Policy Documents
Sainsbury’s does not not have a downloadable policy document, but instead has a webpage:
Agriculture: livestock (beef, chicken, lamb, pork)
Animal Health and Welfare Report (PDF)
Stunning Policy
Sainsbury’s states all of its own-brand meat is from pre-stunned animals, and that none of its own-brand meat is labelled halal. Sainsbury’s Animal Health and Welfare Report states that lamb and beef are slaughtered using “species-appropriate methods”. This is disappointingly vague. In contrast, Sainsbury’s is specific that it’s chicken is slaughtered using CAS (stun to kill), the preferred method recommended by the Humane Slaughter Association.
Halal/Kosher in Store
Sainsbury’s sells a range of third-party branded halal and kosher products in some stores, which it says are clearly labelled. Its own-brand New Zealand lamb has been sourced from abattoirs where a halal blessing is customary practice even though the meat itself is pre-stunned and not marketed as halal.
“In New Zealand it is common for lamb to be blessed however we have never requested this and all of our own brand meat is from animals stunned prior to slaughter so it would be wrong to label our own brand meat as Halal. We do sell a selection of branded halal and kosher products in some stores, all of which is very clearly labelled.” https://www.secularism.org.uk
Sourcing / Suppliers / Country of Origin
- All fresh and frozen chicken is 100% British and slaughtered using CAS (stun to kill). Since 2023 Sainsbury’s has had a significant contract with Moy Park. Taste the Difference chicken is RSPCA Assured.
- All Sainsbury’s fresh and frozen beef is 100% British or Irish, meeting Red Tractor or Bord Bia standards and slaughtered using “species-appropriate methods”
- All Sainsbury’s fresh and frozen British lamb is reared to Red Tractor standards, with organic lamb meeting Soil Association or equivalent standards and slaughtered using “species-appropriate methods”.
Warnings
NSS research (2018) listed Sainsbury’s among four chains selling non-stunned halal meat without clear on-shelf labelling at that time. Sainsbury’s has stated only “some” of its halal meat is stunned, without giving a full breakdown.