KFC switch to halal meat in Ontario doesn’t show ‘respect for all religious dietary restrictions,’ petition says

Making the switch to serving only halal-prepared meat has upset some customers who say the move will exclude members of certain religions, including a Brampton man who’s calling on the restaurant to show “respect for all religious dietary restrictions.”

The online petition was started by Roop Sandhu of Brampton and is in response to the popular fast food chicken chain Kentucky Fried Chicken’s decision to serve only halal meat – an Arabic word that means “permissible” or “allowed” and a term that refers to meat “that is prepared and processed in accordance with Islamic dietary laws,” according to the Halal Monitoring Authority and multiple reports.

And while the change would allow for Muslim patrons to partake in the KFC menu, serving only halal-prepared meat would exclude many Sikhs and Hindus whose religion prohibits eating halal meat.

“This seemingly small decision inadvertently dismisses the dietary preferences and religious sentiments of large communities, making us feel excluded,” the Change.org petition started by Sandhu reads. “Serving exclusively halal meat disregards the dietary requirements of a substantial minority.”

KFC has been serving halal meat at most of its Ontario locations since May, as reported by Canadian Poultry Magazine. The chain’s locations in Ottawa and Thunder Bay have not been included as part of the change, but all other Canadian KFC restaurants are expected to be serving only halal meat by the end of the year.

Sandhu says he recognizes and respects “the significance of halal meat in Islam” and that the petition “is not about questioning those values.”

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“It is about ensuring that the dietary preferences of all individuals are recognized and respected,” the petition reads, urging KFC Canada “to reconsider its decision and instead offer a variety of meat options that cater to different dietary preferences and religious requirements.”

Muslims make up 4.9 per cent of the Canadian population while Hindus and Sikhs account for 2.3 per cent and 2.1 per cent respectively, according to Statistics Canada data from 2021.

The petition had just over 330 signatures of a 500 signature goal as of 10 a.m. on Wednesday.