Some time back during a simple query resolution with a customer on twitter, McDonald’s said that they serve Halal meat in all of their restaurants.
This has triggered a huge discussion on twitter and became a steaming hot debatable topic.
After Zomato’s Hindu objects to Muslim delivery boy fiasco, McDonald’s also caught up in webs of religious dispute and became a topic for social media deliberations.
Story unfolds when during a discussion with customers, McDonalds informed that “All our restaurants in India) have Halal certificates. You can ask respective restaurant managers to show you the certificate for your satisfaction and confirmation”
This assurance was meant to calm the consumers concern, on the contrary it became the cause of debate since many people felt offended by this disclosure.
As it becomes a reason of Religious discrimination, which is treating a person or group differently because of the particular beliefs which they hold about a religion.
Using Halal meat justifies the religious mandating for one community while it is against the belief of others.
What is a Halal Meat?
Halal is Arabic term for permissible or in simple language allowed. Halal food is allowed by Islamic law as defined by Kuran. It is Islamic form of slathering animals with rituals named dhabiha. In which the slathering process involves killing through a cut through vein, carotid artery and windpipe.
Animals must be alive and healthy at the time of slaughter and all the blood is drained from the carcass. During the process, a Muslim will recite a dedication, known as tasmiya or shahada. (Reference bbc news)
Resentment In Other Communities
With this declaration some feel assured while others feel neglected as they are being forced something which they didn’t opted for in the first place.
Hinduism is the largest religion in India which is forming 80% share in current population of India which is around 966 million Hindus as of Nation census of India.
Other 14.2% of the population follows Islamic and remaining 6% are other religions like Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism etc. (reference Hinduism)
On one hand Zomato said “Food doesn’t have any religion” while McDonalds declaring that they are using Halal meat in all their restaurants. This is sending mixed signals in community and became the cause of conspiracy and twitter war.
#boycottmcdondalds is trending on twitter and people are showing their displeasure by responding their opinion on the same.
They have voiced their opinion on this saying that McDonald’s is forcing Halal eat on Hindu and Sikh without giving informed choices in this matter.
Also they are asking them to display this kind of information in prominent ways so that the consumer will know what choices they are making.
It has a positive side too as it will build an honest relationship between the brand and its users.
McDonald’s is kind of caught in a storm because on the one hand they are adhering to the rules and regulations for one community while doing this the other communities which form the major part of population of Indian are in complete resistance.
So let’s see how McDonalds comes out of this dilemma.