Beef Fries Controversy

May 11: Fast food giant McDonalds seems to be frying in its own fat once again quite literally
at that. Last week, an Indian-American lawyer, Harish Bharti took the fast food giant to a US
court for lacing its french fries with beef flavouring, a chemical compound that mimics the taste
of beef fat. Millions of Hindus from across the world freely munch its french fries believing
them to be vegetarian.
Beefing up Bhartis case is information provided in Eric Schlossers recently published book,
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of An All-American Meal.
Newspapers report that McDonalds India however insists that no beef or animal extracts of
whatsoever kind are used in its french fries. The french fries are imported in the form of blastfrozen, partially fried strips from New Zealand. Does the supplier use beef flavouring in the
french fries? The spokesman neatly sidesteps the question by saying, We use 100 per cent
vegetable oil at every stage.
Being taken to court isnt something new for McDonalds. Six years ago, it found itself trapped
in a case filed, ironically, by the company itself. It all started in the 1980s when London
Greenpeace activists distributed a leaflet entitled Whats Wrong with McDonalds.

Beef in McDonalds Fries [Illustration by Shinod AP]

McDonalds The company accused the leaflet of being defamatory, since it criticised
McDonalds for its effect on the environment and the Third World, the treatment of animals,
employees working conditions and the adverse effect on peoples (especially childrens) health.
After a three-year legal wrangle, McDonalds won the battle but lost the war. Though the judge
directed the London Greenpeace activists to pay damages of 60,000 pounds, he also ruled that
the fast food giant was in fact guilty of exploiting children, ill-treating animals and paying their
workers low wages.
The activists refused to pay the damages, and McDonalds figured it was better to let go of the
money, than let the continuous stream of bad publicity continue.

But the burger baron seems to be on slippery ground with this new controversy. Beef is complete
sacrilege for Hindus. Even the most liberal among them tend to steer clear of consuming the
meat of cows. The company has launched a vigorous disaster-prevention exercise, even bringing
in experts to testify that the fries are free of any beef extract.
But the damage is done. The next time their Hindu customers pick up a french fry, theyll
probably think of more than just putting on fat.