Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-jr42d Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-19T00:30:24.443Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The brain, unconsciousness and death: a critical appraisal with regard to halal meat production

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

A Fuseini
A Fuseini*
Affiliation:
University of Bristol, School of Veterinary Science, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK; email: awalfus@yahoo.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Muslims derive their dietary laws from the Quran (Islamic Holy Book) and other Islamic scriptures. These religious scriptures prohibit them from consuming meat from animals that die before they are bled-out. Some Muslim authorities have interpreted this to mean that, in addition to the animal being alive, it must also be conscious prior to neck-cutting. This has led to a section of the Muslim community rejecting pre-slaughter stunning for halal meat production with the belief that all forms of stunning lead to instantaneous death. It must be noted that some jurists have debunked claims that animals must be conscious before they are bled-out because it does not appear to be mentioned anywhere in the scriptures. This paper reviews literature on the role of the brain in the control of conscious perception and death and considers the different scholarly definitions of death and how they impact the interpretation of halal slaughter rules and the impact on animal welfare.

Keywords

animal welfarebleeding-outconsciousnessdeathhalal slaughterunconsciousness
Type
Articles
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 28 , Issue 2 , May 2019 , pp. 165 - 171
Copyright
© 2019 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anil, H 2012 Effects of slaughter method on carcass and meat char-acteristics in the meat of cattle and sheep. EBLEX: Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, UKGoogle Scholar
Anil, MH, Raj, ABM and McKinstry, JL 2000 Evaluation of elec-trical stunning in commercial rabbits: effect on brain function. Meat Science 54: 217–220. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0309-1740(99)00082-0CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anil, MH, Yesildere, T, Aksu, H, Matur, E, McKinstry, JL, Weaver, HR, Erdogan, O, Hughes, S and Mason, C 2006 Comparison of halal slaughter with captive bolt stunning and neck cutting in cattle: Exsanguination and quality parameters. Animal Welfare 15: 325–330Google Scholar
Berg, AE, Bøtner, CA, Browman, H, Capua, I, de Koeijer, A, Depner, K, Domingo, M, Edwards, S, Fourichon, C, Konenen, F, More, S, Raj, M, Sihvonen, L, Spoolder, H, Stegeman, JA, Thulke, HH, Vågsholm, I, Velarde, A, Willeberg, P and Zientara, S 2013a Scientific Opinion on monitoring procedures at slaughterhouses for poultry. EFSA Journal 11(12): 3521Google Scholar
Berg, AE, Bøtner, CA, Browman, H, Capua, I, de Koeijer, A, Depner, K, Domingo, M, Edwards, S, Fourichon, C, Konenen, F, More, S, Raj, M, Sihvonen, L, Spoolder, H, Stegeman, JA, Thulke, HH, Vågsholm, I, Velarde, A, Willeberg, P and Zientara, S 2013b Scientific Opinion on mon-itoring procedures at slaughterhouses for bovines. EFSA Journal 11(12): 3460Google Scholar
Berg, C and Jakobsson, T 2007 Post-cut stunning at religious slaughter. Svensk Veterinartidning 59: 21–28Google Scholar
Blyth, BJ and Bazarian, JJ 2010 Traumatic alterations in conscious-ness: traumatic brain injury. Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America 28: 571–594. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emc.2010.03.003CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cook, CJ, Devine, CE, Gilbert, KV, Smith, DD and Maasland, SA 1995 The effect of electrical head-only stun duration on elec-troencephalographic-measured seizures and brain amino acid neurotransmitter release. Meat Science 40: 137–147. https://doi.org/10.1016/0309-1740(94)00043-7CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Daly, CC and Whittington, PE 1989 Investigation into the prin-cipal determinants of effective captive bolt stunning of sheep. Research in Veterinary Science 46(3): 406–408. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0034-5288(18)31189-5CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
EBLEX 2010 Report on the Halal meat market: Specialist supply chain structures and consumer purchase and consumption profiles in England by the English Beef & Lamb Executive. http://www.qsmbeefand-lamb.co.uk/halalGoogle Scholar
Esposito, J 2015 Ijtihad. The Islamic World: Past and Present. Oxford University Press: Oxford, UKGoogle Scholar
Farouk, MM, Al-Mazeedi, HM, Sabow, AB, Bekhit, AED, Adeyemi, KD, Sazili, AQ and Ghani, A 2014 Halal and kosher slaughter methods and meat quality: A review. Meat Science 98:505–519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2014.05.021CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Farouk, MM, Pufpaff, KM and Amir, M 2016 Industrial halal meat production and animal welfare: A review. Meat Science 120:60–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2016.04.023CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fischl, B, Kouwe, A, Destrieux, C, Halgren, E, Se?gonne, F, Salat, DH, Busa, E, Seidman, LJ, Goldstein, J, Kennedy, D, Caviness, V, Makris, N, Rosen, B and Dale, AM 2004 Automatically parcellating the human cerebral cortex. Cerebral Cortex 14: 11–22CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
FSA (Food Standards Agency) 2012 FSA Animal Welfare Survey in Great Britain. http://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/multimedia/pdfs/board/fsa120508.pdfGoogle Scholar
FSA (Food Standards Agency) 2015 FSA Animal Welfare Survey in Great Britain. http://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2013-ani-mal-welfaresurvey.pdfGoogle Scholar
Fuseini, A 2017 Halal food certification in the UK and its impact on food businesses: a review in the context of the European Union. CAB Reviews 12: 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1079/PAVSNNR201712007Google Scholar
Fuseini, A, Knowles, TG, Hadley, PJ and Wotton, SB 2016b Halal stunning and slaughter: Criteria for the assessment of dead animals. Meat Science 119: 132–137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2016.04.033CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fuseini, A, Knowles, TG, Lines, JA, Hadley, PJ and Wotton, SB 2016a The stunning and slaughter of cattle within the EU: a review of the current situation with regard to the halal market. Animal Welfare 25: 365–376. https://doi.org/10.7120/09627286.25.3.365CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fuseini, A, Teye, M, Wotton, SB, Lines, JA and Knowles, TG 2018 Electrical water bath stunning for Halal poultry meat pro-duction: Animal welfare issues and compatibility with the Halal rules. CAB Reviews 13: 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1079/PAVSNNR201813016Google Scholar
Fuseini, A, Wotton, SB, Hadley, PJ and Knowles, TG 2017a The compatibility of modern slaughter techniques with halal slaughter: a review of the aspects of ‘modern’ slaughter methods that divide scholarly opinion within the Muslim community. Animal Welfare 26: 301–310. https://doi.org/10.7120/09627286.26.3.301CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fuseini, A, Wotton, SB, Hadley, PJ and Knowles, TG 2017b The perception and acceptability of pre-slaughter and post-slaugh-ter stunning for Halal production: The views of UK Islamic schol-ars and Halal consumers. Meat Science 123: 143–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2016.09.013Google Scholar
Fuxe, K and Agnati, LF 1991 Volume transmission in the brain: Novel mechanisms for neural transmission. Raven Press: New York, USAGoogle Scholar
Gibson, T, Johnson, CB, Murrell, JC, Hulls, CM, Mitchinson, SL and Stafford, KJ 2009 Electroencephalographic responses of halothane-anaesthesised calves to slaughter by ventral neck incision without prior stunning. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 57(2): 77–83. https://doi.org/10.1080/004801 69.2009.36882CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gibson, TJ, Ridler, AL, Lamb, CR, Williams, A, Giles, S and Gregory, NG 2012 Preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of captive-bolt guns as a killing method without exsanguination for horned and unhorned sheep. Animal Welfare 21(S2): 35–42CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gibson, TJ, Whitehead, C, Taylor, R, Sykes, O, Chancellor, NM and Limon, G 2015 Pathophysiology of penetrating captive bolt stunning in Alpacas (Vicugna pacos). Meat Science 100: 227–231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2014.10.022CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grandin, T 2015 Questions about death of the animal when differ-ent stunning methods are used before Halal or Kosher Slaughter. http://www.grandin.com/ritual/questions.diff.stun.methods.htmlGoogle Scholar
Grandin, T and Regenstein, JM 1994 Religious slaughter and animal welfare: A discussion for meat scientists. Meat Focus International 3: 115–123Google Scholar
Gregory, NG 2005 Recent concerns about stunning and slaugh-ter. Meat Science 70(3): 481–491. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2004.06.026Google Scholar
Gregory, NG, Fielding, HR, von Wenzlawowicz, M and von Hollenben, K 2010 Time to collapse following slaughter without stunning in cattle. Meat Science 85: 66–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2009.12.005Google ScholarPubMed
Gregory, NG, von Wenzlawowicz, M, Alam, RM, Anil, HM, Yesildere, T and Silva-Fletcher, A 2008 False aneurysms in carotid arteries of cattle and water buffalo during shechita and halal slaughter. Meat Science 79: 285–288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2007.09.012CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Halal Food Authority 2014 Halal Standard, Revised, 2014. HFA: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Hussaini, MM and Sakr, AH 1983 Islamic Dietary Concepts and Practices. The Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America: Chicago, IL, USAGoogle Scholar
Jerlstrom, J 2014 When and what determines the death of an ani-mal? A study investigating the heart activity during slaughter of farm animals. Animal Science Degree Project, Animal Science. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/6868/1/Jerlstrom_J_140617.pdfGoogle Scholar
Kam, P and Power, I 2012 Principles of Physiology for the Anaesthetist, Second Edition. Ashford Colour Press Ltd: Gosport, UKCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kamali, MH 2008 Halal industry within Islamic principles. A shar-i’ah perspective on halal and haram. Part 2 Revisiting the grey area. The Halal Journal 40: 36–38Google Scholar
Lambooij, E 1994 Electrical stunning by direct brain stimulation in pigs. Meat Science 38: 433–441. https://doi.org/10.1016/0309-1740(94)90069-8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Laureys, S 2005 Death, unconsciousness and the brain. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 6: 899–909. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn1789CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
MS1500 Malaysian Standard 2009 Halal food-production, prepa-ration, handling and storage-General guidelines pp 1–13. Department of Standards Malaysia: MalaysiaGoogle Scholar
MUI HAS 23103 Indonesian Standard 2012 Guidelines of Halal assurance system criteria on slaughterhouses. LPPOM MUI: Majelis Ulama, IndonesiaGoogle Scholar
Nakyinsige, K, Che Man, YB and Sazili, AQ 2012 Halal authenticity issues in meat and meat products. Meat Science 91:207–214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2012.02.015CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Orban, JC, Ferret, E, Jambou, P and Ichai, C 2015 Confirmation of brain death diagnosis: a study on French practice. Anaesthesia Critical Care & Pain Medicine 34: 145–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accpm.2014.09.003CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pernick, MS 1988 Back from the grave: recurring controversies over defining and diagnosing death in history. Death Beyond Whole-Brain Criteria 31: 17–74. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2707-0_2CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Plum, F and Posner, JB 1972 The Diagnosis of Stupor and Coma, Edition 2: Contemporary Neurology Series. FA Davis: Philadelphia, USAGoogle Scholar
Raj, ABM 2003 A critical appraisal of electrical stunning in chick-ens. World's Poultry Science Association 59: 89–98. https://doi.org/10.1079/WPS20030005Google Scholar
Regenstein, JM, Chaudry, MM and Regenstein, CE 2003 The kosher and halal food laws: Comprehensive Review in Food Science and Food Safety 2: 111–127. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-4337.2003.tb00018.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Revonsuo, M and Kamppinen, M 1994 Consciousness in Philosophy and Cognitive Neuroscience. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Inc Publishers: New Jersey, USAGoogle Scholar
Robins, A, Pleiter, H, Latter, M and Phillips, CJC 2014 The efficacy of pulsed ultra-high current for the stunning of cattle prior to slaughter. Meat Science 96: 1201–1209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2013.10.030CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rosen, SD 2004 Physiological insights into Shechita. The Veterinary Record 154: 759–765. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.154.24.759CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Saposnik, G, Basile, VS and Young, GB 2009 Movements in brain death: A systematic review. The Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences 36: 154–160. https://doi.org/10.1017/S031716710000651XCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Terlouw, C, Bourguet, C and Deiss, V 2016 Consciousness, unconsciousness and death in the context of slaughter. Part I Neurobiological mechanisms underlying stunning and killing. Meat Science 118: 133–146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2016.03.011CrossRefGoogle Scholar
UK Conference of Medical Royal Colleges and their Faculties 1976 Diagnosis of brain death. British Medical Journal 2: 1187–1188Google Scholar
Wertheimer, P, Jouvet, M and Descotes, JA 1959 A propos du diagnostic de la mort du système nerveux dans les comas avec arrêt respiratoire traités par respiration artificielle. Press Medical 67: 87–88. [Title translation: About the diagnosis of death of the nervous system in comas with respiratory arrest treated by artificial respiration]Google Scholar
Wijdicks, EFM 2002 Brain death worldwide. Accepted fact but no global concensus in diagnostic criteria. Neurology 58: 20–26. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.58.1.20CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wijdicks, EFM 2010 The case against confirmatory tests for determining brain death in adults. Neurology 75: 77–83. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0b013e3181e62194CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wotton, SB, Gregory, NG, Whittington, PE and Parkman, ID 2000 Electrical stunning of cattle. Veterinary Record 147: 681–684Google ScholarPubMed
Wotton, SB, Zhang, X, McKinstry, JL, Velarde, A and Knowles, TG 2014 The effect of the required current/frequency combinations (EC 1099/2009) on the incidence of cardiac arrest in broilers stunned and slaughtered for the halal market. Peer J Preprints. https://doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.255v1.suitCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yaqoob, A 2010 Ma’ayee AlHalal Wal Haram. HATTI: Jakarta, IndonesiaGoogle Scholar
Zivotofsky, AZ and Strous, RD 2012 A perspective on the electrical stunning of animals: Are there lessons to be learned from human electro-convulsive therapy (ECT)? Meat Science 90:956–961. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2011.11.039CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed