More than two-thirds of food retailers who were surveyed in and around Crawley High Street serve halal food, but several do not make it clear on their menus.
The Crawley News visited restaurants, takeaways and pubs in the High Street, Church Walk, Broadwalk and Ifield Road to ask whether the food they sell contains halal meat.
Of the 28 which were open when we visited on Monday of last week, just eight of these had no halal meat on their menus – with the remaining 20 offering some form of food that has been slaughtered in accordance with Islamic law.
Nine of those which do serve halal meat either had no mention of it on their menu, or it was not made clear.
Nationally there has been controversy over halal meat being sold without being labelled as such.
But Geoff Williamson, business liaison for Crawley and Gatwick Chamber of Commerce doesn’t believe that is an issue, because the method of slaughter is a religious issue and doesn’t make a difference to non-Muslims.
He said: “It’s only a small percentage of people who need to know about halal food and from a personal view I have never needed to know about it.
“I don’t think halal food is an issue for anyone non-Muslim, unless they have their own particular religious reasons for not eating certain foods.
“For the vast majority of people it’s not a problem. And those who need to know whether food is halal will ask businesses anyway, so I don’t think it’s an issue.”
Among those that offer halal meat are Pizza Express, Dragon Buffet and Troy Kebab House.
Those that offer no halal food included the Jubilee Oak pub, the White Hart Inn and KFC on Crawley High Street.
Debate has been sparked by national media as to whether or not the practice of halal slaughter is inhumane.
In preparing halal food an animal is killed with a cut to the jugular vein, carotid artery and windpipe. Animals must be alive and healthy at the time of slaughter and blood is drained from the carcass.
Nihat Koksal, owner of Troy Kebab House, said: “We serve halal food firstly as we are Muslim here and we eat halal. Secondly, our customers like it and find halal meat more hygienic.”
The 48-year-old added: “There’s a high Muslim population in Crawley and by serving halal we want to cater for all people; not just one type of person.
“We have always served halal food. We believe it’s healthier than food that isn’t halal.
“I don’t understand why people wouldn’t eat halal food. Some people who don’t like halal food, they might be holding something against the religion of Islam.”
Mr Koksal’s views are shared by Ehsan Ulhaq, who works at Oriental Emporium.
“We are one of the oldest butchers in Crawley; we have been here for 40 years with a mixed clientele,” said the 29-year-old.
“No one’s ever had an issue with halal food before and, at the end of the day, people have a choice.”
The other retailers we spoke to that do not serve halal food are Prezzo, The Old Punch Bowl pub, Chimichanga, Taormina and Gosto Fino.
Which restaurants serve halal meat
*Ask – some halal chicken options, such as pasta dishes – halal not clearly stated on menu
*Best Kebab – all meat halal – clearly labelled
*Blue India – all meat halal except duck – halal not clearly stated on menu
*Chimichanga – no halal food
*Cool Shades – all meat halal – clearly labelled
*Domino’s Pizza – some chicken is halal, such as tandoori and roast chicken, and chicken dippers side; other meat is non-halal – halal not clearly stated on menu
*Dragon Buffet – most meat halal; with non-halal options – clearly labelled
*Estrelicia – chicken is halal; beef and pork is non-halal – halal not clearly stated on menu
*Favourite Chicken – all meat halal – halal not clearly stated on menu
*Giggling Squid – chicken is halal; other meat may be non-halal (staff were unsure) – halal not clearly stated on menu
*Gosto Fino – no halal food
*KFC – no halal food
*Kismet Kebab – all meat halal – clearly labelled
*Mo Lin – chicken is halal; other meat non-halal
*Oriental Emporium – all meat halal – clearly labelled
*Pizza Express – chicken is halal; other meat is non-halal – halal not clearly stated on menu, but we were told “all meat is cooked together”
*Prezzo – no halal food
*Roosters Piri Piri – all meat halal – clearly labelled
*Saffron Lounge – all meat halal – halal not clearly stated on menu
*Spice World – all meat halal – clearly labelled
*Subway – no halal food
*Sultan – all meat halal – clearly labelled
*Taormina – no halal food
*The Jubilee Oak pub – no halal food
*The Old Punch Bowl pub – no halal food
*The White Hart Inn – no halal food
*Troy BBQ – all meat halal – clearly labelled
*Troy Kebab House – all meat halal – clearly labelled