A leading supplier of halal chickens for KFC, has opted out of its Halal poultry operation for the fast food giant.

FACCENDA Group’s decision to pull the plug with KFC from July 6^th comes after 40 of the leading scholars unanimouslydecided that machine slughter of chickens was not halal.

Therefore, from this date the Halal Food Authority (HFA) are now longer accrediting, authenticating or endorsing FACCENDA Group products for halal validity.

The conference which saw some of the country’s top Islamic scholars vote against machine slaughter of animals for halal consumption in the UK.

The debate which took place at the Hijaz Centre, Nuneaton was attended by some of the country’s most respected Imams who passed a vote on whether machine slaughter of animals for halal consumption is strictly permitted under Islamic law or not.

Halal is an Arabic term meaning permissible in Islam.

One of the scholars speaking at the event, said: “Mass machine slaughter of animals is totally not allowed in Islam.

“The prescribed holy words should be said upon every animal and not just once.

“What’s more is, it can’t be one person just flicking a switch which kills a mass

number of animals by rotary blade. It needs to be on an individual basis.

“Some people say during machine slaughter, just the first chicken is halal, but what’s for sure is that the majority are not.”

The latest development has seen HFA reiterated to all manufacturers, traders, retailers and consumers who use, trade, distribute and /or consume halal poultry that they are strongly advised to review, investigate and ensure the validity and authenticity of their halal supply chain beforeexercising their choice.

Mohammed Saleem from the Association of non stun abbatoirs(ANSA) said: “HFA came under fire again as KFC is accused of mislabelling halal chicken source.

“Leading Islamic scholars have accused fast food chain KFC of mislabelling its chicken as halal.

“In April 2010 lancashire Council of Mosque issued a Statement That KFC do not fullfil LCMhalal critria.

“And most recently the conference in Nuneaton , Warwickshire, around 40 scholars agreed KFC was mislabeling its machine-slaughtered chicken as halal and said it should stop selling it immediately. KFC is one of many Non Muslim owned companies certified by HFA.

“FACCENDA Group who were certified by HFA and one the main suppliers To KFC decided to opt out of Halal Poultry operation with effect from Friday the 6th July 2012.

“This shows people power, supply and demand. Demand true halal, demand the prophetic method of Zibihah which is without pre stunning animal or birds.”

Naumaan Farooq

Deputy Editor

Asian Express Newspapers

www.asianexpress.co.uk