Would this offend you?

[kellie]

McDONALD’S latest bid to attract more customers – Muslim fast-food lovers – has caused uproar among customers.
The fast-food chain has introduced halal products at two Melbourne restaurants, significantly boosting sales.
However some non-Muslim customers are furious they were not told their hamburger meat was slaughtered and blessed in accordance with Islamic rules laid down in the Koran.
McDonald’s consulted Muslim leaders before introducing halal products at its Brunswick East and St Albans stores.
Halal meat is from animals that have been killed facing Mecca and blessed using the name of Allah.
Brunswick East store assistant manager Nicholas Yacoub said the move had attracted a surge of new customers.
“It has pretty much doubled our sales,” Mr Yacoub said.
The store does not tell drive-through customers about the change and has only one small sign inside advertising the move.
Coburg resident Miriam McLennan was stunned to discover the hamburger she bought from the Brunswick East store was blessed.
“Just as a Muslim would not want to eat anything that isn’t halal . . . I should have my rights to eat normal, ordinary food that hasn’t been blessed,” she said.
A Catholic Church spokesman said non-Muslims deserved to know if the food was halal before buying. But he said there was no biblical reason for Christians to avoid halal food.
A McDonald’s spokeswoman said customers who did not want halal food should buy from any of its other stores.

news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,20780731-661,00.html#

It doesn’t offend me to eat halal meat. I quite often do when out with some Muslim friends.
It tastes the same, appears fresher even.

 

[exoflare]

It doesn’t offend me, but it has completely done away with the little bit of respect I had left for McDonald’s.

If this stupid ploy actually gains momentum in the future, I think we should start calling it “McDhimmi’s”!

 

[RobedWithLight]

It doesn’t offend me, but it has completely done away with the little bit of respect I had left for McDonald’s.

If this stupid ploy actually gains momentum in the future, I think we should start calling it “McDhimmi’s”!

The problem is not that the food is halal per se but that this might become a trend which could eventually deprive non-muslims of the right to choose what they want to eat and what not to eat.

You are right, its even possible they might even rename it McDhimmi’s to make muslims happy.

 

[kellie]

So I gather this hasn’t happened in America yet?

 

[LilyM]

I have no problem eating food that has been prepared in a halal or kosher way or according to any other religious code. As long as it hasn’t been offered to idols, as St Paul says.

 

[eleonardo]

I have no problem eating food that has been prepared in a halal or kosher way or according to any other religious code. As long as it hasn’t been offered to idols, as St Paul says.

I agree
Who cares if it’s halal. I think this is worrying about nothing.

 

[Missa_Solemnis]

No it does not offend me.

The cow can die facing whatever way it wants so long as its cooked medium rare with a side of potatoes.

 

[kellie]

No it does not offend me.

The cow can die facing whatever way it wants so long as its cooked medium rare with a side of potatoes.

And who’s to say a cow isn’t killed facing MEcca in non-Muslim abbatoirs

Truly, I am glad you people think the same as me. I couldn’t believe the paper when I read some people had complained that they didn’t want to eat it.

 

[Missa_Solemnis]

So I gather this hasn’t happened in America yet?

No im afraid America wouldnt give half a penny for halal meat. The only way to double our sales is to dip the food in grease.
or remove every bit of oil, calories, and flavor from it.

What an interesting country we live in.

 

[meedo]

Hello,

As a muslim , i would advise that the restaurant advertise that its meat its Halal.

Even if some people dont mind , we muslims have to be respectful of other people dietary conditions too . I dont gain anything as a muslim by failing to disclose that the meat that i am selling is halal .

Even if some dont like halal meat just for the sole purpose that it is an Islamic thing, they have the right to believe and act and be treated in a transparent way . There is nothing that add or deduct from Islam when a non muslim eat muslim slaughtered meat . It doesnt prove anything for or againts Islam , and if the restaurant has the ability without reasonable hardship to disclose that their meat is halal then i think they should disclose that . I also propose that if there is not any other Mcdonalds near by then they HAVE to make a portion of their meat non halal so that people with objection to muslims rituals dont have any hardships as a result of muslims observing their faith .

We want to practice our faith without any harm to others.

All the best ,

meedo

 

[kellie]

Hello,

As a muslim , i would advise that the restaurant advertise that its meat its Halal.

Even if some people dont mind , we muslims have to be respectful of other people dietary conditions too . I dont gain anything as a muslim by failing to disclose that the meat that i am selling is halal .

Even if some dont like halal meat just for the sole purpose that it is an Islamic thing, they have the right to believe and act and be treated in a transparent way . There is nothing that add or deduct from Islam when a non muslim eat muslim slaughtered meat . It doesnt prove anything for or againts Islam , and if the restaurant has the ability without reasonable hardship to disclose that their meat is halal then i think they should disclose that . I also propose that if there is not any other Mcdonalds near by then they HAVE to make a portion of their meat non halal so that people with objection to muslims rituals dont have any hardships as a result of muslims observing their faith .

We want to practice our faith without any harm to others.

All the best ,

meedo

Hi meedo,

You really are so nice to everyone here, thank you for all you contribute.

McDonalds did advertise that the meat was halal, and what branches.

I would eat it.

There are plenty of branches here for people who are that silly not to want to eat it.

Could you explain fully to me what halal meat is?

I’ve heard it faces Mecca when killed, has blood drained a certain way, and is blessed.

Is that all?

 

[Valke2]

I think muslims should be offended that McDonalds is making its poison more accesible to them.

Christians shouldn’t be offended as they believe, I think, that what goes into the mouth isn’t important anymore (can’t remember the quote). Jews who keep kosher shouldn’t care as they won’t be lining up at McDonalds (with the exception of one in Israel) any time soon. Jews who don’t keep kosher shouldn’t care as how the food is slaughtered isn’t important to them anyway.

 

[Valke2]

No im afraid America wouldnt give half a penny for halal meat. The only way to double our sales is to dip the food in grease.
or remove every bit of oil, calories, and flavor from it.

What an interesting country we live in.

THere’s Halal Chicken McNuggets in McDonald’s in Detroit, MI. (USA) islam.about.com/library/weekly/aa072901a.htm

 

[ssejllenrad]

Hello,

As a muslim , i would advise that the restaurant advertise that its meat its Halal.

Even if some people dont mind , we muslims have to be respectful of other people dietary conditions too . I dont gain anything as a muslim by failing to disclose that the meat that i am selling is halal .

Even if some dont like halal meat just for the sole purpose that it is an Islamic thing, they have the right to believe and act and be treated in a transparent way . There is nothing that add or deduct from Islam when a non muslim eat muslim slaughtered meat . It doesnt prove anything for or againts Islam , and if the restaurant has the ability without reasonable hardship to disclose that their meat is halal then i think they should disclose that . I also propose that if there is not any other Mcdonalds near by then they HAVE to make a portion of their meat non halal so that people with objection to muslims rituals dont have any hardships as a result of muslims observing their faith .

We want to practice our faith without any harm to others.

All the best ,

meedo

I agree… So what if it’s halal meat? It has no degrading effect to me as a Christian at all. No harm whatsoever… I think it may increase the Muslim consumers of Mcdonald’s but I don’t think anything’s wrong with that… I really wonder why some people would get offended with this.

 

[Damascus]

I just asked my atheist sister in law and she agrees with Meedo’s idea. She is not happy (kinda goes with the territory I think) and ranks this as more offensive than Christmas displays! She does not want God or any religious connection to the food she puts in her mouth (please dont laugh- she means it!!)
And she thinks less of Muslims and McDonalds now.

Maybe she isnt really devout because I asked her that if God does not exist then nothing got blessed by him.

She did not answer that one.

But I would not buy it only because I dont know the whole process on what makes something halal and how they do it step by step.

 

[eleonardo]

And she thinks less of Muslims and McDonalds now.

I see no reason for this, really.
What do muslims have to do with this??
And why does she think less of McDonalds if they want to expand their business? There’s only one religion that counts in this case, and that religion has a S with two stripes through it.

 

[meedo]

Hi meedo,

You really are so nice to everyone here, thank you for all you contribute.

McDonalds did advertise that the meat was halal, and what branches.

I would eat it.

There are plenty of branches here for people who are that silly not to want to eat it.

Could you explain fully to me what halal meat is?

I’ve heard it faces Mecca when killed, has blood drained a certain way, and is blessed.

Is that all?

Thank you for your kind words,

The word Halal Means ''allowed ‘’. In context of food, it means that the food is allowed to eat. This can happen by choosing

1- the correct type of food ( Muslims cant eat pork or any carnivourous animal or bird and cant drink anything that makes the mind absent or blood )

2- the method of preparation of the food is according to the law . Mainly it means how to slaughter the animal or bird.

For a slaughter to be allowed to muslims it has to be the following

a- The butcher should be an adult sober ( doesnt matter if he is a male or female , muslim or jew or christian although athiests or paganists or idolatrers are not allowed )

b- The use of ‘‘sharp’’ and ‘‘steardy’’ clean object as a tool for slaughter . It is prohibited to use object that are not sharp or steardy enough that can cause the animal to get hurt but not die instantly . The ultimate goal is a swift slaughter with minimal suffering for teh animal . Including in the manners of slaughter is not to slaughter an animal infront of another animal or near by so it can hear it however i dont think its a condition, but if ignored it is a sin punishable by God as cruelty.

c- mentioning the name of God ‘’ In the Name of Allah ‘’ . or ‘’ In the name of the God of moses and abraham ‘’ or whatever name for God that is meant to be the God of Abraham

d- Muslims cannot eat a sufoocated animal, or an animal found dead , or an animal that fell of a cliff and died or an animal that died as a fight with another animal , also muslims cant eat any part of an animal if the animal itself is still alive . ( except any of these were found before it is dead and then slaughtered ritually )

i hope that clarifies

thank you for your questions

all the best

 

[Damascus]

I see no reason for this, really.
What do muslims have to do with this??
And why does she think less of McDonalds if they want to expand their business? There’s only one religion that counts in this case, and that religion has a S with two stripes through it.

I try to make sense of it and its not gonna happen. I cant even begin to tell you some of the things she gets upset about when it comes to religion that involves God. She does not want her food to have been blessed. Thats it.

Its not a biggie for her since we live in an area where there is ample choices so its no harm no foul. But she is afraid its going to be a trend.

From what Meedo just explained, I dont see why I would have a problem, in fact it sounds like a humane and wonderful way to slaughter animals, and I think its absolutely fine and superior I am sure than other methods. (BTW thanks for typing all that out Meedo!)

I agree its marketing, I am glad Muslims have more choices now, but she is worried.

I hope another atheist will put their 2 cents in on this since they dont all agree on things like this.

 

[kellie]

Thank you for your kind words,

The word Halal Means ''allowed ‘’. In context of food, it means that the food is allowed to eat. This can happen by choosing

1- the correct type of food ( Muslims cant eat pork or any carnivourous animal or bird and cant drink anything that makes the mind absent or blood )

2- the method of preparation of the food is according to the law . Mainly it means how to slaughter the animal or bird.

For a slaughter to be allowed to muslims it has to be the following

a- The butcher should be an adult sober ( doesnt matter if he is a male or female , muslim or jew or christian although athiests or paganists or idolatrers are not allowed )

b- The use of ‘‘sharp’’ and ‘‘steardy’’ clean object as a tool for slaughter . It is prohibited to use object that are not sharp or steardy enough that can cause the animal to get hurt but not die instantly . The ultimate goal is a swift slaughter with minimal suffering for teh animal . Including in the manners of slaughter is not to slaughter an animal infront of another animal or near by so it can hear it however i dont think its a condition, but if ignored it is a sin punishable by God as cruelty.

c- mentioning the name of God ‘’ In the Name of Allah ‘’ . or ‘’ In the name of the God of moses and abraham ‘’ or whatever name for God that is meant to be the God of Abraham

d- Muslims cannot eat a sufoocated animal, or an animal found dead , or an animal that fell of a cliff and died or an animal that died as a fight with another animal , also muslims cant eat any part of an animal if the animal itself is still alive . ( except any of these were found before it is dead and then slaughtered ritually )

i hope that clarifies

thank you for your questions

all the best

Thanks meedo,

That sure sounds like the way all meat should be prepared.

Well, except for the atheist thing, but then they wouldn’t be shouting out “In the name of God” so I guess that makes sense.

 

[puzzleannie]

well I would not be offended if I was served kosher meat or chicken, so I would hardly be offended if the food was halal. I hope no one in the restaurants where I eat is offended when I ask blessing for my food, since I also am praying for everyone in the establishment when i do so. If McDonald’s suddenly starts using a better quality of meat than they do now, that can only be a blessing for everyone. They have no place to go but up in terms of quality.