We, the undersigned, call upon Steve Easterbrook, CEO of McDonalds UK to immediately cease the use of halal products in McDonald’s outlets and franchises throughout the United Kingdom.

Whilst we recognize that for a great many British citizens, rules for the preparation of food is defined by religious belief, halal is a deeply offensive method of slaughter to the majority of British citizens. We, the undersigned, would like to take this opportunity to call to Mr. Easterbrook’s attention that the preparation of an animal destined for the halal plate is cruel, causes the animal undue distress and suffering and has been decried by such notable bodies as the RSPCA, PeTA, the British Farmer’s Union, Compassion in World Farming and Viva. In addition, the Government’s own advisory body, the Farm Animal Welfare Council, has recently called for the banning of religious slaughter.

Western law states that an animal must be stunned before slaughter; the halal animal has its throat slit whilst fully conscious and alert with no pre-stunning whatsoever. It is then left to die from slow, disorientating exsanguination. It is claimed that because an animal does not cry out when subjected to this method, that it does not feel pain. One would think that the lack of audible protest is more likely due to the fact that the vocal chords have been severed, rendering the animal physically unable to cry out.

Whilst we recognize the freedom of religious expression, we, the undersigned, feel it deeply offensive and immoral to patronize an establishment which openly condones such blatant animal cruelty. We, the undersigned, find it impossible to enjoy McDonalds fare whilst wondering if the person seated opposite us is eating meat that has been slaughtered in a manner unacceptable to the majority of the public. McDonalds provide several dietary choices for those who feel it unacceptable to eat humanely slaughtered meat and we would call upon McDonalds to offer those dishes to such people as a suitable alternative.

We, the undersigned, hereby pledge that we will not be giving our patronage to McDonalds again until we have an affirmation that the sale of halal products has been suspended.