McDonald’s Opens Its First Meat-Free Restaurants

By on September 5, 2012 in News 21

I’m frankly speechless. This seems as if it symbolizes something –  but what exactly? The true end of the American century? Russia Today reports:

The McDonald’s restaurant chain is to open its first vegetarian-only outlets in India. The move is not so much about the hamburger chain going vegan due to a revelation, rather an aspiration to win over the lucrative fast food market of India. The company’s signature product is taboo in India because cows are sacred and beef-eating is prohibited by religion.

Two vegetarian McDonald’s are due to open next year in the Indian pilgrimage centres in the city of Amritsar, home to the Golden Temple, and the town of Katra. “A vegetarian store makes absolute sense in the places which are famous as pilgrimage sites,” Rajesh Kumar Maini, a spokesman for McDonald’s India told AFP.

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  • TennesseeCyberian

    What does this symbolize?  The endless malleability of corporate giants who can afford to evolve.  It’s like these new, green, Wal-Mart “Community Marketplace” box stores I’m seeing everywhere.

    I can just hear them say, “No, seriously, we’re good now.”

    • Jin The Ninja

      this ^ is a good, cogent comment.

      • mannyfurious

        Yeah, it’s weird. Most of the time he’s the TennesseeCyberian we all know and tolerate. But every now and then, something humane flies off of his keyboard.

    • Wanted

      He can be a little extreme but he writes very well.

  • Dishonor

    These people won’t eat beef because their religion says cows are sacred… Come on, grow the fuck up. Nothing is sacred, right and wrong are imaginary. 

    • Jin The Ninja

      what the F* are you talking about?

    • Jesseheichertii

      You’re mentally deficient. Sacred isn’t real or fake, it’s in between, the unspoken for, because tongue’s can’t muster up the strength of words. Yet another wasted teen who think’s its relevant to hate anything with the name religion in the sentence. Grow some balls, and no, I don’t mean call yourself an Atheist. 

    • Northbeach

      They are entitled to live the way they want. You want to do business in their country….. you play by their rules and keep your fucking mouth shut. Get that straight jackass.

  • Samcornwell

    The importance of keeping the brand is interesting. A new franchise could have been started with a different logo, disassociating itself from McDonalds however, the execs must have a great deal of confidence in this working. I’m a vegetarian and would happily visit a meat-free McDonalds, although I’d hope to be served more than just cardboard. 

  • Jason Quackenbush

    McDonalds is already very popular in India and their restaurants serve veg and non-beef fare like the “Maharaja burger” which is a chicken sandwich modeled on the big mac. The food they serve actually tastes much better than the crap they sell in America, so this makes some sense that they’d open in amritsar and katra as a completely veg menu. Finding places to eat in holy cities can be very difficult. I bet they’ll make a mint.

  • griezzel

    seems like a very bad idea, since uniformed people will assume they are selling the usual fare and want to destroy the outlet. 

  • Hadrian999

    hmmmm and i just thought they were going to be honest about the content of their “meat”

  • Foofoofoofoofoofoofoo

    if they do not support cow eating, why would they give their money to a company that still serves cow? it might not be at that location, but their money is contributing to cow killing.

  • http://buzzcoastin.posterous.com BuzzCoastin

    I’ve visited something like 45 countries and there’s always a Mickey D’s somewhere.
    I remember seeing Mickey D’s in Paris in the 80′s and wondering who ate there. (mostly ‘Merkins then)
    I was in Phnom Penh in 2009 when the first Burger King opened.
    I’ve noticed the Thai’s are getting quite porky & tall since Mickey D’s arrived 15 years ago.

    As I travel around the world,
    I’m constantly amazed by the dissemination of ‘Merkin culture
    and it’s ability to subvert local culture without much resistance and
    a lot of popular support for the adoption of pieces of the ‘Merkin dream.
    God Bless ‘Merka

    • Jin The Ninja

      the first time i was in paris (94 or 95) i have very distinct memories of the shock at their being a gap and a mcdicks on the champs elysees.

      • http://buzzcoastin.posterous.com BuzzCoastin

        I wonder how long before Micky D gets to Burma?
        I bet the first one’s located near the The Shwedagon.

        • Jin The Ninja

          a military junta and the corporate giant who brought diabetes to the mainstream. seems like a good fit. do gilded roofs fit in with mcdick’s colour scheme?

        • Aungsan

          Having been to Burma, and loving the eerie air of being in a place that is hidden decades back in time, I would have to say that MacD will ruin the country; following a traditional line, even if it is in a radical way, I’ll spit betel nut on their windows.

          • http://buzzcoastin.posterous.com BuzzCoastin

            Unfortunately, as you now from your visit,
            the Burmese can’t wait to jump into the 21st century.
            They think they’re missing all the fun.

            When Micky D’s finally makes it to Inle Lake or Bagan
            the end of the world is near.

  • Haystack

    Would you like your salad deep fried or char-broiled? 

  • Wanted

    Place greens under radiation…. check.