According to the UK KFC website the company listens to its customers and has decided to offer halal food based on the Islamic religion, but where does this place non-Muslims, or it frankly doesn't matter to KFC?

The website speak to and name a number of its restaurants which serve up the halal products, and claim that they buy chicken only from suppliers who are authorised by the Halal Food Authority (HLA) in the UK. Are we serious? What about non-Muslims, don't they have a say in what they eat?

The website further states that they supplier authorised by the HLA recites a pray over the meat that is supplied to KFC. Shouldn't KFC be non-religous when its comes to serving up food? Why should a non-Muslim be forced to eat food offered to the Muslim god in prayer?

The below was on the KFC website with the following link: https://www.kfc.co.uk/halal

Halal

At KFC we listen to our customers to help us to evolve our menu and the choices we offer. For some time, we have received requests to provide halal food in parts of the UK and as a result of this, we are running a halal trial within communities where we anticipate a strong demand for halal products.

We are running the trial in the following stores:

Acton Vale

Arndale Centre

Baker Street

Barking

Barlow Moor Road

Beckton

Bethnal Green

Birmingham Star City

Birmingham Heybarnes

Birmingham Yardley

Bishopsgate

Bolton Derby Street

Bradford Ingleby Road

Bristol Union Street

Burnley

Camden Town

Cape Hill

Colindale

Colliers Wood

Coventry Courthouse Green

Croydon Central

Derby Foresters Leisure Park

Dewsbury

Earls Court Road

East Ham

Edgeware Road

Edinburgh Meadowbank

Edmonton

Elk Mill

Festival Heights

Finsbury Park

Forest Gate

Fulham

Gateshead Metro Centre

Glasgow Govan

Glasgow Pollokshaws Road

Glasgow Renfield Street

Hackney

Halifax

Halifax Haley Hill Drive Thru

Handsworth

Harrow Weald Drive Thru

Heaton Chapel

High Wycombe Retail Park

Hounslow West

Leeds Road

Junction 27

Junction 9

Keighley

Kilburn

Birmingham Kings Heath

Lea Bridge Road Drive Thru

Meanwood

Leicester

Leicester High Street

Leicester Services

Leyton

Leyton Mills

Leytonstone

Liverpool Chaloner Street

Luton

Manchester Fort

Newport West

Northampton

Nottingham Alfreton Rd

Oxford

Paddington

Peacocks Shopping Centre

Perry Bar

Peterborough London Road

Deepdale

Reading Broadstreet

Rochdale Kingsway

Seven Kings

Seven Sisters

Sheffield Queens Road

Sheffield Arena Drive Thru

Slough Queensmere Centre

Southall

Stoke Newington

Stratford

Streatham

Teeside Retail Park

Tottenham Court Road

Tottenham Hale

Tower Hill

Tyrell Street

Upton Park

Walthamstow

Walworth Road

Wembley

Westfield Stratford

Westgate Retail Park Drive Thru

Whitechapel

Woking

Wood Green Restaurant

We have worked with the Halal Food Authority to understand the requirements involved in supplying and producing halal approved products. We are delighted that the HFA have certified KFC's products in these stores, and the store environments, as halal.

Another key consideration for us was that we were able to ensure that the halal certified chicken would also meet the rigorous animal welfare standards we employ in the UK, and we consulted leading animal welfare groups about this. We are pleased to say that there will be no compromise to our welfare standards.

We continue to insist that our poultry is stunned before slaughter, using a technique called 'stun-to-stun'. We only buy high quality, Grade A, farm-assured chicken from trustworthy suppliers, who are contractually required to meet or exceed all relevant UK and EU legislation and this will not change.

You will find that our food is just as tasty and finger lickin' good as it has always been!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why have you decided to trial halal in these stores?

Feedback from consumers has indicated that there is significant demand for halal food from KFC, and we've chosen these stores as they are in areas where we expect demand for halal restaurants. Wherever possible, we have taken steps to ensure that these restaurants are within a 7 mile radius of a non-halal store in order to cater to all of our customers' needs.

2. How long will the trial last?

There is no set time frame. We will evaluate both customer feedback and the commercial success of the trial to establish whether it is something we will continue with. During this time, we expect our trial to evolve, and some stores may join or leave the trial.

3. What does this mean for my store? What will change?

There will be no change to the great taste of our products. 'Halal' is an Arabic word which simply means 'permitted' or 'allowed'. For our chicken to be halal accredited, a verse is recited from the Qu'ran by an appropriate person at the point of slaughter. All non-halal products will be removed from the relevant restaurants. This includes pork products, bacon will not be served in our halal trial stores. The Big Daddy is the only item out of more than forty on our menu that our halal stores will not be serving.

4. How will I know which restaurants are halal and which are not?

See the list of participating stores provided above. Our halal restaurants will also feature the HFA (Halal Food Authority) logo on the door.

5. Why have you chosen my store?

We have chosen a number of stores that are located within areas where we anticipate demand for a halal offer from KFC. However, we are committed to offering our customers choice and there is a non-trial restaurant in close proximity. The restaurant manager will be able to provide you with the address details should you need them.

6. Who will supply your halal chicken for this trial?

For our fresh Original Recipe chicken on the bone, we are buying from a reputable supplier who has been audited and accredited by the HFA to ensure that their systems and processes fully comply with halal requirements. We will continue to purchase only high quality, A-Grade farm assured chicken from the same leading suppliers used by Britain's' major retailers. All of our suppliers, whether halal or otherwise, are contractually required to meet or exceed all UK and EU legislation on welfare.

7. Does this mean your animal welfare standards have changed?

No, not at all. We will always only purchase high quality, Grade A, farm-assured chicken from the same leading suppliers used by Britain's major retailers. We remain committed to the same animal welfare standards and continue to insist that our poultry is stunned before slaughter, using a technique called 'stun-to-stun' - a pain free process that makes the animal insensible to pain and suffering. All our suppliers are contractually required to meet or exceed all relevant UK and EU legislation.

8. What are the requirements for HFA halal accreditation?

The HFA accredits a significant number of restaurants and food suppliers in the UK to ensure that the edicts and requirements for halal accreditation are strictly followed and adhered to. The three main requirements for halal accreditation are:

The animal/bird is not dead prior to slaughter

All blood is drained

A verse from the Qu'ran is read by an appropriate person at the time of slaughter.

9. Is KFC's halal chicken stunned before slaughter?

Yes, due to our strict animal welfare standards, we insist that all our poultry is stunned before slaughter. Our halal chicken has been accredited by the Halal Food Authority, one of the most widely recognised bodies in the UK and overseas. It allows the use of a technique called 'stun-to-stun' - a pain free process that makes the animal insensible to pain and suffering. A verse is also recited from the Qu'ran at the point of slaughter by an appropriate person and the poultry will not come into contact with non-halal meat at any point in the supply chain.

The HFA accreditation which is clearly signposted in the participating restaurants allows us to offer halal accredited meat whilst remaining committed to the same animal welfare standards as before, which meet or exceed all relevant UK and EU legislation.

10. Do you use mechanical slaughter?

No, we work with our suppliers and the HFA to ensure that our birds are hand slaughtered maintaining the highest levels of animal welfare.

If you have further questions, please call our Customer Careline on 08457 532 532.