Aisha Makda (Mailbox, December 23) wrote about how to make sure that halal products are the genuine article.

She goes on to say that a petition is going round to get the Government to bring in legislation to make sure such products are genuine.

Is she not aware that, under British law, it is an offence to slaughter any animal without first stunning it? At one time, they got away with this barbaric act on religious grounds.

Now it is against the law to discriminate on religious grounds, so, I take it that some section of society pick out those parts of the law which are to their advantage.

Also, Elizabeth Allison (Mailbox, December 26) wrote about mass slaughter at Christmas.

She said: "On the one hand, much time and expertise and money is spent on some animals to keep them alive and healthy, while others are abused and forced to live in misery just to end up on our plates."

I assure her that this need not be the case.

In the past, I helped and reared most domestic animals and poultry. Not once did I abuse or ill-treat any of these creatures. They were given freedom to roam.

When we did kill the poultry at Christmas, I can tell her that their death was instant and they were not left to bleed to death in the manner that Aisha Makda wishes upon them. So maybe this is where Ms Allison should be directing her complaints.

However, I do admit that, with today's grab-all greed, some animals and poultry do not get the care they warrant and deserve. This does need to be stopped – now.

G A Wright, Leicester.