Jhatka slaughter is a religious method of slaughter associated with Sikh tradition. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has included Jhatka within its work concerning religious slaughter.

I am starting this petition because I do not want Jhatka slaughter to become established or expanded in the UK. Regardless of whether stunning is used, I believe animals in the UK should be slaughtered using standard welfare-led slaughter procedures rather than methods prescribed by religious practice.

There is also an important issue of transparency. If meat produced using Jhatka slaughter entered the wider food chain, consumers might not necessarily know how the animal had been slaughtered unless clear labelling or traceability requirements ensured that information was provided.

Consumers should be able to make informed choices about the meat they buy and eat, including people who wish to avoid meat produced according to a religious slaughter method.

I am therefore calling on the UK Government to prevent Jhatka slaughter from becoming established in the UK and to ensure that animal-welfare standards and clear consumer information come before religious slaughter requirements.

Please sign and share this petition if you support this call.