Indian officials conducted a raid on a McDonald’s outlet in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow following the state government’s ban on the distribution and sale of Halal-certified products, as reported by India Today.
The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) officials found Halal-certified products during the raid and are now investigating McDonald’s management, considering imposing a fine of up to INR 300,000 for selling such products.
The ban, implemented on November 20 in India’s most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, covers various products, including dairy, garments, and medicines. The state government cited the illegality of distributing and selling Halal-certified items, asserting that it creates confusion about the quality of food items. Bakery products, sugar, edible oil, and other items labeled as ‘Halal-certified’ by manufacturers are included in the ban.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the country’s apex body for determining food product standards, was mentioned in the state government’s notification. The notification argued that introducing a parallel system of Halal certification creates confusion and emphasized FSSAI’s role in setting standards for most food products.
Uttar Pradesh, governed by Hindu monk Yogi Adityanath, a member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is India’s largest and most populous state. Adityanath and his government have faced accusations of pursuing a divisive agenda against the state’s sizable Muslim population, allegations they consistently deny.
BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi emphasized that religion should not be associated with food and explained that the ban extends to items like garments and sugar labeled as Halal, which is deemed against the law.
