FWD: (IN) [McLibel] [presscutting] Hindu zealots throw cow dung at McDonald's

[Guest guest]

04/05/01

p r e s s c u t t i n g By HARBAKSH SINGH NANDA

UPI India

 

NEW DELHI, India, May 4 (UPI) -- Irate workers of right-wing

Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party Friday threw cow dung at

McDonald's south Bombay outlet protesting against the alleged use

of beef in French fries sold by U.S. fast food giant.

 

The activists splattered the glass panes of the restaurant

with the cow dung and shouted slogans against the fast food chain

for using beef tallow in cooking French fries.

 

" The action of the restaurant had hurt the sentiments of

vegetarians as also the Hindu community, " the Press Trust of

India quoted a BJP spokesman as saying.

 

" Our protest today was only symbolic. ... If the fast-food

restaurant does not follow the required norms, we will

demonstrate in front of all their outlets, " he said.

 

Meanwhile, in a statement, McDonald's India said the French

fries served by them in India do not contain beef or any other

animal extract.

 

" McDonald's India categorically states that French fries that

we serve in India do not contain any beef or animal extracts of

whatsoever kind, " PTI quoted McDonald's statement.

 

The company said that 100 percent vegetable oil is used for

preparation of French fries during all stages of processing.

 

A vegetarian lawyer of Indian origin Harish Bharti has filed

a suit against McDonald's in the United States, charging it

secretly laced its French fries with beef fat.

 

Not all Hindus are vegetarian but they all consider cows as

sacred animals. McDonald's doesn't serve any pork or beef

products at any of its 27 outlets in India out of deference to

the Hindus and Muslim population.

 

Bharti says that any vegetarian who ate the fries after 1990

-- when McDonald's said it would stop using beef tallow -- is

eligible for damages.

 

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