By now you have all probably seen the latest: Muslims in Britain are outraged that some potato chips contain trace amounts of alcohol that was not listed on the packaging.
"Muslims shocked to learn that crisps contain alcohol," by Valerie Elliott for the Times (thanks to Jammie Wearing Fool):
Senior Muslim figures have said that they are shocked that a number of Walkers snacks contain traces of alcohol and eating them is therefore against their religion.A tiny amount of alcohol is used in some products as a chemical agent to extract flavour.
The use of alcohol was discovered by Besharat Rehman, who owns a halal supermarket in Bradford, and reported in the Eastern Eye. Mr Rehman said: “Our suppliers were unaware of the alcohol. Walkers must make it clear on the packaging so customers can make an informed choice.”
Shuja Shafi, who chairs the food standards committee of the Muslim Council of Britain, said that he intended to investigate. “Certainly we would find it very offensive to have eaten food with alcohol.” [...]
However, a Walkers consumer care team representative was unapologetic. She said: “There is not enough room on the packaging to list things beyond allergy-causing ingredients that can make people ill. A minimal amount of alcohol is used to extract the flavour of some crisps.”
Snacks that are likely to be boycotted by Muslims are Sensations Thai Sweet Chilli, Doritos Chilli Heat Wave and Quavers Cheese.
I haven't put this up sooner because -- unless Potato Chip Riots break out -- this particular outrage is not unreasonable. I don't think it's an example of the cultural mau-mauing we see with increasing frequency from Muslims in Britain and the U.S., but since it is getting attention everywhere, I thought I should comment on it here. Anyone who fasts or abstains from certain foods, or avoids them for any reason, Muslim or non-Muslim, ought to be able to know what he's eating. The Muslims in this case have a legitimate grievance. What they will do in response may not be legitimate, but that doesn't change the fact that the potato chip manufacturer simply should do what it takes to list all the ingredients.
I am watching and waiting to see how many Muslims I can count staggering around the streets drunk and incapable as a result of eating potato crisps.
I'm a teetotaler, and I find these complaints absurd and without any merit. Just another day in the religion of perpetual outrage.
Another day, another demand.
So let's just say "No".
There are a lot more foods than just those chips that use flavor extracts in an alcohol solution.
And then there is Aspartame(Equal, NutraSweet). That
contains small amounts of methanol, not listed on my Diet ****.
Good on Walkers. As long as they are complying with British labelling standards (which sound like ours, there is no requirement here to list ingredients below a certain level of concentration/those which cause serious reactions to those with allergies...) they can produce what they like for whomever they like/see as their primary customers. No-one HAS to eat Walkers products.
If Barack Obama gets his wish and we bomb Pakistan, bomb them with potato chips!
So far as muslims and alcohol are concerned someone should tell these dumbbells about one problem motels in or near muslim areas have with muslim young men.
One of them will take a room for the night and then up to a dozen muslim men pile in and get smashed out their minds. The motels cannot refuse the booking because that’s “racism” and “stereotyping” but the cost of the clean up really p***** the hoteliers off.
What about feces in chocolate cake...should that be listed as an ingediant?
Another take from the Daily Mail:
"We do not add alcohol to our products. However, ethyl alcohol may be present in trace amounts in a very small number of our flavours.
"It is used as a carrying agent for flavourings, and is found in many common food and drink products.
"Foods like bread can also contain the same or higher trace amounts due to fermentation. "We are aware of the concerns from some Muslim consumers about the appropriateness of specific ingredients. We take the concerns of our consumers extremely seriously.
"In previous assessments by Muslim scholars, foods and drinks that contain trace amounts of ethyl alcohol have been confirmed as permissible for Muslim consumption because of both the fact that the ingredient does not bear its original qualities and does not change the taste, colour or smell of the product, and its very low level." Hmm maybe I take back the "good on Walkers". Too much "of course we care".
"The Muslims in this case have a legitimate grievance."
Not if, in doing so, they are following the evil, unjust and dangerous Mohammed.
What is the argument for cherry-plucking an Islamic stipulation -- which, in the abstract, is harmless -- out of the tight weave of the warp & woof of the tapestry of evil, unjust and dangerous Islam which is that stipulation's context and matrix of meaning?
The only argument I can think of would have to begin with the premise of a viably good, just and harmless Islam, which does not exist now (other than in the imagination and emotions of an insufficiently influential handful), nor has ever existed.
As most brands of chocolate contain a type of pig fat, and all carcasses, including halal, also espouse an amount of alcohol directly after death, surely pious Muslims should refrain from the acts of both eating and drinking. - Just to be on the safe side you understand.....
I am reliably informed that commonly available food products like "Jack Daniels" and "Glen Morangie" also contain traces of alcohol.
Has anyone forewarned muslims about this possibility ?
How minute does a minute trace have to be before it is ignored?
There will be at least one or two molecules of alcohol (of one variety or another) in every foodstuff sold in every shop in the world!
StopMakingSense is absolutely right - all mohammedans should give up eating and drinking completely, at once!
Just for us to be on the safe side...
"..do what it takes to list all the ingredients".
No. The original idea of forcing producers to list ingredients on the packet is trial lawyer nonsense dreamt up by idiotic "strict liability" theories in the '70s. It was never done before that.
Anyone who is really concerned about the contents can make enquiries or get the product tested.
Surely the Islamic (al)"chemists" who have been credited with knowledge of distillation techniques and properties of (al)cohol also knew of the ubiquitous nature of the chemical compounds belonging to the (al)kyl group?
Woe to you -- Islamic "scientists"!!
To be on the safe side, muslims should not eat any food produced or prepared by infidels. Muslims are supposed to eat only food prepared by other muslims so they broke the rules by eating infidel-manufactured potato chips. Let them burn in hell for their carelessness; they deserve nothing less.
Hey all you Aussies. Next time you are in the supermarket, check out the Yoghurt cartons. All the major manufaturers are Halal. Also check the fine print (if you can read it) on Cadbury's chocolates. A good many of those are Halal too. You can go to their website to find out.
We are being dhimmified without knowing it!
Mr Pig, I'll check that out. I like the Greek style yoghurt.
Re Porky pig;
Its just another politically correct marketing ploy from media savvy, and Islamic aware corporations. If it sells another chocolate bar or carton of yogurt - well... - that will do nicely....
When money is your God - Muslims are capital...
Islam's nightmare snack:
Chips flavored- Eggs Benedict ala Arnold Ziffle!
This is even more idiotic than Muslims refusing to wash their hands in hospitals with alcohol-based hand cleaner. The edict against alcohol exists because of the intoxicating effects of drinking it and its effect on behavior, a form of social control, for good or ill, but one embraced by many other religous communities besides Muslims. Anyone with an iota of sense can see the difference between drinking an alcoholic drink and washing your hands with it, or eating something with remote traces of harmless alcohol in it.
I'm afraid I have some very, very bad news for muslims all the world over... The human body itself produces about one ounce of absolute alcohol each and every day!
Will they vigorously complain to their eemums? Bang their heads harder against the ground for forgiveness?
Will muslims show outrage in front of mirrors demanding their own heads be shorn off?
Will they violently demonstrate against themselves, chanting with death signs in the streets in front of their own apartments?
Burn themselves in effigy? Immolate themselves in reality?
Will muslims complain to the governments of Western society that physiological laws must be changed so their 'feelings will not be hurt', keep racial predjudice at bay, and exorcise satan himself from their unclean bodies?
Will muslims toss stones in the air and try to catch them with their heads?
Will they perform 'honor killings' upon themselves for bringing shame to 'mighty mo' and islam?
Or will they give in and order an orange juice to go with that...?
That you, especially Robert, for several years of enlightenment. This is only my second post, and I don't usually feel I can 'hold a lit torch' to 98% of all posters' wit, humor & wisdom! I enjoy reading this site very much, thank you...!
Mike
I don't know, brownkitty. You're doing pretty well as far as I can see. ; )
Remember the refusal of some Islamics to use those handi-wipes in the hospital? It was the alcohol thing trumping the spread of disease. Well, I've seen some in the USA that use Isopropyl Alcohol. Since this is inedible (Ask Kitty Dukakis about that...), it should pass muster with Halil.
Now, about avoiding all things that contain alcohol, may I politely suggest that they think through these things with care? As it turns out, all living organisms contain trace amounts of alcohol, including their fellow Islamics... Have they sworn off all bread products? Bread products all start off with yeast and that means alcohol. So, I suppose they will have to settle for cake, cookies, and crackers. Passover is only supposed to last eight days, but these folks will have to go for 365 days, or however it works out in their calender...
What about a Muslim walking past a pub (well, they never go into them do they? - Allah forbid!)? They must breathe in alcohol vapour.
I learned at school that every time we breathe in we inhale about 5 molecules of Julius Caesar's dying gasp. Ditto for Muhammad's dying gasp I suppose. And Charles Martel's.
Think how many pigs there are in the world. How many molecules of pig breath do Muslims inhale each time they breathe in? Must be millions. I am therefore waiting to hear that all pigs must be slaughtered. Trouble is, their dying gasps would ensure that Muslims would continue to breathe in pig breath for many years to come.
Alcoholic potato chips?
If you dip, don't drive.