Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether United Kingdom military ration packs contain meat from animals killed by the halal method.

Ministry of Defence (MOD) personnel in the UK and permanent bases overseas are served through a number of catering, retail, leisure and other multi-activity contracts. Halal meat is purchased under these arrangements but information on the volume procured is not held by the MOD.

Armed Forces personnel serving on operations, exercises and HM ships and submarines, are catered for under a single food supply contract with Purple Foodservice Solutions Ltd (PFS). The PFS contract includes the provision of Operational Ration Packs (ORPs). Individual 24 hour ORPs are available in 60 different menus, of which 10 are halal.

All food procured for MOD personnel must comply with MOD food quality standards. These standards comply with all UK and EU production standards, Farm Assurance or equivalent. This includes the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which covers Halal slaughter.