UK Immigration authorities are to supply kosher food to Jewish travellers detained at Heathrow. The move follows an agreement between the Border and Immigration Authority and G4S – the company responsible for the custody of detainees and the Society for the Welfare of Jewish Prisoners. It means that a supply of kosher meals will be kept in a special freezer installed at the holding room in Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 1.

This development has been prompted by a number of cases in which Jewish passengers have been detained by immigration authorities pending a decision as to whether to admit them to the UK. This has resulted in them facing difficulties obtaining kosher food whilst at the airport.

The frozen Hermolis kosher meals are under Kedassia supervision and a notice produced by the rabbinate of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew congregations will be displayed in the holding room of all the terminals confirming its approval of the arrangement and pointing out that the meals should be supplied double-wrapped, to be opened by the consumer.. Unused plastic cutlery will be supplied together with these meals.

This service will also be available to Jewish passengers detained at other terminals at Heathrow.

(Yaakov Morrison for Jewish Tribune – UK)