The MP said: “I raised concerns about the use of halal meat in school meals earlier this year, so it is important to make clear that this is not a new issue. The subject has been centre of social media speculation in recent weeks.

“The subsequent clarification from the Education Authority does not remove the need for greater transparency, particularly for parents who want to know exactly what food is being served to their children.”

Ms Lockhart added: “Parents have a right to know what is being served to their children. Where meat prepared according to a specific religious method is being provided, there should be clear and accessible information available to parents and guardians.

“I note the Education Authority’s clarification that the halal-certified chicken it purchases is stunned prior to slaughter, and that it is not being provided as a blanket provision across all schools. However, this does not remove the wider questions around transparency, procurement and choice.

The DUP’s Agriculture spokesperson continued: “We must look at the bigger picture. Northern Ireland has an exceptionally strong agri-food sector, with farmers and food producers delivering high-quality, fully traceable produce to markets right across the globe.

“Indeed, the case for prioritising locally produced food over imported produce has never been stronger. The EU’s recent decision to suspend imports of Brazilian beef and poultry should serve as a further warning about the risks associated with relying on imported meat, particularly where there can be differences in production methods, traceability, animal welfare standards and regulatory oversight.”

She added: “Where high-quality Northern Ireland produce is available, it should surely be the first choice for publicly funded catering. Buying local means supporting our farmers, processors and rural communities, while giving consumers confidence about where their food comes from and the standards to which it has been produced.

“It is deeply disappointing that our schools, hospitals and wider public sector organisations aren’t doing more to prioritise locally produced food. Government-funded catering should be supporting supply chains wherever possible.

“Parents should not have to discover through media reports or Freedom of Information requests, what is being served in school canteens. There needs to be much greater transparency around sourcing, labelling and procurement,” she said.

Ms Lockhart vowed to continue pressing the Department of Finance on this issue, given its responsibility for public procurement policy.

The MP added: “I am also pleased to confirm that I have secured a meeting with Education Authority officials in the coming weeks.

“I intend to use the meeting to seek clear answers on the procurement arrangements, the sourcing of meat and poultry, the availability of locally produced alternatives and, crucially, what information is being provided to parents.

“This issue is about much more than halal meat. It is about transparency, consumer choice, animal welfare and whether public money is being used to support our own local economy.”



Carla Lockhart MP added: “As consumers, we should all be supporting local farmers. Northern Ireland produces some of the highest-quality food anywhere in the world, and I want to see our public sector putting locally produced and fully traceable food at the heart of its procurement policies.”