Both Pig Lovers and Pig Haters Might Boycott KFCs Halal-Only Outlets

It looks like Kentucky Fried Chicken's (KFC) attempts at pandering to the Muslim community in Britain by setting up 86 halal-only outlets, has gone bust, or is about to. Those particular franchised KFCs obviously would have banned a favorite amongst many Brits- the Big Daddy burger topped with bacon- from those menus, and of course pork is a no-no for Muslims. However, the possibility of not being able to get their bacon burgers infuriated non-Muslims, and the threat of a boycott quickly emerged. However, their target customers, the Muslims themselves, have also threatened to boycott those halal KFCs because there are claims that the poor chicks are not being slaughtered in the correct manner.

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Groups with names such as "Against the KFC Halal Trial" and "No Halal at Colne KFC" -referring to a branch in the Lancs town - are rapidly attracting members. For meat to be halal, the animal must be alive when its throat is cut as a verse from the Koran is recited.

Of course, KFC management are insisting that they have done nothing wrong and that they have the Halal Food Society seal of approval. Not so, say Muslims in the know.

But Islamic leaders disagree, saying the pre-stunning of animals in the chain's mechanical process means a third are already dead at the point of slaughter.

And the fact the prayer is played over a speaker means each bird it not blessed individually as it is killed.

They have now threatened to warn the UK's 2.4million Muslims not to eat KFC meat, and will meet with the fast food giant on Wednesday to question how it is killing chickens sold as halal.

Imam Yusuf Shabbir of the Lancashire Council of Mosques said: "If KFC confirms to us that it has no intention of changing the mechanical method of slaughter we will advise members of the Muslim community this."

Where KFC went wrong was in trying to change so many to halal-only, which alienated a good portion of their consumers. Had they allowed Muslim-owned franchisees to switch to halal-only, I don't think anyone would have had a problem with that, but to change so many was bound to cause problems, even though a KFC spokesman said that "...wherever possible we've made sure our trial stores are near non- halal restaurants, to provide customers with a choice." You can't just spring something like that on people, especially when you are removing a favorite item from a menu. As a vegetarian, frankly, I could care less, but some people love their bacon. And to cater to such a small portion of society seems rather foolish, business-wise. And if they were going to make 85 halal, what about 85 kosher? It's just plain stupid. So, now they have both the pig-lovers and the pig-haters potentially boycotting their chicken fast food joints. I think there's a lesson there.