Halal butcher faces possible prosecution

- Published: 02 March, 2007

Hackney Council says it may prosecute a halal butcher after it found meat unfit for human consumption. The local authority said Islam Meat Butchers in East London had mutton carcases, which did not have the mandatory health mark to show that the animals had been slaughtered and processed in approved premises under public health control.

The carcases were seized after Thames Magistrates Court imposed an order, on 14 March, for the destruction of 11 half sides of mutton to prevent them from being used for human consumption. The order was against Islam Sultan Mohamed of Islam Meat Butchers and Janan Meat in Kingswinford, West Midlands.

The action followed Hackney environmental health officers visiting Islam Halal Meat Butchers last summer, as part of an ongoing programme of routine inspections to stamp out illegal meat trade and food fraud in the borough. Hackney Council said the condemned mutton carcases were certified halal by the Halal Food Authority.

Councillor Alan Laing said: "Any breaches of standards will be treated very seriously. I hope this verdict will send out a strong message to persistent food hygiene

offenders across the borough. Butchers' proprietors have a duty of care to their customers."