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Saturday, May 10, 2008 | Reason : In the News | print version Print | Comments

Document British Airways takes beef off the menu to avoid offending Hindus

by This Is London

Thanks to EJ Ashcraft III for the link.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23483255-details/British+Airways+takes+beef+off+the+menu+to+avoid+offending+Hindus/article.do

British Airways takes beef off the menu to avoid offending Hindus

For decades the national dish has been a staple meal on the national carrier.

But now British Airways has taken beef off the menu for economy passengers amid concerns about its "religious restrictions".

The airline has instead switched to a fish pie or chicken dish option for the so-called "cattle class" passengers.

BA's second-biggest long-haul market is to India, where the majority Hindu population do not eat beef because of their beliefs.

The decision to scrap the nation's favourite fare was described as a "great shame" by the English Beef and Lamb Executive, formerly part of the Meat and Livestock Commission.

A spokesman said: "It is regrettable that Britain's flag carrier is not proposing to serve Britain's national dish.

"It is a meal we are rightly proud of. Roast beef and beefeaters are symbols or Britain used to promote tourism.

"Our beef is also much in demand overseas. It is predominately grass fed and highly praised for its flavour.

"It is obviously up to British Airways to decide what they serve on flights, but beef is an ideal meat for making into airline meals." A BA spokesman said the it stopped serving beef to economy class passengers last month.

He added: "We can only serve two options and beef and pork obviously have religious restrictions.

"We have to try to use two meals which appeal to as many customers as possible. This summer season we are offering customers in World Traveller on most longhaul flights a choice of chicken and tarragon or fish pie.

"We also look at trends from major supermarkets to see what types of meals are popular and fish pie style meals are selling well at the moment.

"These two meals proved popular in tasting tests and are also proving popular on board.

"It has nothing to do with the fear of causing offence - we always offer alternative meals for people with special dietary requirements if they order in advance.

"We are still serving beef based meals on certain menus in First Class and Club World and are currently deciding on whether or not to use beef on the menus for World Traveller customers for the winter season."

The Hindu Council UK said: "The Hindu community will welcome this decision and the news it has been made partly because Hindus don't eat beef.

"Hindus have a great deal of respect for British culture and are well integrated into the British way of life, so it's good to see evidence of how they are literally flying the British flag by choosing British Airways.

"That said, Hindus are tolerant of the beliefs of others and do not expect everyone to stop eating a food because they do not eat it."

In the past three months world beef prices have risen from about £2,500 a tonne to more than £4,000 a tonne, largely because of the weakening dollar and rising feed costs.

BA also said that cost is not a reason for the decision to stop serving beef.

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1. Comment #178039 by Negasta on May 10, 2008 at 10:31 am

Yet another reason that I never want to go to or live in Britain.

The go out of their way to fellate religion at every possible opportunity.

PS. Yay in 1st comment!

Other Comments by Negasta

2. Comment #178042 by 82abhilash on May 10, 2008 at 10:38 am

I suspect the real reason is is the price rise in beef from £2,500 a tonne to more than £4,000 a tonne. The religiosity is just a convenient excuse.

Other Comments by 82abhilash

3. Comment #178046 by shellemush on May 10, 2008 at 10:46 am

Never mind about "offending" the British beef producers.

Other Comments by shellemush

4. Comment #178048 by mordacious1 on May 10, 2008 at 10:54 am

Last time I flew BOA I sat next to a cow, and she didn't seem offended that I was eating beef. Are they going to ban drinking alcohol to keep from offending our muslim friends, or have they already done that? I haven't flown them for 20 years.

Other Comments by mordacious1

5. Comment #178049 by Jimbesity on May 10, 2008 at 10:58 am

 avatarThis is ridiculous. If your doctrine says 'Don't do X', that does not give you a right to make everyone around you conform to not doing X. They're your damned restrictions, keep it so they only restrict you. I can't bring myself to believe that the world around is us becoming so pussyfooted and politically correct that we have to abide by the dietary choices of third world countries. I never had a problem with Hinduism before beside the usual "they're deluded" issue I have with nearly every faith anyway, but this has gone too far.

Whenever you religious folks are done blowing things up, destroying free speech, and demanding special rights while you do it: Can the rest of us -- in the words of Marcus Brigstocke -- HAVE OUR PLANET BACK?

Other Comments by Jimbesity

6. Comment #178052 by FightingFalcon on May 10, 2008 at 11:03 am

 avatarWhat about offending beef eaters??!!

When I fly BA back to the States next month I'm gonna demand beef on religious grounds. Surely the FSM mandates the consumption of beef!!!

On a serious note...I can understand this move for flights going to/from India. Why ruin the fun for the rest of us going to America?

edit: O yea, if BA stops its free alcohol policy, I will never fly them again. Putting up with the headache known as Heathrow is only worth it if I can drink for free on the flight home.

Other Comments by FightingFalcon

7. Comment #178055 by Nova on May 10, 2008 at 11:08 am

This isn't about offense at all, we read about Muslims so much that some of us and this newspaper have jumped to the conclusion this is about offense, its not. Hindus generally don't get offended or force their viewpoints on others, as this shows:

The Hindu Council UK said:
That said, Hindus are tolerant of the beliefs of others and do not expect everyone to stop eating a food because they do not eat it.

This is simply a business decision because Hindus choose personally not to eat beef. That is perfectly fine on both the Hindus' and BA's part - because a large amount of customers would never buy it, beef was less profitable than other options.

This newspaper is right-wing and is just plain lying when they say that it was to avoid offending Hindus who never expressed offense - it just wants to get its political views across which are not anti-religion but 'traditional values'.

I dislike being the defender of religion - ultimately the metaphysical claims of Hinduism are irrational dogma and like all religions humanity would be better off without them. I defend it because like Buddhism, Hinduism is responsible for almost no trouble to society and our real enemies at the moment are the really damaging religions of Christianity in the States and Islam in Britain.

Other Comments by Nova

8. Comment #178057 by FightingFalcon on May 10, 2008 at 11:12 am

 avatar


This is simply a business decision because Hindus choose personally not to eat beef. That is perfectly fine on both the Hindus' and BA's part - because a large amount of customers would never buy it, beef was less profitable than other options.


Right....but India only represents a minority of BA's customers. Like I said earlier, why remove it on ALL flights. I can definitely understand why they would remove it on flights to/from India but not all.


"Our beef is also much in demand overseas. It is predominately grass fed and highly praised for its flavour."

I'm kind of surprised to hear that. I've lived here for a year and never once have I touched the beef. Call me crazy but mad cow/hoof-and-mouth outbreaks here have kinda driven me away from British beef...

Other Comments by FightingFalcon

9. Comment #178058 by Nova on May 10, 2008 at 11:15 am

FightingFalcon typed:
Right....but India only represents a minority of BA's customers. Like I said earlier, why remove it on ALL flights. I can definitely understand why they would remove it on flights to/from India but not all.
It is economically inefficient to have lots of different menus for different flights. It is much cheaper to stick to a set few foodstuffs to buy and get delivered.
I'm kind of surprised to hear that. I've lived here for a year and never once have I touched the beef. Call me crazy but mad cow/hoof-and-mouth outbreaks here have kinda driven me away from British beef...
This did scare many away from British beef and like autism from the MMR vaccine it is completely illogical and unscientifically based because there is no human form of mod cow or foot and mouth disease nor is there even close to being a human form so please stop worrying.

Other Comments by Nova

10. Comment #178060 by FightingFalcon on May 10, 2008 at 11:23 am

 avatar

It is economically inefficient to have lots of different menus for different flights. It is much cheaper to stick to a set few foodstuffs to buy and get delivered.


Yes, I suppose that's true. I've never heard of this newspaper so I suppose that it could simply be bias.


This did scare many away from British beef and like autism in the MMR vaccine it is completely illogical and unscientifically based because there is no human form of mod cow or foot and mouth disease nor is there even close to being a human form so please stop worrying.


I'll take your word for it, mate! Looks like I'm getting minced meat pie at the pub tonight :D

Other Comments by FightingFalcon

11. Comment #178062 by Nova on May 10, 2008 at 11:29 am

FightingFalcon typed:
I'll take your word for it, mate! Looks like I'm getting minced meat pie at the pub tonight :D
Heh heh :D

Other Comments by Nova

12. Comment #178064 by PJG on May 10, 2008 at 11:39 am

 avatar

82abhilash says:

I suspect the real reason is is the price rise in beef from £2,500 a tonne to more than £4,000 a tonne. The religiosity is just a convenient excuse.


I think you are right. I hope you are right!

Other Comments by PJG

13. Comment #178066 by saraswati on May 10, 2008 at 11:45 am

Ugh. My objection to this is that now all passengers will choose the chicken, leaving only the fish option for those at the back of the plane. Always happens to me.

Anyway, don't most airlines already offer all sorts of options, including "Hindu vegetarian", on special request? And many airlines already offer an Indian vegetarian meal as one of the two major options on all flights to and from India.

If they're really taking beef off all planes it doesn't make sense do to that for fear of offending Hindus... I don't think Hindus make up a significant proportion of flights that don't originate or end in India.

The article didn't explicitly specify, are they also going to stop serving pork on all planes?

Rather than fear of offending, it seems to be more about pleasing as many people as possible, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I just hope they don't end up serving only vegan food.

Other Comments by saraswati

14. Comment #178067 by faouloki on May 10, 2008 at 11:53 am

 avatar
Nova - I defend it because like Buddhism, Hinduism is responsible for almost no trouble to society and our real enemies at the moment are the really damaging religions of Christianity in the States and Islam in Britain.


Absolutely untrue. I would suggest reading some Hitchens for some good examples. Buddhism, and particularly Hinduism can be just as damaging, you just don't hear about them so much because both the US and the UK are Christian-dominated societies currently obsessed with Islam.

Other Comments by faouloki

15. Comment #178068 by Border Collie on May 10, 2008 at 11:54 am

I can't even comment on this silly BS any longer. Hey, thank goodness for the Brits ... every time I get utterly sick of the "mamby-pamby, PC, I'm offended, call a waaaaaambulance" crap here in the US, I can always look east and know that the Brits are way ahead of us in the arse kissing game ...

Other Comments by Border Collie

16. Comment #178069 by epeeist on May 10, 2008 at 11:56 am

 avatarComment #178055 by Nova

This newspaper is right-wing and is just plain lying when they say that it was to avoid offending Hindus
Look at the bottom of the page - the Evening Standard is part of the Mail group. A paper so thoroughly nasty that irate_atheist won't even take a copy for his cat to crap on.

A paper whose principle method of selling itself was to give its readers a daily hate.

Other Comments by epeeist

17. Comment #178071 by Mitchell Gilks on May 10, 2008 at 12:09 pm

 avatarAnd I was all ready to be pissed off when I saw the headline. I get offended everytime I go to the grocery strore... and see disgusting hunks of flesh everywhere. No one seems to care about offending me. That is what I was going to say.

This is obviously not about offending people, but clearly exactly for the reasons offered. It would be foolish to have a main dish of beef on a flight to india which is sure to have a large number of Hindus, no one will buy it. Getting a dish that is far more likely to be popular with Hindus, as well as other people is the best economic and pragmatic course of action.

This news paper seems to be purposely attempting to stir shit.

Other Comments by Mitchell Gilks

18. Comment #178074 by Elles on May 10, 2008 at 12:30 pm

 avatar...

There isn't a vegetarian option?

Right then, I'm going to go find some lunch. I'm thinking roast beef sandwich...

Other Comments by Elles

19. Comment #178076 by alexmzk on May 10, 2008 at 12:42 pm

English Beef and Lamb Executive

i like the idea that such an organisation exists.
to be fair though, there's no point in them selling a dish that a large number of their customers are simply not ever going to buy or eat under any circumstances.

Other Comments by alexmzk

20. Comment #178077 by mordacious1 on May 10, 2008 at 12:44 pm

So, the next time I go on a hunger strike to protest the excesses of religion, and board BA I can insist that the rest of the passengers get nothing to eat either?

Other Comments by mordacious1

21. Comment #178078 by Szkeptik on May 10, 2008 at 12:48 pm

"That said, Hindus are tolerant of the beliefs of others and do not expect everyone to stop eating a food because they do not eat it."

How kind of them...

Other Comments by Szkeptik

22. Comment #178082 by Partisan on May 10, 2008 at 1:03 pm

 avatarThis doesn't bother me at all - some people are vegetarian, and people's reasons for being vegetarian seem alien to me. Some people don't eat beef, and their reasons also strike me as bizzare, BUT if they form a majority of the airline's passengers then it makes perfect sense to change the menu to their tastes.

Also, as it turns out, I prefer chicken and fish pie to beef (and I'm British), so big woop =]

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23. Comment #178086 by PaulJ on May 10, 2008 at 1:16 pm

 avatar
I'm kind of surprised to hear that. I've lived here for a year and never once have I touched the beef. Call me crazy but mad cow/hoof-and-mouth outbreaks here have kinda driven me away from British beef...
This did scare many away from British beef and like autism from the MMR vaccine it is completely illogical and unscientifically based because there is no human form of mod cow or foot and mouth disease nor is there even close to being a human form so please stop worrying.
The human form of BSE (mad cow disease) is new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

Other Comments by PaulJ

24. Comment #178090 by WilliamP on May 10, 2008 at 1:23 pm

As an atheist I am offended whenever a company panders to religion like this.

Other Comments by WilliamP

25. Comment #178095 by Enlightenme.. on May 10, 2008 at 1:30 pm

 avatarChicken tikka is the national dish now anyway, we are no longer rosbeufs.

Gettin' back to watching East is East on C4

Other Comments by Enlightenme..

26. Comment #178097 by Broicher on May 10, 2008 at 1:32 pm

This is absolutely ridiculous. Imagine vegans would hav a religion! Or - don't know the word in English - those people who eat only raw food! COME ON!

Even when you fly ElAl (the Israeli Airline) you can chose between kosher and non-kosher!

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27. Comment #178111 by Dinah on May 10, 2008 at 2:15 pm

This strikes me as being a bit of a storm in a stew pot. I mostly find the food on planes so disgusting I'm unable to work out what kind of meat is lurking in those foil trays (it could be horse for all I know) and I end up just eating the roll and cheese and leaving the rest. I suspect this decision is far more to do with economics and profit margins than religious dietary requirements.

Other Comments by Dinah

28. Comment #178124 by nalfeshnee on May 10, 2008 at 2:40 pm

""Hindus have a great deal of respect for British culture and are well integrated into the British way of life, so it's good to see evidence of how they are literally flying the British flag by choosing British Airways."

paraphrase as:

"Hindus have bugger all respect for British culture and are so far from being integrated into the British way of life that they can actually take offence merely because one of the food options on plane flights doesn't agree with their pet delusions. In this, we are literally pissing on the British flag by threatening to boycott British Airways until they bend the knee before us."

Or words to that effect.

Other Comments by nalfeshnee

29. Comment #178137 by redkris on May 10, 2008 at 3:09 pm

Holy cow! I expect this decision is motivated by worry of offending, although Hindu's themselves have probably had little to do with the decision; the decision will most likely have been made by a non-Hindu who has taken it upon him/herself to act as defender of their cultural difference by depriving everyone else of an eating option.

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30. Comment #178138 by Chris C on May 10, 2008 at 3:12 pm

They did a good thing for a bad reason.

Other Comments by Chris C

31. Comment #178144 by Apathy personified on May 10, 2008 at 3:24 pm

redkris, i think you are probably right. There are far too many of those people in Britain, each and everyone deserves an almighty backhand to the face.

However, they may just be using Hindu's as the sacrifical cow in this case, as a smoke screen to cost cutting.

Other Comments by Apathy personified

32. Comment #178145 by justdust on May 10, 2008 at 3:26 pm

Hmmm beef is getting damn expensive on the menu - we'll have to get rid of it. Negative.

We are withdrawing beef, because beef on our menu may cause offence to (whoever it is). Positive

Other Comments by justdust

33. Comment #178147 by al-rawandi on May 10, 2008 at 3:28 pm

 avatarCan't these cow worshippers just hot eat beef. Are BA passengers force fed beef or something?



"If you don't eat this steak, you will be forcibly ejected from the plane over the Atlantic Ocean."



Why are the religious such whiny bitches?

Other Comments by al-rawandi

34. Comment #178148 by Colwyn Abernathy on May 10, 2008 at 3:34 pm

 avatarOI! I want mah cheezburger, pls. I promise I won't make any Hindus try any, even the cheese. Is that too much to ruddy ask?!

Other Comments by Colwyn Abernathy

35. Comment #178153 by Null-T on May 10, 2008 at 3:56 pm

 avatarThis sounds like just an excuse to cut costs.

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36. Comment #178154 by noamzur on May 10, 2008 at 3:56 pm

Can I ask to avoid flying Bigot Airways in that case? But the competitors aren't much better anymore.
Of course it's a financial decision! Why can't they just admit it?
Although I would wait to see what the official BA statement and not a write-up in a newspaper.

Other Comments by noamzur

37. Comment #178159 by Jack Rawlinson on May 10, 2008 at 4:16 pm

 avatarI hope the writer of this piece realises what huge offence he or she may have given to Hindus by referring to those who fly in "cattle class".

Other Comments by Jack Rawlinson

38. Comment #178167 by robotaholic on May 10, 2008 at 4:44 pm

 avatarjust eat a pound of raw beef before you get on the damn plane

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39. Comment #178174 by whaleselbow on May 10, 2008 at 5:22 pm

Will fish only be served on Fridays?

Other Comments by whaleselbow

40. Comment #178177 by riki on May 10, 2008 at 5:37 pm

 avatarCouldn't they compromise with a nice beef curry? In any case I guess chicken is better than Tofu.

Other Comments by riki

41. Comment #178179 by joeyoap on May 10, 2008 at 5:49 pm

Do you really all read the usual anti-anyone not white,middle class,English that that poor excuse for a newspaper writes and just take it at face value?Seems like a bit of good old fashioned racism to me,or at least a bit of bandwagon jumping in order to promote their right-wing agenda.There are enough genuine examples of bending over backwards for religion to get on your high horses about without finding phoney ones in that piece of crap.

Other Comments by joeyoap

42. Comment #178180 by ChaToXXX on May 10, 2008 at 5:59 pm

 avatarThe way I see it, BA's decision is mostly due their studies on passengers' preferences. They are aiming for a common denominator in international travellers. Chicken is the first option, as it has a very soft taste. The second option could be pork, beef, fish, or vegetarian, and they have opted for fish as they have (probably) many passengers who don't eat beef and/or who don't eat pork, some of them for religious reasons, others just because of taste.

I'm atheist and vegetarian. I am vegetarian because I see that animals raised to be eaten by humans suffer, and I know many other vegetarians that are so for ethical reasons, not because of some religious precept.

As a vegetarian, I would love to see more empathy with animal suffering. I don't think that can be achieved through laws, but by seeking a deeper understanding of our relationship with other species.

Other Comments by ChaToXXX

43. Comment #178182 by mmurray on May 10, 2008 at 6:02 pm

 avatar

This did scare many away from British beef and like autism from the MMR vaccine it is completely illogical and unscientifically based because there is no human form of mod cow or foot and mouth disease nor is there even close to being a human form so please stop worrying.


Tell that to the local health department who haven't let me donate blood for years now after living in the UK from 1980-1983.

This article is a beat up. I would assume the main reason they want to be able to offer two choices that everybody will like is so they don't have to worry about one choice being used up.

While we are on the topic of Hinduism there was an article recently here about a lower caste woman who died after childbirth in India, outside the hospital, because the only doctor in the hospital who was willing to touch her was out.

http://www.medindia.net/news/Untouchable-Woman-Dies-After-Hospital-Refuse-to-Treat-Her-35871-1.htm

When your faith is a mismatch to reality disaster and suffering always follow eventually.

Michael

Other Comments by mmurray

44. Comment #178199 by Stella on May 10, 2008 at 8:42 pm

 avatarAs someone who does not consume beef based on a substantial amount of logical thought and ethical concern, and who generally cannot get an appropriate airplane meal, I find this incredibly stupid.

Other Comments by Stella

45. Comment #178200 by Ian on May 10, 2008 at 8:43 pm

Sorry if anyone got here first, but it appears you only have to have principles if you're in economy class.

Fly business and you can be as depraved as you wish. Perhaps they'll introduce roast puppy...

Other Comments by Ian

46. Comment #178209 by Roy_H on May 10, 2008 at 10:09 pm

Why not take all meats off the menu so it won't offend vegetarians?.....Really, this is the thin end of the wedge!

Other Comments by Roy_H

47. Comment #178210 by huzonfurst on May 10, 2008 at 10:24 pm

The next time I find myself on any airline sitting next to someone with religious food restrictions I will demand to be served that exact dish, and if it's a Muslim with alcohol besides!

Alaska Airlines is in the habit of providing everyone with little Bible verses during meals, btw. This is of course irritating not only to atheists but any other non-xtian or jew. I make up for it by handing it back to the steward(ess) and informing them that I most definitely did not order shit with my meal.

Other Comments by huzonfurst

48. Comment #178214 by evaporated on May 10, 2008 at 11:10 pm

Like removing beef from the menu could make British food any worse. Your food sucks worse than your weather.

Other Comments by evaporated

49. Comment #178215 by eggplantbren on May 10, 2008 at 11:10 pm

 avatarI'd support the same decision if it was for environmental reasons - but it's an airline and I don't think they want people to think too much about the environment. :)

Other Comments by eggplantbren

50. Comment #178228 by davem on May 11, 2008 at 12:49 am

"As a vegetarian, ..., but by seeking a deeper understanding of our relationship with other species."

Let me explain it. We are top of the tree. We eat them, not the other way around. Simple, really.

Other Comments by davem
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