Posted on 03/22/2024 6:56:40 PM PDT by Morgana
RNS) — A Hindu advocate has called for an official apology from General Mills after learning Yoplait brand yogurts contain gelatin sourced from beef.
Rajan Zed, the president of the Universal Society of Hindus, released a statement on March 19, which included a call for the resignation of General Mills CEO Jeffrey L. Harmening.
Zed said he was told by a friend that the popular yogurt product contained gelatin, but he did not know from where. He wrote a query to the consumer care department of General Mills and received a response, he said, after several tries: “The source of gelatin in all Yoplait Yogurt products is beef.”
“I was appalled,” Zed told RNS in an email.
Hindus commonly abstain from eating beef, believing cows are sacred and revered companions to the gods. Many Hindus venerate cattle as gaumata, or cow mother, an animal they see as nourishing both the body and soul through her supply of dairy. And in India, special protective shelters called gaushalas exist to ensure stray cows have a home.
“It is shocking for Hindus to learn that popular Yoplait yogurts, which many have been eating for years, contained beef, while beef was not explicitly mentioned under the ingredients listed on the Yoplait packages.
“It is a very serious issue for the devotees and would severely hurt their feelings if they would come to know that they were unknowingly eating beef-laced Yoplait yogurts,” he added.
In his statement, Zed urged General Mills to recall all Yoplait items containing gelatin where its source is not clearly mentioned and replace them with packages that “markedly declared source of gelatin under the ingredients label.”
“This issue, besides Hindus, also impacts vegetarians, vegans and devotees of other religions who do not consume certain kinds of meat,” Zed told RNS.
Zed’s organization has long been vocal against the “inappropriate usage or trivialization” of sacred Hindu images by corporations, such as a Lord Ganesha yoga towel and an IPA with the name “Kali the Destroyer.”
General Mills did not respond to RNS for comment. Disclosure of the origin of gelatin, whether bovine, porcine or fish, is not a labeling requirement, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
In 2017, Zed slammed Kellogg’s for not disclosing the beef gelatin in their products, such as Frosted Pop-Tarts, Frosted Mini-Wheats and Rice Krispies Treats cereal. And more recently in 2023, Zed fought against Baskin Robbins for the marshmallows found in their Rocky Road ice cream, also derived from beef and pork gelatin.
Zed says it is altogether safer for Hindus, and others with religious dietary restrictions, to avoid gelatin — traditionally made from collagen that comes from the bones and hides of cows and pigs — since there is no way to be certain about its origin without writing to the manufacturers. Or, he says, people should look for vegan gelatin alternatives.
“General Mills, which claims to be an ‘innovative company that stands for good,’ should not be in the business of hurting the sentiments of trusting consumers and communities and contradicting its own statement ‘Do the Right Thing, All the Time,'” said Zed.
Stop eating convenience foods. And if you have special eating habit and r need it’s on you to read and know ingredients.
“I’m telling you I will open a steak house next to a hindu temple if one should ever pop up near me.”
Curried beef is great! lol
I specifically mentioned Hindus.
“Gelatin was made from ground hooves and cartilage, iirc., learned about ‘parts’ use fifty years ago.”
Right. I’ve always known that gelatin was made from cows’ hooves. Who doesn’t know that? Except maybe ignorant Hindus.
BTW, for those who are all in for Tulsi Gabbard, she is a Hindu. They’re whack jobs.
That’s funny.
Foriegners.
It’s our strength. 🥴
We always called that muktuk, but I guess that is different and not icy.
“a non-kosher meat source with a milk product, a two-fer no-no.)”
That should be fine, right? I learned that double negatives cancel each other out and make a positive. 😆
“The lack of tolerance to other religions is disappointing. Hindus are fairly benign. I agree he should read the label and act accordingly but we can agree to disagree more agreeably.”
Are you fondling your peace sign and rearranging the flowers in your hair?
“Other religions” are TRYING TO KILL US! I won’t tolerate that. If “other religions” want to be here, they need to STFU, assimilate, or GTFU.
It also makes that brand of yogurt un-Kosher (because meat + dairy), but you don’t see any Jews suing over it.
“Do you identify as a Christian?”
No. I don’t identify as a Christian. I AM a Christian, and have been since 1958.
“Do you love your enemies?”
Yes. Technically, but not functionally.
“Are you your brothers keeper?”
No. Hindus are not MY brothers. My ACTUAL brothers ... we take care of each other.
“Hindu are peaceful as a whole and suffer greatly from Islam. Do you hate them?”
I don’t hate the ones who truly ARE peaceful; they’re not in my thoughts one way or another. The ones who come here and have the audacity to expect/demand US to change our culture to accommodate THEIR pagan values ... yes. I hate them.
1 John 2:9–10
9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.
Romans 12:9. “ ... Abhor that which is evil”
Any person, group, or religion trying to destroy our overshadow Christianity, which is the foundation for the USA, is evil.
So I guess I don’t “hate” them as I said before. I abhor them.
Ingredients: Cultured Grade A Nonfat (or lowfat) Milk...Sorry if I offend any FReepers, but most all people in this class are either hypocrites or total dumbasses.
This cat 'Rajan' is no exception (specifically the latter).
Word games. You must love your enemies and forgive those who use you. Matthew 5:47 and Luke 6:32. You should abhor what they do but love them. This separates true Christians and those who think they are Christian. You can’t love your enemies without the Holy Spirit residing in you. Jesus forgave those who drove the nails into His flesh. Can we do the same?
“Word games.”
Yes. Thank you for playing.
I remember, decades ago, when there were so many “Holy Cows” in India that the government started shooting them. It led to Hindu riots.
FDR had no problem with killing and burying cows in the 1930s, to get the price of beef up.
https://livinghistoryfarm.org/farming-in-the-1930s/crops/culling-the-herds/
yes them too and many others
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