In life-altering news, life-altering that is if you live in India, McDonald’s (the worldwide king of fast food establishments best known for its artery-clogging, all-meat patties) is opening its first all-vegetarian outlets in two northern Indian cities. McDonald’s has chosen Amritsar and Katra, major pilgrimage sites for Sikhs and Hindus respectively, to host the new restaurants starting in mid-2013.
McDonald’s, the second largest fast food retailer in the U.S. after privately-held Subway (and the largest fast food retailer in the world), may face opposition to the Katra opening. According to the Hindu nationalist group Swadeshi Jagran Manch, the multinational’s plans for an outlet near the shrine to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi are an affront to Hindus.
McDonald’s hopes to boost its sales with the new establishments by catering to the local vegetarian tastes. The new and improved menus will feature the McAloo Tikki burger, a mashed potato patty, and a Pizza McPuff, a pizza pastry made up of cheese and vegetables.
McDonald’s India have already eliminated all beef and pork products from its over 270 Indian restaurants in observance of the dietary restrictions of the Hindu and Muslim religions.
Here’s hoping the trend will catch on and maybe someday we will all be eating Pizza McPuffs in Central Park. Until then I may need to start saving for a plane ticket.
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