Anyone looking for halal meat in Sweden soon meets the question of stunning. This is what the law says, where opinions differ and what you can ask about the meat you buy or eat. We take no position on the religious questions: that is for you to decide.
What Swedish law says
Swedish animal welfare law requires animals to be stunned when they are slaughtered. Slaughter without stunning is therefore not allowed in Sweden, including slaughter carried out under religious rules. Meat from animals slaughtered in other countries may still be sold here, and some of the halal meat in Swedish shops and restaurants is imported.
Why views on stunning differ
Muslims, and the organisations that certify halal, see stunning differently. Some accept stunning that does not in itself kill the animal, others accept no stunning at all. So two places that both say halal may mean different things, which is why it pays to ask.
Questions to ask about the meat
- Where was the animal slaughtered, in Sweden or in another country?
- Who is the supplier, and is there a certificate? From which organisation, and is it current?
- If it matters to you: was the animal stunned before slaughter, and if so, how?
- Does the claim cover all the meat on the menu, or only some of it?
How YaHalalo helps
When we verify a restaurant we review, among other things, its suppliers and certificates, and the restaurant's page shows which checks were made. Verification is not a religious certification, and we do not decide which view on stunning is right. How verification works.