- McJobs and Workers -

Oy Veh!

Posted by: Hugh Morris ( Howard Stern Anti-Defamation League, USA ) on November 06, 1998 at 13:54:02:

In Reply to: Is McDonald's kosher meat? posted by Ahmed Al-Dossary on November 04, 1998 at 12:32:01:

: If anyone knows whether the meat served at McDonald's is Kosher or not, please email me

By kosher, I will assume that you mean according to Jewish beliefs. If this is not the case, don't read any further. While I'm not Jewish, I think it's safe to say that the meat at McDonald's is not kosher, for three reasons...

1) The first step in making kosher meat is in the slaughterhouse--er, processing plant. While most cattle brought for slaughter is killed by first gassing, drowning, or otherwise incapacitating the animal, then cutting off its head, meat can only be considered kosher if the animal is bled to death. This is accomplishe by attaching a chain to the beast's rear legs, and hoisting it, alive, by its legs, to a convenient height. While kicking and screaming, the animal's throat is cut, spilling its blood on the floor. Death follows soon. There are other special procedures in handling kosher meat, but I don't know what they are. These procedures make the meat cost more, thus pricing kosher meat out of the reach of McDonald's.

2) When cooking kosher meat, great care is taken to remove every trace of blood. This isn't easy to do on a griddle, or, at least it requires keeping it on the grill until it completely dries out. In fact, McDonald's in Isreal broils their meat, just like Burger King, since rabbis agree that this method removes all the blood. What is the significance of blood, anyway?

3) Stay away from Big Macs, Quarter Pounders, and Cheeseburgers. All that is left is Hambergers, and perhaps the Arch Deluxe. The reason--it's totally unkosher to mix dairy with meat.


Shalom,

Hugh Morris


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