French fast food chain Quick sparks halal burger fuss
A French council has lodged a complaint against a fast food chain that serves only meat that conforms with Islamic dietary laws at a local branch. The mayor of Roubaix, in northern France, said the halal menu constituted “discrimination” against non-Muslims.
The Roubaix branch is one of several restaurants at which the chain, Quick, took non-halal products and pork off the menu in November…
Quick decided to take a bacon hamburger off the menu at eight of its 350 branches, replacing it with a halal version that comes with smoked turkey.
It said the move was designed to test the “commercial interest and technical feasibility” of introducing halal menus.
The Quick manager responsible for the Roubaix branch said there had been a slight increase in business after the introduction of halal menus and that he had not received complaints from customers, AFP news agency reported.
There’s some discussion in the article; but, mostly, the tempest in the teapot seems mostly to involve politicians across the spectrum of France – trying to gain electoral chops from the restaurant chain’s experiment.
Nothing new. It’s happened forth and back in major cities in the U.S. – depending on who owns the hot button, Jews, Koreans, Chinese, Puerto Ricans, Mexicans. You name it. Everyone’s national cuisine gets targeted for opportunist food vendors and even more opportunist politicians.
One of those silly questions that will be resolved quickly and easily by the marketplace. If it doesn’t make money ain’t any chain continuing the change. If it does, well, then, the local population has voted with their feet and their appetites.
I am somewhat surprised that no busy-bodies had lodged complaints, perhaps no one was the wiser except those that realized what halal meant.
wok3
February 22, 2010 at 2:50 am
Run with the Hare, hunt with the hounds, this way nobody can be sure where one is coming from. Ban the Burkha, amass the profit from the meat, Yep sounds about right. One or the other, all or nothing way to go, to gain trust and confidence.
zorki
February 22, 2010 at 3:47 am
What is there to complain about? If you don’t like the menu don’t eat there. If you like your burger done this way, well then come on back.
Mr. Fusion
February 23, 2010 at 6:15 am