Hyderabad: The hashtag #BoycottStarbucks trended on X (formerly Twitter) as Mumbai-based Hindu Janajagruti Samiti called for a pan-India boycott of Starbucks in India due to their alleged exclusive use of halal meat.
The organization argued that this practice imposed a ‘halal imposition’ on Hindus and non-Muslims.
The spokesperson, Ramesh Shinde, questioned whether Hindus had the freedom to choose their food. Despite the trending hashtag, Starbucks has yet to respond to the social media boycott call.
The Mumbai-based Hindu Janajagruti Samiti shared a video asserting that Starbucks serves only halal-certified meat in India. Halal, meaning permissible, refers to food adhering to Islamic law. The video explained that halal meat is obtained through specific slaughter methods, excluding the spinal cord.
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In the video, the organization highlighted Starbucks’ substantial business in India, serving 400,000 consumers weekly and achieving over ₹1,000 crore in net sales the previous fiscal year. The video questioned why a significant portion of Starbucks’ revenue was dedicated to halal certification, posing the query: “Should Hindus be compelled to consume Halal-certified food?” The video featured an interaction at a New Delhi Starbucks, where a customer inquired about non-halal options, and a staff member confirmed only halal meat was available, emphasizing it’s suitable for both Hindus and Muslims.
In a separate incident, a viral video showed a train passenger questioning the halal certification of a tea premix sachet. The staff clarified that the tea was vegetarian and met international standards, leading the railways and tea premix company to release statements confirming its vegetarian nature.
