cut the animal's throat with no stunning from a bolt gun before the knife is used. It is by our standards a cruel way to kill an animal and all the animals following in the abbatoir also know what is to come. I am not a vegetarian but I suggest that the Halal method, which is the same as the Jewish way, should be stopped by law. It is not necessary because it was only used in the days before we had refrigerators to keep the meat safe. As a tradition it is not needed any more.

B J Deller, Marbella, Spain

This is equality when the person who slaughters the animal has to be a Muslim? Where's the equality in that?

Policies like this will ensure that eventually only Muslims own or are employed in UK abbatoirs.

MarkS, Leeds,

Halal meat is not kosher and so is not acceptable to Jews - would kosher only food be served?
Beef can be halal, but is unacceptable to Hindus.
And why shouldn't English children be served pork?

Stephen , Birmingham, UK

Our culture took hundreds of years to escape the religious nonsense which controlled every aspect of our lives. Established religions, churches and priests and prophets are all charlatans, no one has a message from God. Why are we even prepared to tolerate all religious rules again...I was hoping all that was in our past.

jack, chelmsford,

Halal meat is produced in a barbaric way and it should be banned entirely from the EU. The animal rights campainers have been very slow to condemn it. For anyone to cut an animals throat and then leave it to perish as its blood drains away must be way down the foodchain. Any school who gives in to pressure to provide this meat to non muslim children without advising the parents is educating these children that it is OK to kill this way, IT IS NOT, and is giving the supply of meat to a restrictive supplier. It must be a Muslim that kills the animal this way.
The quicker it is stopped

Bll, Sheffield,

Compromise: go kosher.

John A, Providence, USA

It is all very well the Muslim Awareness Project saying that Halal meat looks the same and tastes the same. In that case, Muslim children would not notice the difference if they had to eat non-Halal meat.

Martin, York,