What's the beef with Halal?

[harvyk]

I'm very disappointed in how few people seem to care how their meat is killed. Although it wasn't about halal slaughter I challenge anyone to watch the 4 corners program from 2 years ago about cattle exported to Indonesia and be able to look at a raw steak the same way. I've rarely eaten meat since.

That's the thing, most people don't really care how their meat is slaughtered or their food is sourced. If they really did then we would no longer see cage eggs for sale at the local supermarket. The reason why most people don't care is because when I see a piece of meat for sale at the butcher, I think how tasty it will be for dinner, not what the animal went through to go from birth to that piece of meat sitting on my plate.

When I've eaten halal, I've been relatively unaware that I've been doing so (except the certificate which some restaurants / food court outlets have on the wall). I have not noticed a taste difference and I have noticed even people I know who have racist undertones running through them to be relatively unconcerned about eating halal. So for QF I see this as a good way of expanding into the middle east market, without really upsetting people, who apart from the lack of a pork dish on their flight, would be otherwise unaware that they are eating halal food.

As has been said, if people are upset by it, I'm sure that with a bit of research they can find airlines which fit their own ethical / religious needs which will take them from AU to UK. However I personally see the whole hysteria around QF going via DXB to be just that, a chance for newspapers to make issues out of things which people just wouldn't have otherwise thought / cared about.

 

[harvyk]

I think to say that you are being forced to eat Halal meals because a small % of people want halal turns it around the wrong way. You are unaffected by eating halal meals and someone else is getting the opportunity to enjoy the whole menu option.

Couldn't agree more... Every time I've eaten halal the only reason I've known it is because of the certificate which is usually placed on the wall of the restaurant / shop, not because of the taste.

 

[simongr]

My bigger issue with the catering on QF is the "Asian" influence and Neil Perry's choices generally. Checkout the J menu:

S M A L L P L AT E S
Cream of Broccoli Soup with Croutons
Roast Beetroot Salad with Goats Curd, Rocket, Peas, Toasted Almonds and Balsamic Vinaigrette
Fish Cakes with Nuoc Cham (asian)
Wok Fried Mushrooms with Tofu, White Noodles and Chilli (asian)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
M A I N P L AT E S
Big bowl of Celeriac and Farro Soup - not sure how farro (wheat) features in this soup
Lasagna of Roasted Pumpkin and Spinach with Tomato Sauce (this means 2 / 5 of the options for main are vegetarian)
Chicken Schnitzel and Swiss Cheese Toasted Sandwich with Coleslaw (sandwich - seriously?)
Pan Fried Blue Eye Fillet with Black Bean and Chilli, Fragrant Rice and Gai Lan (asian)
Cassoulet of Murraylands Lamb Fillet with White Beans - beans should stay in a tin where they belong

 

[burmans]

I think we need to distinguish between poor abattoir management processes and Halal slaughter.

Agree totally, have had friends in the past who have worked in abattoirs and who have had horror stories, this is quite different to Halal practices. But equally not all abbatoirs have the same practices anymore than the egg laying management practices are the same for all egg farms.

 

[burmans]

My bigger issue with the catering on QF is the "Asian" influence and Neil Perry's choices generally. Checkout the J menu:

S M A L L P L AT E S
Cream of Broccoli Soup with Croutons
Roast Beetroot Salad with Goats Curd, Rocket, Peas, Toasted Almonds and Balsamic Vinaigrette
Fish Cakes with Nuoc Cham (asian)
Wok Fried Mushrooms with Tofu, White Noodles and Chilli (asian)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
M A I N P L AT E S
Big bowl of Celeriac and Farro Soup - not sure how farro (wheat) features in this soup
Lasagna of Roasted Pumpkin and Spinach with Tomato Sauce (this means 2 / 5 of the options for main are vegetarian)
Chicken Schnitzel and Swiss Cheese Toasted Sandwich with Coleslaw (sandwich - seriously?)
Pan Fried Blue Eye Fillet with Black Bean and Chilli, Fragrant Rice and Gai Lan (asian)
Cassoulet of Murraylands Lamb Fillet with White Beans - beans should stay in a tin where they belong

You have an issue with 33% of the meals being asian? I don't know where you live but where I live in most of the eating areas (and there are many) within 10-15km Asian eateries make up a lot more that 1/3 of the total, probably more than 50% actually. And no, I don't live in an ethnic area, probably one of the more "traditional" areas of Sydney, the North Shore. To me this just reflects the average Australian diet these days.

 

[lovestotravel]

Halal slaughter is generally more cruel than the more "western" slaughter methods

That I have an issue with

 

[simongr]

You have an issue with 33% of the meals being asian? I don't know where you live but where I live in most of the eating areas (and there are many) within 10-15km Asian eateries make up a lot more that 1/3 of the total, probabbly more than 50% actually. And no, I don't live in an ethnic area, probably one of the more "traditional" areas of Sydney, the North Shore. To me this just reflects the average Australian diet these days.

I am not that far from you so it is not asian per se but the fact that there is always a substantial proportion of Asian meals and this pushes you (I personally can not tolerate chilli) to the small number of other dishes. My diet at home is mostly italian/french - I dine out at Chinese and Indian restaurants regularly.

So in the above menu for entree knock out the fish cakes and tofu and my choices in J are not a choice of four dishes including one meat dish but in fact a choice between broccoli soup and beetroot salad (I would probably end up having the fish cakes).

Then for main (if we take out soup as a main course option) I have vegetarian lasagne (yes I like Italian food but not vegetarian lasagne), a sandwich, I wouldnt have the fish due to the chilli and then you have a nice piece of lamb ruined by legumes.

All he had to do was serve the sandwich with a dose of olives and I would be fairly hungry.

As much as I enjoy flying QFi (now given the dramatic service improvement I have experienced) - the food puts me off. This particular menu fills me with dread for my upcoming flights...

 

[medhead]

Halal slaughter is generally more cruel than the more "western" slaughter methods

That I have an issue with

Actually the jury is out. There is research that suggests not painful and other research saying is painful. Apparently based on ECG measurements with a quick sharp cut thought to give no time to be aware of what's happening. Then apparently there is research that shows great brain activity after stunning - the supposed humane solution. Anyway, it doesn't seem possible to make such a bold statement.

 

[lovestotravel]

Actually the jury is out. There is research that suggests not painful and other research saying is painful. Apparently based on ECG measurements with a quick sharp cut thought to give no time to be aware of what's happening. Then apparently there is research that shows great brain activity after stunning - the supposed humane solution. Anyway, it doesn't seem possible to make such a bold statement.

Well I am making it

So it's possible and it seems that Halal slaughter is more "cruel"

 

[medhead]

Well I am making it

So it's possible and it seems that Halal slaughter is more "cruel"

Fair enough. Unfortunately, your assessment isn't entirely supported by the research in the area. Just saying

 

[The Rok]

I really fail to see why Qantas couldn't just offer two choices on all DXB flights, one Halal and one non Halal.

Surely that would please both sides of the argument, or have I over simplified it??

 

[Mal]

I really fail to see why Qantas couldn't just offer two choices on all DXB flights, one Halal and one non Halal.

Besides having pork products on the menu (and certain additives etc) - there is no (actual food wise) difference between a halal menu and a non-halal menu. So apart from satisfying those who have an ethical issue with halal foods, what would this achieve (PS - they would actually probably be both halal anyway as they come from the same catering area, just one would be labelled differently)

There is also the possibility of cross-contamination between the products.

 

[lovestotravel]

Fair enough. Unfortunately, your assessment isn't entirely supported by the research in the area. Just saying

Goes both ways!

 

[medhead]

Goes both ways!

Indeed. But only one of us is making a definitive statement about it.

 

[burmans]

Fair enough. Unfortunately, your assessment isn't entirely supported by the research in the area. Just saying

I have no dog in this particular fight but I have to agree that I'd rather put weight on research over lovestotravel "it seems that". No wonder politicians get away with lying when evidence and facts have no place in our decision making.

 

[lovestotravel]

I have no dog in this particular fight but I have to agree that I'd rather put weight on research over lovestotravel "it seems that". No wonder politicians get away with lying when evidence and facts have no place in our decision making.

Very cool story, but my research has indicated that halal slaughter is more brutal and inhumane than traditional methods

Again two sides to the argument, feel free to stay on the other side of the fence

 

[medhead]

Very cool story, but my research has indicated that halal slaughter is more brutal and inhumane than traditional methods

Again two sides to the argument, feel free to stay on the other side of the fence

See there's the difference. You are making a definitive conclusion without considering all research. Whereas I'm saying the research, all research on the subject, is inconclusive and hence I don't know. I accept your opinion unfortunately it is based on only one side of the story. Hence I am unable to agree with your definitive statement.

 

[lovestotravel]

See there's the difference. You are making a definitive conclusion without considering all research. Whereas I'm saying the research, all research on the subject, is inconclusive and hence I don't know. I accept your opinion unfortunately it is based on only one side of the story.

Well yes we are on different sides and it all depends what you want to believe/read/research, no doubt we could post endless articles/links/research and be assured that each of us is correct...

That being said I have no issue with Halal service on QF it won't stop me eating/flying/booking with QF which was the main question here.

It QF moving to Halal keeps a % of their "new" customer base happy and doesn't really change anything for the rest of the customers flying with Q then there is no issue.

I won't go out of my way to purchase Halal products as I do believe it's a more inhumane way to slaughter the animal.

That being said, slaughterhouses anyway you look at them are a disgusting but necessary evil of the lifestyle that we live. I do what I can by purchasing free-range and organic products and hope/believe that they really are free-range and organic but at the end of the day the animals are still slaughtered and then chopped up for human consumption.

I can be relatively happy in the belief that the xx months that the animal has lived was in a relatively stress-free environment before it's time before the knife!

 

[haggiscat]

Would a special request option for "Non-Halal" appease the punters?

Ask the Australian/Israeli customers who can't transit outside the airport in Dubai.

 

[oz_mark]

For me the bigger issue is the lack of bacon or pork product and I think they could have offered a pork meal on the flight,

Outside a bacon rasher for breakfast, how often do you get a pork option now?