KFC Canada faces new backlash over halal chicken amid Gaza boycott
KFC Canada has found itself at the centre of controversy after announcing that it would transition to serving chicken prepared according to Islamic dietary laws.
Early in May, the fast food chain announced that it would start serving halal-certified chicken and discontinue pork products across much of its restaurants in Ontario province - which is home to Canada’s largest Muslim community - in a bid to provide more "diverse and inclusive" options for its customers.
The transition affects all KFC stores within the southeastern territory, except for ones in Thunder Bay and capital Ottawa, though the change would be rolled out across the whole country by the end of year, the chain said in their statement dated 8 May.
Social media users were split on the change.
While some celebrated the steps taken by the popular fried chicken company, saying it would provide more dietary options, thousands took to social media, angry that the chain that been serving halal products for nearly two months, and called for its boycott under several hashtags.
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Some argued that halal meat was a "barbaric form of torture” and alleged that KFC's decision was a sign of an impending takever of the country by Muslims - who constitute around 4.9 percent of Canada's population.
White Canadians in my local fb group are losing their shit and boycotting because KFC announced it’s going to serve halal meat. According to them it’s like “kneeling to Islam” .. the sweet, woke , inclusive Canada
— sherry (@CherieDamour_) July 8, 2024
In Islamic jurisprudence, rules for halal products - “lawful" or "permitted” in English - encompass the sourcing, preparation, and cooking of foods and drinks. This also includes specific guidelines for meat, which animal welfare activists and far-right groups criticise as inhumane, as animals are not stunned before slaughter.
Others social media users alleged that the halal certification would lead to the establishment of sharia - or Islamic law - in Canada, and argued that KFC's announcement was a sign that “the loud minority dictates the policies”.
KFC Canada has collaborated aka bowed down to their Muslim team members and will go Halal in Ontario.
— Kirk Lubimov (@KirkLubimov) July 7, 2024
Sharia Law isn't only poking its head in Canada but slowly establishing itself.
What's next? pic.twitter.com/Fe4UYi2S4h
Several other users slammed these takes as racist or Islamophobic.
"When you see the #BoycottKFC hashtag trending and you're suddenly reminded how many dumb fucking racists live among us," posted one user on X, formerly Twitter.
Wanted to find out why we're supposed to #BoycottKFC and it turns out we're at the "halal food is Hamas" level of Islamophobia
— Designated Dingus (@GasolineJoy) July 7, 2024
Another said: "If you're upset by @KFC_Canada using halal chicken, turns out it's only because you suffer from Islamophobia. Hopefully, you can get past your stupid hatred and racism."
Officials and rights watchdogs in Canada have reported an "alarming" increase in anti-Muslim and antisemitic incidents in the country since the start of Israel's war on Gaza in October.
Last year, a Canadian Senate committee report found that Islamophobia is "deeply" entrenched in Canadian society, noting that far-right and anti-Muslim hate groups were growing, along with incidents of hate.
Double boycott
Several users also suggested alternative fried chicken joints, such as Mary Brown's, Popeyes and Chick-fil-A.
Others, however, pointed out that some of these chains had already been serving halal food at various locations prior to KFC’s announcement.
the fact that you guys are so offended by halal chicken is actually kind of pathetic.
— eli - ( vampire era ) free 🍉 (@stardustandinks) July 8, 2024
Popeyes has been doing this for years.
you guys should be boycotting KFC because they support Israel. not because they use halal chicken. https://t.co/CozVZoUWaR
Meanwhile, another group of users have stated that they have already been boycotting the company for its alleged ties to Israel, which has waged a devastating war on Gaza since October.
“It doesn’t matter what @kfc did, still, Muslim world will #BoycottKFC due to their parent company association with Israel’s company,” one user wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
For a moment I became really happy. KFC will start selling Halal Chicken across Canada before the end of 2024. Ontario effective May 15th, 2024.
— Ali (@alijamshyd) May 16, 2024
But then realized how genocide is going to get sponsored by selling halal fried chicken. It's been a year since I have had my last KFC… pic.twitter.com/USjmnnP309
"They will try many things now that the boycott is there. But don't get distracted. Boycott KFC forever," said another user on Reddit.
Though KFC is not officially a target of the pro-Palestine Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, the US chain has faced pushback in Muslim-majority countries across the Middle East and southeast Asia, and faced grassroots boycott calls alongside companies like Starbucks and McDonald's.
In April, KFC closed over 100 of its outlets in Malaysia amid a months-long boycott campaign over US support for Israel's war on Gaza.
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