Scottish Conservative group leader at Highland Council Ruraidh Stewart.
Highland Council is being called on to provide clear labelling of halal and kosher meat being used in the region’s schools.
It is being claimed that the local authority currently serves turkey that the council knows is halal meat but does not label it as such.
The two councillors who have lodged a motion at full council have said they do not know if or what else is halal but not sold to the authority as such.
Leader of the Scottish Conservative Group in the council Ruraidh Stewart is behind the motion which is being seconded by fellow party councillor Isabelle MacKenzie.
It states: “The council believes that children and parents should have a clear and informed choice about the food they eat, particularly where meat is sourced from animals slaughtered without stunning under a derogation from animal-welfare requirements.”
As well as clear labelling, they want suppliers to clearly declare such information at the point of procurement so ‘the council can make informed purchasing decisions and provide accurate information to consumers’.
Council officials have stated in response: “The council’s catering service has one current core supplier of all meat products, with the only exception being a small supply of venison via local deer larders.
“The current core meat supplier does label halal marketed products and has advised that ‘all our halal meats have been prestunned and compliant in the UK and EU’.
“The catering service has in place specific meal plans for particular diets and identify halal marketed meat through those specific meal plans. The current meat supplier does not offer Kosher products.”
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