What's the beef with Halal?

[anat0l]

Lowest common denominator versus the cost.

Not sure how much it costs proportionally to be Halal certified (or source from Halal certified sources), but Qantas have obviously decided in order to cater for the possibly new demographic and possibly in line with EK (no idea), they've gone for Halal, as from a utility point of view, it appeases a certain group, whilst the others are fairly unaffected (it's still dead, doesn't really matter how it was killed, most don't care.... notwithstanding the latest drum up on humane killing of animals).


I mean, Qantas could also put a lowest common denominator but announcing all meals from now on shall be vegan. After all, non-vegan people will have not much problem eating vegetables per se (especially if it is tasty ). But we all know that this particular parallel action will be unworkable.

For me (and I don't need any particular preparation methods - e.g. Halal, Kosher - and I eat meat and fish), I think this is yet another big non-issue. I can only see that people have an issue with Halal because it possibly employs inhumane methods of slaughter; I'm no authority on the subject so I'm not sure (and on top of that, there is not much separation of arguments between whether Halal is inhumane per se, versus is Halal methods in Australia inhumane as opposed to other countries (e.g. Indonesia, dare I say it...)).

I would've thought the crowd who are nut allergic would be rolling up a much larger argument float compared to the anti-Halal one. Especially because eating non-Halal food when you expect Halal can only offend you, but eating nuts (or even sniffing it, for some) when you're not supposed to can kill you!

I think one thing I've learned with this newest tie-up between QF and EK is that to the right people you can say no wrong, but to the wrong people you can say no right. Also, somehow QF has somehow become a carrier of a lot, lot, lot more moral and social obligation than I think is well beyond the role of any global citizen. Almost as if QF should have a seat at the United Nations...

 

[freepyjamas]

Don't care if it's kosher or halal or if they get Druids to prepare it. Do care if bacon and pork is off the menu.

 

[horseman]

There's mcdonalds restaurants all over the world, they seem to manage, just put a maccas on every flight!

 

[RooFlyer]

The Halal argument goes both ways.
Why won't "they" eat non halal - it's still food fit for human consumption isn't it?
Maybe some people just don't like the halal slaughter method.
Never known anybody to die because they ate halal.... or non halal for that matter.
No wonder there are wars people, we can't even see eye to eye on the food we consume.

Absolutely no problem for me in people eating or insisting on being served halal food. Or kosher. Or any other religious variant they could possibly wish for.

And they'll respect my choice for wishing for my diet not being directed by the religious dictates of others, won't they?

I mean, if I should consume some foodstuff on my flight to the Gulf that isn't halal, or kosher etc, no-one else will be affected will they? The world will keep turning? Just like it does when airlines from States whose societies generally shun alcohol, still serve alcohol on board?

No worries, eh?

 

[SQ421]

I mean, if I should consume some foodstuff on my flight to the Gulf that isn't halal, or kosher etc, no-one else will be affected will they? The world will keep turning?

Qantas won't be serving any non halal food on the four flights via DXB. Consistent with the current regulations, you should still be able to bring food on board and if you decide to bring bacon sandwich filled with bacon with bacon on the side, I doubt Qantas can prevent you per se. Qantas won't serve it. They aren't saying you can't have it.

The whole thing is such a non issue though. Even without a press release, was anyone going to presume that the food that QF picks up on the ex-DXB sectors would be anything but Halal? All the press release has done is given some absolute bigots a reason to channel their bigotry. And ignorance.

 

[ReLoad]

<redacted off-topic comments>

Halal or no Halal, at the end of the day it makes zero difference to me. What would be good to see is what Neil Perry thinks of it.

 

[whatmeworry]

Couple of possibilities:
1 is the certification process basically a religous tax.?
2. Is the mandated method of slaughter the best way?

I work in an industry that relies on the slaughter of cows for non human consumption purposes.

Your first point, to a certain extent yes. My rationale, is that the Islamic population only makes up about 2% of Australia yet many food manufacturers want that halal stamp for whatever reason and this would lift the price for others that do not require halal meat.

Secondly, the killing of animals by Islamic principles is not a clean process. As the death is not instantaneous by usual best practices, faecal matter can make its way into the blood stream. Their is a compromise but it is still not a great method. Just make sure if do buy halal meat to cook it well to kill any potential e.coli bacteria.

 

[ChasingDaylight]

Anecdotally, for those that don't like eating halal meat for whatever reason - avoid NZ meat in future. Most, if not all lamb/beef products exported from NZ slaughterhouses are halal certified (this isn't so much to pander to a minority, but good economic practice).

 

[Alanslegal]

I don't understand the one-time flyer who rants on social about the changes to any menu. And what's the big fuss about halal or non halal. Meat is meat in my world and as long as its cooked right, it should taste good. If they can't serve a nice steak or crispy pork belly, then they might as well serve me a bigger portion of that West Australian lobster. Oh wait I should stop dreaming about the pointy end of the plane and accept the realities of that Y meal. There's never a good meal in Y so give me anything, alive or dead, as its going to be pretty cough anyway

 

[RooFlyer]

Qantas won't be serving any non halal food on the four flights via DXB. Consistent with the current regulations, you should still be able to bring food on board and if you decide to bring bacon sandwich filled with bacon with bacon on the side, I doubt Qantas can prevent you per se. Qantas won't serve it. They aren't saying you can't have it.

The whole thing is such a non issue though. Even without a press release, was anyone going to presume that the food that QF picks up on the ex-DXB sectors would be anything but Halal? All the press release has done is given some absolute bigots a reason to channel their bigotry. And ignorance.

Well, to be picky, if I'm paying for J I'd kinda like QF to throw the meals into the deal. Would them serving me a bacon sanger somewhere over Alice Springs hurt anyone else?

Really?

 

[TheInsider]

Well, to be picky, if I'm paying for J I'd kinda like QF to throw the meals into the deal. Would them serving me a bacon sanger somewhere over Alice Springs hurt anyone else?

Really?

You're assuming that Bacon won't be served. I can't confirm or deny that this will be the case, but QF haven't taken alcohol off board at all, and Halal regulations forbid alcohol.

 

[SQ421]

Well, to be picky, if I'm paying for J I'd kinda like QF to throw the meals into the deal. Would them serving me a bacon sanger somewhere over Alice Springs hurt anyone else?

Really?

QF are throwing meals in the deal. And since QF has never had the option for pax to request exactly what they'd like to eat on board, QFs service delivery towards you hasn't changed an iota.

Theyve made a business decision to not serve a bacon sambo on those four routes. You are welcome to make a business decision to take your business elsewhere. Maybe if enough people do (and I suspect that wouldn't happen), Qantas will reasses the change.

 

[SQ421]

You're assuming that Bacon won't be served. I can't confirm or deny that this will be the case, but QF haven't taken alcohol off board at all, and Halal regulations forbid alcohol.

Both EY and EK serve alcohol. As does, IIRC, QR and GA.

 

[Alanslegal]

Well, to be picky, if I'm paying for J I'd kinda like QF to throw the meals into the deal. Would them serving me a bacon sanger somewhere over Alice Springs hurt anyone else?

When I pay for J or F I'd expect much much more than a bacon sanger - and I'm not a very picky kind of guy

I had a look at a trip review of an Emirates flight, below, and about a third way down you see a menu and it reads pretty impressive.

Bling it on: Emirates First Class London Heathrow to Dubai - One Mile at a Time

 

[Tristanm]

I think it's fine to have Halal options on the menu. A real shame to take pork, bacon etc off the menu completely though. Bacon is a staple breakfast food (mind you my cholesterol and waistline may thank them

 

[medhead]

Do they even slaughter pigs using Halal methods?

Just want to make sure we aren't confusing a prohibition on unclean animals with the method of killing with this question.

 

[ChasingDaylight]

I don't think they do - you have to be muslim to be a halal slaughterer / slaughterman and muslims are forbidden from coming into contact with pork/bacon etc (as far as my understanding of this topic goes).

 

[rotor]

I think the controversy is around Qantas being an Australian airline, and the expectation that it should reflect Australian values and culture.

 

[SQ421]

it should reflect Australian values and culture.

Define them for me, please. Enumerate.

 

[markis10]

You're assuming that Bacon won't be served. I can't confirm or deny that this will be the case, but QF haven't taken alcohol off board at all, and Halal regulations forbid alcohol.

Any pork products will not be served on the DXB run, note bacon is a meat style, not always a pork product. Halal also forbids food preparation where alcohol and blood are used, not what is consumed with the meal, so alcohol is not an issue, I enjoyed it at lunch today in Dubai.