The North's Education Authority (EA) has confirmed that some chicken served in Northern Ireland’s school dinners may be halal-certified.

The EA is one of the biggest caterers in Northern Ireland and provides school dinners in more than 1,100 schools.

According to the authority chicken dishes including chicken curry and chicken goujons, are among the most popular choices among pupils.

As a result the EA said its kitchens order in the region of "over 5,000 cases of fresh chicken per month, as well as frozen chicken".

"We source fresh chicken through a NI supplier who buys the poultry from various countries, including NI, RoI, UK and international markets," it has stated.

Chicken

However, this week the EA said it has been "compiled" to clarify the use of "halal certified chicken in school dinners" in Northern Ireland.

The authority said it had to do this to "address concerns and counter misinformation that has been circulating on social media".

In a statement EA said: "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.

"This is not unique to a single supplier - it is simply a reality of the current marketplace.

It has detailed that the halal-certified chicken it buys "is slaughtered in the same way as non-halal chicken".

"It is stunned prior to slaughter," the EA added.

According to the authority it has 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.

"We are simply buying chicken where it is available - while following all regulations and guidelines on food quality, traceability, animal welfare and procurement," the EA added.

The authority has also questioned why the EA has been" singled out in online commentary" in relation to the chicken it uses in school meals.

"The choice we face is simple. We buy the chicken that we need where it is available while adhering to quality and welfare standards.

"Or we curtail menu choice and cut down or remove chicken dishes from our school menus, meaning children miss out on favourite meals," the authority said.

According to the EA it recognises that some parents may prefer their children "not to consume chicken dishes which may contain halal-certified poultry".

But it has pointed out that a large majority of school kitchens already offer a choice of meal options and they are currently working towards extending menu choice across all schools.