Are McDonalds feeding cow to Hindus?

timmy · Feb 25th, 2004, 10:51

A couple of years ago, McDonalds settled a lawsuit in the US, after they admitted to using beef extract to flavour fries and hash browns, despite having advertised them as "vegetarian" for over ten years.

As a *cough*purely scientific mission, I visited McDonalds in Padma Singh Road, Karol Bagh, to satisfy my own curiosity.

Sure enough, the fries there had that same extra golden colour and flavour as here in Australia. In fact, the fries were even browner looking than usual.

Are Indians unwittingly eating cow?

rickshawwallah · Feb 25th, 2004, 13:35

Quote:

Highly doubtful. Remember that the gentleman who instigated the case in the U.S. was of Indian origin, and McDonalds lost a lot of money and good will before finally settling and agreeing to remove the "beef juice" from their fries. To try such a thing again in India would be corporate suicide (at least in the huge and growing market of India). McDonalds executives may be unscrupulous, but they're not stupid.

Multinationals are much more likely to cut corners on issues where public sentiment and awareness are not so keen in India, such as environmental protection, sustainability and public health. Hopefully, some cases currently in the courts will help to change even that, though.

timmy · Feb 25th, 2004, 14:18

Be that as it may, my fries were extra golden brown and tasty, and I draw my own conclusion from that. Maybe I should have brought back a sample for testing?

flamingo2004 · Feb 25th, 2004, 15:02

I have also just been on a purely scientific mission to a McD in India - my daughter actually insisted on repeating the mission to be sure we got the right samples the first time around.
What I don't get is why McD don't reexport some of the special brilliant Indian items. I know they probably have deepfried all nutritional value out of their vegetarian stuff but it seems to me that they could score some good points by adding tasty veggie burgers in US/Aus/Eu. They did taste quite well (have I heard - I was of cause only an observer)

jpvs · Feb 25th, 2004, 16:14

A 'Veggie' Burger King whopper i ate in chicago had a soyabean patty that tasted Yuck! - Gimme the veggie burger stuff generated in indian mcDs and bakeries anyday.

Tomi · Feb 25th, 2004, 21:09

Before the beef juice incident (which I had never heard about), fries were always twice deep-fried in beef suet, the time-honored Belgian tradition which produced the best tasting and crispiest fries. Beef suet was bothy tasty and could be heated to a higher temperature than today's light oils. So the original fries were not vegetarian. Later, when health consciousness dropped the suet practice, was when McDonald's probably had the other great/infamous idea.

I think it's a lot safer for vegetarians nowadays to assume that if they don't see the meat they're eating vegetarian, but there are surprises now and then.

If you don't know you're eating meat, does it matter for either health or religion? Does the small amount of meat involved affect your metabolism? Have you commited a religious transgression if it's not your fault?

beach · Feb 25th, 2004, 21:24

Leave alone beef. People make big hue and cry if they are served with ice cream or cakes contain egg. Generally such items are labeled with indications (a green circle for veg. food)

There are Hindus at certain parts of India who eat beef.

Beef slaughtering is always a big political issue in India. There was a bill proposed in the parliament to have a nationwide ban on cow slaughtering. The funny thing is that no one is against importing tons of beef for whoever wants it. There is a saying in India that the Bull run started (in stock market!) when the prevention of cow slaughter bill was brought to the parliament!!

Feb 25th, 2004, 10:51	#1
timmy Back in Australia Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 375	Are McDonalds feeding cow to Hindus? A couple of years ago, McDonalds settled a lawsuit in the US, after they admitted to using beef extract to flavour fries and hash browns, despite having advertised them as "vegetarian" for over ten years. As a coughpurely scientific mission, I visited McDonalds in Padma Singh Road, Karol Bagh, to satisfy my own curiosity. Sure enough, the fries there had that same extra golden colour and flavour as here in Australia. In fact, the fries were even browner looking than usual. Are Indians unwittingly eating cow?

Feb 25th, 2004, 14:18	#3
timmy Back in Australia Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 375	Be that as it may, my fries were extra golden brown and tasty, and I draw my own conclusion from that. Maybe I should have brought back a sample for testing? __________________ View my Photo Gallery from my last two trips.

Feb 25th, 2004, 21:09	#6
Tomi Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Cambridge, MA, USA Posts: 448	to meat or not to meat Before the beef juice incident (which I had never heard about), fries were always twice deep-fried in beef suet, the time-honored Belgian tradition which produced the best tasting and crispiest fries. Beef suet was bothy tasty and could be heated to a higher temperature than today's light oils. So the original fries were not vegetarian. Later, when health consciousness dropped the suet practice, was when McDonald's probably had the other great/infamous idea. I think it's a lot safer for vegetarians nowadays to assume that if they don't see the meat they're eating vegetarian, but there are surprises now and then. If you don't know you're eating meat, does it matter for either health or religion? Does the small amount of meat involved affect your metabolism? Have you commited a religious transgression if it's not your fault?

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Feb 25th, 2004, 15:02	#4
flamingo2004 Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Denmark Posts: 67	I have also just been on a purely scientific mission to a McD in India - my daughter actually insisted on repeating the mission to be sure we got the right samples the first time around. What I don't get is why McD don't reexport some of the special brilliant Indian items. I know they probably have deepfried all nutritional value out of their vegetarian stuff but it seems to me that they could score some good points by adding tasty veggie burgers in US/Aus/Eu. They did taste quite well (have I heard - I was of cause only an observer)

Feb 25th, 2004, 16:14	#5
jpvs Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India Posts: 87	A 'Veggie' Burger King whopper i ate in chicago had a soyabean patty that tasted Yuck! - Gimme the veggie burger stuff generated in indian mcDs and bakeries anyday.

Feb 25th, 2004, 21:24	#7
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,233	Leave alone beef. People make big hue and cry if they are served with ice cream or cakes contain egg. Generally such items are labeled with indications (a green circle for veg. food) There are Hindus at certain parts of India who eat beef. Beef slaughtering is always a big political issue in India. There was a bill proposed in the parliament to have a nationwide ban on cow slaughtering. The funny thing is that no one is against importing tons of beef for whoever wants it. There is a saying in India that the Bull run started (in stock market!) when the prevention of cow slaughter bill was brought to the parliament!!