French burger chain fuels bitter debate by banning pig products
September 2nd, 2010 - 7:50 pm ICT by ANILondon, Sep 2 (ANI): To increase sales and attract Muslims, a French fast food chain has banned pig products from its menu, fuelling a bitter debate in the country over the influence of Muslim values.
Quick, the No. 2 burger chain in France after McDonald’s, serves halal-only food in 22 of its outlets, targeting the country’s large Muslim population. Bacon was removed from bacon burgers, and replaced by smoked turkey to appease the community and boost sales.
Quick claimed sales doubled at restaurants that have tested the concept, but the move has opened a new chapter in the debate over how much society should accommodate Muslim traditions, The Telegraph reports.
Marine Le Pen, of the far-right National Front party, said Quick’s decision was a ’scandal’. “I’m not Muslim, I don’t want this imposed on me.”
Stephane Gatignon, the mayor of the Paris suburb of Sevran and a member of the Environmentalist Party Europe Ecologie, said he is worried Quick in his town will become a Muslims-only hangout, preventing ethnic groups from mingling.
Abdel El Machkour, who oversees Quick franchises for the Paris region, said the goal is simply to be able to serve its products to a larger number of people. (ANI)
- Outrage over Melbourne school opting for halal sausages in welcome-back barbecue - Mar 06, 2010
- KFC scraps controversial halal only menu after mass Brit boycott - Jun 26, 2010
- French fast food chain launches foie gras burger for just 5 euros - Nov 27, 2010
- We won't eat halal meat: British MPs - Jan 01, 2012
- Parents' outrage over halal-only school dinners in Britain - Aug 06, 2010
- Snoop Dogg digs into junk food - Jul 19, 2011
- 70 percent lamb imports from NZ to UK is halal, and not put on label - Sep 25, 2010
- 3G Capital Acquires Burger King - Sep 03, 2010
- 'Bacon Kevin Bacon' bust up for auction on eBay - Oct 03, 2010
- Five Guys Burger Voted As The Best Fast Food Burger In US - Aug 18, 2010
- McDonald's, Burger King now 'serving healthier foods' - Jul 15, 2010
- Burger King's NY Pizza Burger is waistline buster at 2,520 calories - Aug 19, 2010
- Now, a McDonald's burger named after Shane Warne! - Nov 10, 2010
- Good news for fast food addicts - Jul 15, 2010
- Nearly three-quarters of halal poultry falsely labeled in UK - Mar 13, 2010
Tags: bacon, bitter debate, boost sales, burger chain, burgers, environmentalist, europe ecologie, fast food, food chain, marine le pen, muslim population, muslim traditions, muslims, new chapter, paris region, paris suburb, pig products, smoked turkey, stephane, telegraph reports