EA clarifies use of halal chicken in school canteens after 'misinformation'

Education officials have clarified the use of halal chicken in Northern Ireland school canteens after what they described as "misinformation" circulating online.

The Education Authority (EA), which oversees schools, said it was putting out the information as it had been "singled out for online commentary" at the start of the new school term.

The authority said that the decision to serve some halal chicken as part of school meals was mainly down to supplies of chicken.

Halal food is prepared according to strict Islamic dietary laws which forbid the consumption of pork or alcohol; halal meat requires a prescribed method of animal slaughter.

The EA had previously sent a letter to schools in December 2025 on the poultry and meat used in its catering service but has now issued a further statement in response to what it called "inaccurate claims" circulating online.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, it said: "We source fresh chicken through a Northern Irish supplier who buys the poultry from various countries, including Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, UK and international markets.

"During our engagement with suppliers, it was made clear to us that the quantities of chicken we require cannot be met solely through the supply of non-halal chicken."

The EA said it faced a choice between buying "the chicken that we need where it is available while adhering to quality and welfare standards" or curtailing menu choice.

The authority said that some of the chicken served in schools on any given day may be halal-certified, but that halal-certified chicken was not being used across all schools.

"We have never taken a decision to replace non-halal chicken with halal chicken across all schools or to introduce blanket provision of halal-certified products for all pupils regardless of faith.

"The halal-certified chicken we buy is slaughtered in the same way as non-halal chicken.

"It is stunned prior to slaughter."

The cost of school dinners has recently risen by almost 20% but the EA said that it was not paying extra to buy halal chicken.

The DUP MP Carla Lockhart had previously expressed concern about the use of halal meat in school meals.

"This is a worrying position given the very real concerns many people have about halal slaughter on both animal welfare and religious grounds," she said in a social media post in March.

"Northern Ireland has one of the strongest agri-food sectors anywhere in Europe.

"It is therefore difficult to understand why our schools, hospitals and wider public sector cannot prioritise locally produced food, particularly when we export large quantities of high-quality produce every year."