Pork found in Doner Kebab!

Eating Halal food can be an easy choice particularly that we have so many Halal food outlets to chose from. Unfortunately there are a few Muslim traders that (maybe unaware) have been selling haram products. Below is an interesting story of recent investigations on Doner Kebabs....


Taken from the Metro newspaper, UK, January 27, 2009

The doner kebab, the post-pub snack favoured by drinkers up and down the country, could be adding a whopping 1,000 calories to their daily diet, according to research out today.

A nationwide sample of the nutritional content of the takeaway meal found that the average doner contained close to an adult's entire daily recommended intake of salt and fat, before salad and sauce was added.

An average kebab contained 1,000 calories but researchers found some with as many as 1,990.



Officers from the Local Authority Co-ordinators of Regulatory Services (Lacors) found that the average doner contained 98% of an adult's recommended daily salt and 148% of their daily saturated fat allowance.

Doner fans might also be put off by the finding that 35% of the kebabs tested contained a different meat than that claimed on the label.

Even more worryingly, six were found to contain pork, two of which claimed they were Halal - permitted for Muslims to eat.

Councillor Geoffrey Theobald, chairman of Lacors, said, "We would never consider kebabs part of a calorie-controlled diet, but the level of saturated fat and salt in some is a serious cause for concern.

"The study shows that, even if there's a food label, it's not necessarily accurate. Even kebabs labelled as Halal had problems, with some found to contain pork. It is totally unacceptable that people that with certain faiths are unknowingly eating meats that are against their beliefs."

He added: "This study has turned the spotlight on doner kebabs and we hope that manufacturers rise to the challenge and work with councils to provide a healthier product that contains only what it says on the label."

The study sampled 494 kebabs from 76 councils and found that the calorie count varied up and down the country.

The average kebab in the North West of England contained 1,101 calories while in Scotland it was 1,084, in Wales 1,055 and 1,066 in south-west England.

The lowest calorie kebabs can be found in Northern Ireland where the snack weighed in at an average of 843.

Mr Theobald said: "This study has turned the spotlight on doner kebabs and we hope that manufacturers rise to the challenge and work with councils to provide a healthier product that contains only what it says on the label."

Scientists Prove that Islamic slaughter of Animals is healthier

Scientists Prove that Islamic slaughter of Animals is healthier
Taken from Darul Ihsan Islamic Services Centre, South Africa

The following is a summary of research done by Professor Schultz and his colleague Dr.Hazim of the Hanover University, Germany about the methods of animal slaughter and their merits.

The conclusion drawn was that:-Halaal slaughter is the humane method providing hygienic meat to the consumer.

Al Shaddad Bin Aous (Radhiyallaahu Anhu) has quoted this tradition of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) "Allah calls for mercy in everything, so be merciful when you kill and when you slaughter".

"Sharpen your blade to relieve its pain." Many allegations have been made that Islamic slaughter is not humane to animals. However, Professor Schultz and his colleague Dr. Hazim of the Hanover University,Germany, proved through an experiment, using an Electroencephalogram (EEG - An instrument that records the electrical activity of the brain) and Electrocardiogram (ECG - An instrument that records the electrical current generated by heartbeat) that:

1. Islamic slaughter is the humane method of slaughter; and,
2. Captive bolt stunning, practised by the western method, causes severe pain to the animal.

Experimental Details
Several electrodes were surgically implanted at various points on the skull of all animals, touching the surface of the brain. The animals were allowed to recover for several weeks. Some animals were slaughtered by making a swift, deep incision with a sharp knife on the neck cutting the jugular veins and carotid arteries of both sides; and also the trachea and oesophagus i.e. the Halaal method. Some animals were stunned using a captive bolt pistol slaughter by the western method. During the experiment, EEG and ECG were used on all animals to record the condition of the brain and heart during the course of slaughter and stunning.

Results and Discussion:

Halaal Method
The first three seconds from the time of Islamic slaughter as recorded on the EEG did not show any change from the graph before slaughter , thus indicating that the animal did not feel any pain during or immediately after the incision. For the following 3 seconds, the EEG recorded a condition of deep sleep -unconsciousness. This is due to a large quantity of blood gushing out from the body. After the above mentioned 6 seconds, the EEG recorded zero level, showing no feeling of pain at all. As the brain message (EEG)dropped to zero level, the heart was still pounding and the body convulsing vigorously (a reflex action of the spinal cord) driving maximum blood from the body, resulting in hygienic meat for the consumer.

Western method by Captive Bolt Stunning
Reference: http://www.grandin.com/humane/captive.bolt.html

The animals were apparently unconscious soon after stunning. EEG showed severe pain immediately after stunning. The hearts of the animal stunned by C.B.P. stopped beating as compared to those of the animals slaughtered according to the Halal method resulting in the retention of more blood in the meat. This in turn is unhygienic for the consumer.


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Useful Reading:

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (UK) - Animal welfare: Qurbani/Udhia