Halal by default

Recently in Australia several major brands of yoghurt have started to use halal gelatine. This is stated explicitly in the ingredients, as shown for Yoplait Lite strawberry (pdf).

Gelatine is created by prolonged boiling of animal skin, connective tissue or bones. For gelatine to be denoted halal the animal must be killed in a way permitted by Islam. In practice, this means that the animal is not stunned prior to being killed, unlike the typical modern manner of slaughter. This is somewhat controversial.

Although defenders of halal slaughter claim that it is humane, I find it impossible to believe that a method that puts religion before the welfare of animals can be more humane than a method that puts the animal first.

The big question is, why is halal gelatine used for products where only a tiny minority desire it? Could they not instead substitute a vegetarian alternative, which would make everyone happy?