Halal System

Information regarding the Saracen UK Ltd Halal System - June 2009

The following text is to be read in conjunction with the viewing of the video footage of the Saracen UK Ltd Halal System.  The Saracen UK Ltd Halal System offers answers to both the concerns of the Muslim community regarding true Halal product and the commercial concerns of the processor.

Saracen UK Ltd, Halal Machine GEN III

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Concerns of the Muslim Community

The definition of true Halal is that the bird is alive at time of slaughter; this means that a harsh electrical stun or a gas stun is not acceptable.  The bird should also be killed by hand by a trained slaughter man and not cut mechanically.  The vast majority of labeled Halal product in the shops and restaurants does not comply with either of these criteria and hence is Haram, not Halal.

Concerns of the processor

To process poultry at high volume the bird is hung on a shackle on six inch centers and presented to the selected killing method, either by hand or mechanical.  If the bird is non stunned or lightly stunned after the incision a nerve impulse causes the bird to spasm – although clinically dead it will continue to move for up to twenty seconds.  This movement causes damage to itself and to the birds either side.  In the case of a manual cut this can cause distress to the next bird awaiting slaughter.  This damage to the wing tips, shoulder joints and breast bruising causes downgrades which harms profit margins.  The answer to this issue for the high volume processors has been to reach a compromise by stunning the birds prior to slaughter.

The Saracen UK Ltd Halal system

This machine can be situated under any existing line with minor line modifications.  It allows the processor to offer a true Halal product yet retain profit margins due to the minimal wing damage or downgrades.  From an animal welfare perspective there are some major benefits from the system.  The birds can be seen entering the system in no distress at all – the clamping mechanism is gentle and sympathetic to the bird.  Live birds have been passed through the system and lifted off with no adverse effects.  The principle of the system is to restrict the nerve impulse once the incision has been made and to protect the live birds either side from this movement.

Further information and viewing of the system

For any further information or to discuss the system please contact Michael J Woodhouse of Saracen UK Ltd on +441379897220 or +447793844684.  The system is in production and can be viewed at your convenience.