Fast food giant Subway has removed ham and bacon from 185 stores and switched to halal meat in the UK after demands from its Muslim customers.
Halal foods are foods that Muslims are allowed to eat or drink under Islamic law. Pork isn’t permitted and the slaughtering of animals must be performed by a Muslim, who first invokes the name of Allah, cuts the throat, windpipe and the blood vessels (while the animal is conscious), and drains all the blood from the veins.
A Subway spokeswoman stated, “The growing popularity of the Subway chain with the diverse multicultural population across the UK and Ireland means we have to balance the values of many religious communities with the overall aim of improving the health and welfare standards of animals.
‘We put a programme into place in 2007 to ensure that the population demographic is taken into account when new store openings are considered in order that we meet consumer demand in each location.”
Fear of Muslims has multiplied greatly after the London bombings in July 2005. Muslims make up 4.8% of the population, which is up 3% from 2001. Muslims constitute 12.4% of the London population and 7% in the West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber.
Fast food giant Subway has removed ham and bacon from almost 200 outlets, and switched to halal meat alternatives in an attempt to please its Muslim customers.
It has confirmed turkey ham and turkey rashers will be used instead in 185 of its stores, where all the meat will now be prepared according to halal rules.
The chain, which has around 1,500 outlets across the UK, explained its decision by saying it had to balance animal welfare concerns with ‘the views of religious communities’.
Nearly 200 Subway branches across the UK and Ireland have cut out ham and bacon, selling only halal meat, in response to demand from their multicultural customers
Traditional halal slaughter sees animals have their throats slit before bleeding to death. But Subway stressed that the meat served in its sandwiches would come from animals that have been stunned first, a practice that aims to reduce any suffering.
In Arabic the word halal means ‘permitted’ or ‘lawful’ and defines anything that is allowed or lawful according to the Qur’an.
It is often used to indicate food – particularly meat – has been prepared in accordance with Muslim principles and techniques.
Muslims are forbidden from eating any non-halal food and meat from pigs and Subway said customers can identify those stores selling halal food by the special ‘All meats are Halal’ sign, which must be displayed in participating branches.
In the halal-only branches ham and bacon has been substituted for turkey ham and rashers.
Many animal charities condemn halal slaughter as being cruel to animals.
Traditionally in halal abattoirs the throats of the animals are cut while they are fully conscious – an act many campaigners say is inhumane and needlessly cruel.
Why should a few take precedence.over others is beyond me , go uck your Muslim ass
I WILL NEVER EAT THERE AGAIN!!
Instead of caving (excuse the pun) into the Muslims by removing Ham and Bacon from your stores, why weren’t you making their sandwiches without Ham and Bacon? I don’t understand how you can run a business and not give people what they want like Burger King. What happened to “Have it your way”.? Why do a group of people decide your policy?
I never eat subway their food is gross are they going to stop serving meats on Fridays during lent for catholics
That’s ridiculous! If they are that concerned they can put halal meat on the menu for an option, but DO NOT remove the bacon and ham for all the rest of us that like it, if they remove it I will just go elsewhere! USA has plenty of options!
I do not frequent Subways, but it will be non-existent from now on. Another reason to wake up America. And Subway has more restaurants than McDonald’s.
BS who are we? Cowards? This is
I urge all people to boycott subway
AMERICA!
that does it, I’m gonna start a pig farm!