Is Shazans Halal?
It depends on where you bought it.
Shazans, the UK Halal meat and poultry brand, sets out its standard on its own Halal policy page.
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors · CC BY-SA 3.0
How to verify
- Shazans' meat and poultry are hand-slaughtered by a Muslim with the tasmiyah.
- Certification: HFA or an equivalent body, on site.
- The animals are stunned and alive at slaughter.
- If you only accept unstunned meat, choose a brand that says so.
Quick checks
- Hand-slaughtered by a Muslim.
- HFA or equivalent certification.
- Animals are stunned.
What decides the answer
-
You accept stunned Halal meat
Shazans meets its stated standard -
You only eat meat from unstunned animals
Shazans says its animals are stunned -
Look for the HFA logo on HFA-approved Shazans products
Why this ruling
Shazans is a UK brand of Halal meat and poultry sold in supermarkets, from fresh chicken and lamb to burgers, sausages and frozen foods. It publishes a Halal policy that says exactly how its meat is slaughtered.
How Shazans says it slaughters
Its Halal policy says every animal is alive and healthy at slaughter, that slaughtering is done by hand by a Muslim with a swift cut to the throat while reciting the tasmiyah, and that the blood is fully drained.[1] Its FAQ adds that it uses the HFA or an equivalent certification body working to the British Halal Charter, with staff on site supervising production from start to finish.[2] HFA-approved Shazans products carry the HFA logo; the pack pictured has a Halal roundel on the front.[3]
Stunning
The policy is also clear that the animal "is stunned and alive at time of slaughter".[1] That is the one point on which Muslims differ. If you accept stunned Halal meat, Shazans meets its stated standard. If you only eat meat from animals slaughtered without stunning, Shazans does not, and you will need a brand or butcher that says its meat is unstunned.
For the wider question, see Chicken and UK supermarket meat.
Where you'll find it
- Fresh chicken, lamb and beef in UK supermarkets
- Burgers, sausages and frozen products
Frequently asked questions
Is Shazans chicken Halal?
Is Shazans meat stunned?
Who certifies Shazans?
Scholarly view
Shazans meets the core conditions most Muslims look for: a Muslim slaughterman, cutting by hand, saying Allah's name, with the animal alive and the blood drained. The open point is stunning. Shazans says its animals are stunned before the cut and still alive when slaughtered.
Some Muslims and certifiers accept that; others accept only meat from unstunned animals. Which group you are in decides the answer.
Sources
Named Islamic, certifier, manufacturer, and regulatory sources used on this page. Inline markers like [1] jump here. Retrieval dates show when we last checked the live URL. Editorial methodology.
Manufacturer / product
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Shazans Retrieved
'All animals are to be alive & healthy at the point of slaughter. All slaughtering is to be carried out by hand, by a Muslim. The animals are slaughtered with a swift incision to the throat from a razor sharp blade while reciting the Tasmiyah.' 'Shazans (animal is stunned and alive at time of slaughter). This is independently certified/supervised by HFA or other equivalent certification body.' 'All Shazans Brand products approved by the Halal Food Authority (HFA) carry the HFA Logo.'
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FAQ's — What Halal accreditation do you use?
Shazans Retrieved
'We work with & use HFA or equivalent certification body who's standards operate to the British Halal Charter. They are on site supervising and monitoring production from start to finish.' Lamb and poultry are 100% British; beef is Irish.
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Shazans Diced Chicken Breast, 450 g (barcode 5016901002734)
Open Food Facts Retrieved
Front-of-pack photo: Shazans diced chicken breast, UK origin, with a Halal roundel.
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