McDonald’s has come under fire from religious and vegetarian groups for its use of animal oil.
The chairman of the United Muslim Association of Hong Kong, Mohamed Alli Din, demanded the chain change its cooking ingredients. ‘We’ve warned about its use of animal oil in our own community papers,’ he said. ‘There are 80,000 Muslims in Hong Kong. If McDonald’s wants their business, it must adapt.’ Mr Din said that in Malaysia and Singapore, foods prepared by McDonald’s were halal , meaning they accorded with Islamic dietary principles.
Civil engineer Ajaz Shafi was angered when he recently discovered what kind of cooking oil was used. He said he and his wife and three children had dined at McDonald’s once a month since arriving from Britain five years ago.