[bbfan1991]

The Ministry of Justice is to suspend a firm supplying meat to prisons after tests found that it may have provided pies and pasties described as Halal - but with traces of pork DNA.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said the "local authority" involved was investigating, while the MoJ said the products have been withdrawn.

Justice minister Jeremy Wright said the incident was "absolutely unacceptable".

Under Islamic law, Muslims are strictly forbidden to eat pork.

In a statement, Mr Wright said the Prison Service was investigating the incident "as a matter of urgency".

He added: "This is an absolutely unacceptable situation and one which we regret greatly.

"Clearly this must be distressing for those affected and they can be reassured we are doing everything we can to resolve the situation."

'Immediate steps'

The MoJ said it commissioned tests after the "recent high profile incidents" in which beefburgers sold by some supermarket chains were found to contain horsemeat.

It said the results of the tests, undertaken by an independent agency, became known on Thursday.

A spokesman said: "All prisons have been informed about this very regrettable incident and we reported this issue to the Food Standards Agency immediately.

"We are taking immediate steps to suspend the contract with the relevant sub-contractor."

A spokeswoman for the FSA said it was "informed" that a number of meat pies and pasties supplied to UK prisons - labelled and served as Halal - could have contained traces of pork DNA.

She said: "The local authority is investigating how this contamination came about and whether these products have been distributed further across the UK."

She added that the supplier and the local authority were based in the same area, but declined to say where.

Under Islamic law, the eating of pork is strictly prohibited for Muslims, as is the consumption of meat which has not been slaughtered in the correct way.

Halal meat is defined as meat slaughtered by hand and blessed by the person doing the killing, however some Muslims believe a mechanised form is also now acceptable.

Food and farming minister David Heath said people "have a right to expect that the food they are eating is correctly described".

He insisted: "I have made it clear that I want an urgent meeting with major retailers and suppliers first thing next week to get to the bottom of this completely unacceptable situation."

Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust charity, said: "This lapse will have offended and distressed high numbers of Muslim prisoners and their families so apologising, suspending the supplier and investigating the incident are the right steps for the Ministry of Justice to take."

[Mrluvaluva]

Should feel lucky they are getting fed.

[Niamh.]

It's not something I'd lose sleep over tbh

[rk3388]

Originally Posted by Mrluvaluva

Should feel lucky they are getting fed.

(x2)
If this was in a restaurant of some sort or grocery store then it would be considered unacceptable

[Amy Jade]

If they've committed crimes resulting in prison they don't deserve the choice in my opinion.

So long as they're not allergic and the meat is not unhealthy then I don't see the problem.

[Amy Jade]

If they've committed crimes resulting in prison they don't deserve the choice in my opinion.

So long as they're not allergic and the meat is not unhealthy then I don't see the problem.

[Livia]

I think it's outrageous, whether or not they're in prison.

[MTVN]

Just because they're in prison doesn't mean it's fine to misleadingly serve them food which goes against their religion without their knowledge

[bbfan1991]

Originally Posted by MTVN

Just because they're in prison doesn't mean it's fine to misleadingly serve them food which goes against their religion without their knowledge

Exactly.

[Ramsay]

yum yum

[GypsyGoth]

The prisoners could have found it funny, they might have thought it was Halalrious.

[Ninastar]

oh claudia...

[GypsyGoth]

[Shasown]

Originally Posted by MTVN

Just because they're in prison doesn't mean it's fine to misleadingly serve them food which goes against their religion without their knowledge

Very true.

Just makes you think of who is punishing the prisoners, some dodgy meat supplier or a Halal butcher with a grouse against prisoners.

[Ramsay]

Originally Posted by GypsyGoth

The prisoners could have found it funny, they might have thought it was Halalrious.

[Nedusa]

It's the same meat whether its Halal or not. The only diff with Halal meat is that the animal from which the meat came from was executed without any form of stunning so that it could feel the full pain of its death. But it does get a blessing as its life blood flows out so at least that's something.

There is an ongoing debate at present as to the humane methods of slaughtering cattle versus more traditional throat slitting religious methods. You might argue since these people have broken the law and are in prison part of their punishment should be they have to forgo some of their religious demands.

[Mrluvaluva]

Originally Posted by MTVN

Just because they're in prison doesn't mean it's fine to misleadingly serve them food which goes against their religion without their knowledge

I could not care less about their human rights tbh.

[MTVN]

Originally Posted by Mrluvaluva

I could not care less about their human rights tbh.

Even so, it's one thing to not want to give them a choice, but to offer food meat specifically described as halal when it wasn't is still unacceptable

[Kazanne]

Must be awful for them to be a 'victim' !

[Mrluvaluva]

Trying to give a sh.it......No. Still don't give one.

[arista]

Originally Posted by Nedusa

It's the same meat whether its Halal or not. The only diff with Halal meat is that the animal from which the meat came from was executed without any form of stunning so that it could feel the full pain of its death. But it does get a blessing as its life blood flows out so at least that's something.

There is an ongoing debate at present as to the humane methods of slaughtering cattle versus more traditional throat slitting religious methods. You might argue since these people have broken the law and are in prison part of their punishment should be they have to forgo some of their religious demands.

Yes but it upsets them as their (fake) God is Angry

[AnnieK]

Originally Posted by Livia

I think it's outrageous, whether or not they're in prison.

Agreed....

[Munchkins]

Wow that's disgraceful, whether they are in prison or not they were under the pretense that the meat they were being served was in line with their religion when it wasn't..

[InOne]

Some prisoners may have been offended on Religious grounds, oh dear

God isn't going to get you out of jail wankers.

[Me. I Am Salman]

Originally Posted by Nedusa

It's the same meat whether its Halal or not. The only diff with Halal meat is that the animal from which the meat came from was executed without any form of stunning so that it could feel the full pain of its death. But it does get a blessing as its life blood flows out so at least that's something.

There is an ongoing debate at present as to the humane methods of slaughtering cattle versus more traditional throat slitting religious methods. You might argue since these people have broken the law and are in prison part of their punishment should be they have to forgo some of their religious demands.

Did you even read the article Pork is absolutely forbidden