Posted on 04/30/2007 7:15:49 AM PDT by DogByte6RER
April 28, 2007 01:39 AM
Frito-Lay Products Containing Pork Seasoning ‘Chip’ off Muslim Consumers Worldwide
By Rima Abdelkader
NEW YORK, 28 April 2007, (Arabisto.com):
In the wake of corporate scandals, the “War on Terror” and increasing globalization in this post-9/11 world, most multinational corporations are finding it increasingly difficult to compete worldwide in marketing their products and services to potential buyers and sellers with America’s tarnished image abroad. One American company, Frito-Lay, a United States company that markets a variety of chips and snack foods internationally, has recently drawn much criticism and concern from its Muslim consumers and non-consumers—not for “anti-American feeling,” but for not informing them of pork enzymes contained in some of its products they consume.
From around the world, Muslims have been calling up Frito-Lay, inquiring about their products after learning of possible pork enzymes in their cheese seasonings. Muslim students and professionals, in response, started email campaigns, wrote on their blogs, and some even created groups on the popular college-networking website, Facebook.
One group on Facebook, “Fight Against Pork in Frito-Lay Products,” has already accumulated over 1,810 students globally. Its moderator urged its members to “call whether [they] are for or against the change” and for them to inform Frito-Lay of their concerns.
Muslims who eat and enjoy Frito-Lay products are concerned that its products are “haram” (Arabic for “forbidden”) since pork is not accepted under the dietary laws in Islam. Muslims can only eat products that are “halal” (Arabic for “permissible”) under Islam. This Arabic term is very much similar to the Hebrew term “kosher, since Jews like Muslims are also forbidden from consuming pork as it is restricted under Judaism.
Some Muslims, however, have opted out of the “contact Frito-Lay” bandwagon and have instead questioned their fellow Muslims’ concerns and actions. On one blog, one Muslim woman wrote on April 3, 2007, “I wonder how many of those people who called Doritos called their local congressman about their opinion of the war? Or to have a fair trial for Dr. Sami Al-Arian? How many of these thought to affect change on more important matters? I mean, if the food is not permissible to eat, I would like to know. But the reaction and the larger context really irks me.”
One Muslim man responded back to her on that same blog, “The reason people are worked up…number of us have been eating Frito-lay products since we were little kids.”
Muslim American Hussam Kubtan, an Industrial and Systems Engineer, who admitted he does not consume Frito-Lay products, told me, he is not sure if this process is “not halal.”
Kubtan added that “unless those enzymes are coming from meat (versus bones or some other non-meat part), and unless they are retaining their properties as a substance, even after the cooking / preparation process is complete, there is inconclusive evidence to suggest that it is haram.”
I spoke to Frito-Lay spokeswoman Aurora Gonzalez to get the record straight. She informed me that Frito-Lay has been aware of this discussion and are “respectful” of those who do not consume pork enzymes.
She told me, “Most cheeses are made using enzymes as part of the process to develop unique flavors, and depending on the flavor, enzyme sources may include vegetable, microbial and/or animal. Pork enzymes may be used in the milk that makes the real cheese for some of our cheese seasonings.”
“However,” she said, “by the time the cheese seasoning arrives at Frito-Lay, the animal enzymes have been physically changed by heat to be inactive long before being added to our snacks.”
According to Princeton University’s Muslim Chaplain Khalid Latif, he told me, it really depends. For some Muslims, he said, whether or not the pork enzymes have evaporated, they still view it as “problematic.” Latif explained that his students at Princeton have also called Frito-Lay inquiring about its seasonings.
Gonzales from Frito-Lay told me, “While some snacks do contain enzymes from porcine sources, many do not.”
She was kind enough to supply me with a list for U.S. citizens of Frito-Lay products that do not contain pork-related ingredients.
Here are some links:
Seasoned products made without porcine enzymes:
http://www.fritolay.com/fl/flstore/cgi-bin/dietary_choices.htm
http://www.fritolay.com/fl/flstore/cgibin/ProdDetEv_Cat_306_SubCat_351852_NavRoot_361689_ProdID_359895.htm
Two Kosher lists: http://www.fritolay.com/fl/flstore/cgibin/ProdDetEv_Cat_306_SubCat_351852_NavRoot_361689_ProdID_359894.htm
Now that it is clear that Frito-Lay does contain pork enzymes in the cheese seasoning of some of its products, the bigger question is whether or not Frito-Lay will cater to its Muslim consumers given this public outcry. Could there be a new market for Muslims in the near future? Will Frito-Lay’s manufacturers and importers consider placing a halal logo on its snack foods that do not contain pork enzymes for its Muslim consumers? If its products contain animal substances, will Frito-Lay consider becoming halal certified by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (or JAKIM)?
According to some young Muslim students and professionals I spoke to, they feel, Frito-Lay is neglecting a large market of Muslim consumers who do not consume any of its products that contain animal enzymes (let alone its pork-enzyme-containing products).
Muslim-American Seton Hall University student, Ibrahim Khaddash, in New Jersey, told me he feels “paranoid” ever since he heard about Frito-Lay’s pork-enzyme-containing products and said, “Muslims need to somehow let these big organizations know that if they want our business then they must obey our dietary laws.”
Rima Abdelkader is a NY-based journalist and a graduate of Pace University in NY.
Then don’t buy it muzzie!
Well, shoot. Does that mean I can’t send hubby any more Dorito’s? We aren’t allowed to send pork products to Iraq. This is getting ridiculous, honestly.
“Good grief! First they were getting all frothed up over a fake story about korans being flushed into toilets now they are angry about Fritos and Doritos.”
I remember reading an article about Saddam Hussien being held before his trial.Apparently he was a huge fan of Doritos.He would ask the American guards constantly for them.
“Muslims need to somehow let these big organizations know that if they want our business then they must obey our dietary laws.”
Frito-Lay seems to be doing quite well without it.
this must be the frito-lay “ Send a terrorist to hell “ campaign I have heard so much about...
Gee. Not a peep (or oink) about any of this before 9/11.
These stupid, fascist,pathetic, primitive, backwards, barbarians and buffoons really don’t have enough to do, do they?
Get a real life.
Then, go "home", raghead! Saudi Arabia is the place for you.
Seriously, I would figure that Frito-Lay would have eliminated the use of pork products in its snacks, just to be acceptable to Jewish consumers. This may well be news to them.
that does it!
I haven’t been buying Frito-lay products because their price went sky high - I’ve been buying store brand.
but after this?
I’m going right down to the store tonite and buying a big bag of cheddar/sour cream ruffles!
And I thought Cheetos only sent your diet to hell!
Pork enzymes rule!
In all fairness, Frito-Lay should let it be known if some or all of their products are not halal, or perhaps label those that are and leave the rest alone.
The muslim complaint festival needs to get over the fact that they do not own or control Frito-Lay. If they believe there i such a huge market for halal tortilla chips, perhaps they should start their own company. Is the moniker Free-to-Slay taken?
ping
You were just looking for an excuse weren't you? ;)
Many people still don’t understand that the tenets of islam consider all non-muslims to be subject to the laws of islam nonetheless. We simply haven’t accepted the yoke, and it is their sacred duty to place it on us.
In other words, they already think they rule the world and we are but unruly rebels.
When I saw ‘fritos fatwa”, I thought fer sure ali posted this thread! ;0)
whenever peta goes after KFC, I go there for a meal, now I can add FL to my list.
if everybody would just buy a bag of chips every time these nut cases spouted off, they wouod shutup once they realize that they’re being counterproductive.
in either case their targets wouldn’t get hurt by their rantings.
OBEY? OBEY? Please call Frito-Lay and let them know what you think of MUSLIM OBEY.
FRITO-LAY
1-800-352-4477
A very lovely woman that I just spoke to there says that this is an “issue” for the company. Evidently, not a good one. Support this company and help them hold the line.
Don’t forget Cheetos!!
MORE for US.
I suppose looking for the Circle-U or K symbol on them is too hard for the koranimals, like observant Jews do.
It’s just so difficult (sarcasm).
Me, I see this as a market opportunity. Get a little “NH” next to the ingrediates “non-halal” foods. Charge an extra nickle.
They must instead protest and threaten beheading. Morons.
ping
This article raises an important question: at what level is a substance still connected to its source from the standpoint of these dietary laws?
In the extreme case, would a Muslim, or Jew drink water that was distilled from the carcass of a pig? Water is just water. But rainwater, and freshwater from lakes and streams, is just recycled water that has evaporated off any number of sources, most of which are not defined as being food.
Have these people considered that sea salt made up of everything that did not evaporate, which includes DNA fragments of dead sea life, even sea life that their dietary laws define as not being suitable for food?
These are not unimportant considerations for people who want to be faithful to the doctrines they follow. I know of some Christians who do not eat Jello because the gelatin contains some products derived from pork, even though the dry crystals from the box cannot in any way be seen as pork meat.
Muslims who eat and enjoy Frito-Lay products are concerned that its products are “haram” (Arabic for “forbidden”) since pork is not accepted under the dietary laws in Islam. Muslims can only eat products that are “halal” (Arabic for “permissible”).....Tell you what, Why don’t you eat “hashita”.
Good one!!
One can only assume none of the Muslims watched the recent segment on foods on the history channel. If they had they would be raising hell with 3/4 of the food industry. Wish I had it on tape now I could list them all but the one that comes to mind was Jello.
Oh and let us not forget the leather industry where it just states made with leather not the exact kind such as suede which is pork hides.
What a bunch of dolts for crying outloud it is dead and has been washed tens of times by the time you get it so get over it already, because it is not dirty any longer
What an idiot!
Hey Ibrahim, you poor, poor victim of evil American corporations, here's a list supplied by Frito-Lay that features 50+ of their products that "obey" your dietary laws.
Go stuff it in your turban.
Check for the hechsure.
Camel Chips.
The Jewish problem with geletan is not that it is a pork product, but that it is generally made from forbidden portions of cows (hooves, bones, skin, nerves, whatever).
There is kosher geletin that is made from plant products or even fish.
I just wish the airlines would do us all a favor and have a pig mascot on every flight.
Even the Left, in a sudden fit of passion, has now started its own WOTF, that is War on TransFats! So, there are a lot of people, who for their own private reasons that nobody else has any right to ignore, or overlook or enforce conversion, find some things that are sold as food for some people to not be food for them.
And I include myself in this, because I have my own preferences and prohibitions, that I have for reasons that are mine alone. Hey! It’s a free country. If you want to impose your food rules on other people, you are free to move to a country where you can do that.
(And that is where I part company with the Left, who wants to force transfats out of my diet, even if it means they must use the armed agents of government to do it.)
Muslims want food that is halal but that has not been "defiled" by the Zionists.
Probably. They are such whinners.
I think I may start up a “Halal Certification” program -— get a trademark crescent or somesuch and then just offer it to anybody with a Circle U label for $500/year.
I could make some serious cash.
BUMP to your reply. Excellent!
It seems to be working so far...
You must be popular with the ladies.
Is that the Jewish snack food made from the blood of Palestinian babies?
What’s a FRee Traitor to do? mussies won’t buy Frito’s, oh my. Blackbird.
No fear here. I eat Frito's. Blackbird.
Someone realease a fake goobement report stating that everything we make has pork in it. Problem solved. Blackbird.
I have some pretty strict laws regarding my food. If it moves, shoot it. If it moves again, grill it. Blackbird.
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