AFDI VICTORY! BUTTERBALL BACKPEDALS ON BISMILLAH BROUHAHA: "BUTTERBALL PRODUCTS ARE NOT CERTIFIED HALAL"
Last year at this time, I published an article to The American Thinker, Happy Halal Thanksgiving, exposing the meat industry's dirty little secret -- its established practice of not separating halal meat from non-halal meat, and not labeling halal meat as such. And back in October 2010, I reported more little-noted but explosive new revelations: that much of the meat in Europe and the United States is being processed as halal without the knowledge of the non-Muslim consumers who buy it.
Further, that Butterball's whole turkeys were all certified halal. Many Atlas readers received this email from Butterball (emphasis mine):
November 14, 2011
Thanks for contacting Butterball. Our whole turkeys are certified halal. However, if you would like to know about any other Butterball products, please email us back as to which products you are interested in using and we can get that information for you.
Again, thanks for your interest in Butterball. We hope you find this information helpful.
Sincerely,
Wendy Howze
Consumer Response Representative
Ref: Y453882
This caused an enormous uproar. Having the "Bismillah allahu akbar" -- in the name of Allah the greatest (the same prayer made when beheading infidels, kufar and apostates) -- recited over the meat renders it inedible to many religious people. They cannot eat it on religious grounds. Many Christians, Hindus or Sikhs and Jews find it offensive to eat meat slaughtered according to Islamic ritual (although observant Jews are less likely to be exposed to such meat, because they eat kosher).
And because the Butterball bismillah went viral, the left went ballistic. Clean Up, Meat Aisle: Talking Heads Exploding over Halal Butterballs (November 24, 2011) The left and Islamic supremacists scoffed at the controversy, mocking it as being about "jihad turkeys" or "sharia turkeys." It was always about truth in labeling, which they would support in other contexts. And now Butterball's reversal shows that the concern was real. Kudos to all the lovers of freedom who made Butterball feel the heat.
We are pursuing legislation to make sure all halal meat is labeled halal so that customers know exactly what it is they are buying.
But we have an early victory in our halal thanksgiving story. Butterball has changed policy and messaging. Here is the email going out to Butterball customers this year. Atlas reader Joe S forwarded me this email:
November 19, 2012
Thank you for your interest in Butterball products.
At Butterball, we pride ourselves on our ability to provide consumers around the world with a variety of wholesome and nutritious products. At this time, Butterball branded products are not certified halal. This applies to both domestic and international Butterball products. We remain dedicated to feeding a diverse, growing global population while adhering to all USDA guidelines.
Please let us know if you have any further questions.
Sincerely,
Butterball Consumer Affairs Department
Fantastic! Shout out to Butterball. Hollaaaaaaaaa!
Want to read more on the Butterball brouhaha? Butterball's Cover-Up -- Or Is That A Burqa? - Atlas Shrugs
No comments:
Post a Comment