WP3. Consumer and consumption issues

Results :
Report  : Halal and Kosher consumer and consumption issues
Factsheet : Kosher consumer and consumption issues
Factsheet : Halal consumer and consumption issues  

Coordinator: Dr. Florence Blackler, Université de la Méditerranée (Marseille), France

WP3 is mainly devoted to building up a synthesis on halal and kosher consumption in selected European Union and associate countries. Improving communication and expertise around religious slaughter requires sufficient knowledge about consumption aspects: level of consumption, commitment, as well as kosher and halal consumer attitudes, beliefs and concerns towards religious slaughter. Although some legal, animal health and welfare aspects have been investigated so far, very few studies have taken into account the consumption dimension. Therefore, WP3 aims to palliate the absence of syntheses and data in this area by organising targeted studies on halal and kosher consumption in Europe. 

WP3 is exploring consumer concerns, knowledge and information relating to religious slaughter processes as well as halal and kosher products by gathering information and carrying out consumer studies in member and associate countries. The following issues will be addressed :

• Consumer acceptation towards pre and post-slaughter stunning methods, halal/kosher product availability, certification, labelling / mislabelling.
• Exploration of consumer concerns, level of information and confidence in religious slaughter practices requires employing methods that can draw upon respondents’ attitudes, feelings, beliefs, experiences and reactions. WP3 explores these aspects using the Focus Group method in 7 countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

Six Halal consumer focus groups were coordinated by Florence Bergeaud-Blackler and organised with the collaboration of: in Renaix (B) and in Amsterdam Dr.Karijn Bonne (University of Ghent), in Cardiff Dr.Mara Miele and Dr.Adrian Evans (Cardiff University), in Bordeaux Isabelle Téchoueyres (Université de Bordeaux), in Berlin Maria Biedermann (Freie Universität Berlin), in Turkey Dr. Haluk Anil (Bristol University).