Halal meat row: myths and reality of religious slaughter As Pizza Express is criticised for serving halal chicken in its restaurants, the Telegraph sets out the rules around religious slaughter and the moves afoot to introduce clearer labelling
Under both the Muslim method of slaughter, known as Zabiha, and the Jewish practice, known as Shechita, a surgically sharp instrument is used to cut straight through an animal's throat, windpipe and the blood vessels in its neck killing it instantly.
Under Islamic rules animals can be stunned before the procedure. The vast majority of halal meat comes from animals that were pre-stunned.