What's the beef with Halal?

[Paddy55]

QF are throwing meals in the deal. And since QF has never had the option for pax to request exactly what they'd like to eat on board, QFs service delivery towards you hasn't changed an iota.

Theyve made a business decision to not serve a bacon sambo on those four routes. You are welcome to make a business decision to take your business elsewhere. Maybe if enough people do (and I suspect that will happen), Qantas will reasses the change.

You'd really change your travel plans because you could/couldn't get a bacon sambo?
I've never had a hot breakfast, in any cabin, where I expected to get bacon, and was upset when I didn't... And I love it!

 

[RooFlyer]

QF are throwing meals in the deal. And since QF has never had the option for pax to request exactly what they'd like to eat on board, QFs service delivery towards you hasn't changed an iota.

Theyve made a business decision to not serve a bacon sambo on those four routes. You are welcome to make a business decision to take your business elsewhere. Maybe if enough people do (and I suspect that will happen), Qantas will reasses the change.

I actually think QF service has changed by an iota or more. THIS service is now restricted to having the menu prepared according to one particular religion's requirements.

Don't you think that's strange?

And why? Its a commercial decision of course. Emirates would have said "Our premium customers (at least) require this choice." Qantas then said "Well, we can't afford to have special halal meals as an option, so we'll go the whole hog." (Or not, but you get the idea.) <redacted off-topic comments>

 

[RooFlyer]

Ridiculous comment. Many people that eat Halal were born here in Australian. Just because their background and culture has taught them to do things a certain way does not in any way shape or form mean that it is not part of their "Australian" values and culture.

So many people are from different nationalities and have different beliefs, values and cultures.

Need I remind people that back in the 50's and 60's when many Europeans came to this country, no one wanted a bar of them. They were treated terribly by "Australians" (or so called Australian society).
These same people don't think anything of eating Pasta, Kebabs, Souvlaki, Fried Rice, Curry.

I am so disappointed to read so many judgemental and non informed views via certain posts.

Do some of you not have friends from other cultures? Would you insult them about their beliefs to their face? I think not.

Pssst. Don't look now, but I think the issue might be about choice, not kebabs. In none of your post is there anything about people being given no option except to consume a certain culture's food preparation routine, which is what Qantas is apparently doing. I think an "Australian value" might be to allow tolerance of people who want to have a choice of food other than prepared according to one particular religion's beliefs.

<redacted off-topic comments>

 

[whatmeworry]

According to Homer, bacon is not a problem.

 

[SQ421]

I actually think QF service has changed by an iota or more. THIS service is now restricted to having the menu prepared according to one particular religion's requirements.

Don't you think that's strange?

Not at all. The ingredients in the service QF provides may have changed, but the service certainly hasn't. You'll still get the same number of meals. And the contents of those meals never were guaranteed. All QF is now doing is guaranteeing that certain elements will not be there on those four flights. To a practicing Muslim or a Jew, presence of Pig Products in their meal is far bigger a deal than the absence of same, is to a non-Muslim/non-Jew.

Now, Qantas could've said, we'll only load Halal meals for the pax that request them, but consider this

1. QF will uplift food for two sectors per flight from DXB
2. It is extremely unlikely that any DXB flight kitchen prepares food that isn't Halal, so the food uplifted from DXB would've been Halal regardless on those 2 sectors.
3. QF flights now have an EK number. Passengers used to "all food is halal on EK flights" and not quite up to the understanding of Codeshares might have had problems upon discovering that the food wasn't Halal.
4. With QF/EK alliance, maybe QF and EK are consolidating their flight kitchen vendors in SYD/MEL and it would then be logical to adhere to "stricter" of the two requirements.

There's absolutely nothing strange about the business decision Qantas has made in this regard. If the availability of Bacon dictates your flight choice, I'm sure CX/SQ would be willing to have you onboard.

 

[SQ421]

Is this OK with you? Can I order a 'special meal' on these flights not halal?

You could order any of the IATA mandated special meals that Qantas will make available on these flights.

They may have been prepared with ingredients that comply with the halal requirements (but materially, that would be no different to how your meal on a flight today was made with halal-tick ingredients) but will be a special meal regardless.

I expect you to come back with "can I ask for bacon in my meal"; well, Qantas has never given the choice to order specific dishes, so why would that be any different?

 

[SQ421]

You'd really change your travel plans because you could/couldn't get a bacon sambo?
I've never had a hot breakfast, in any cabin, where I expected to get bacon, and was upset when I didn't... And I love it!

Sorry, the post you quoted should've read "I suspect that wouldn't happen"

 

[mannej]

<redacted off-topic comments>

Can anyone actually say that apart from Turkey Bacon, is there actually any discernible difference in the way that halal food tastes compared to non halal?

 

[mella2007]

<redacted off-topic comments>

Can anyone actually say that apart from Turkey Bacon, is there actually any discernible difference in the way that halal food tastes compared to non halal?

No difference in taste. My parents work in food manufacturing have dealt with Halal classification for a product you wouldn't even think (and tastes no different)

<redacted off-topic comments>

 

[mella2007]

Here's an article also about Gate Gourmet (the largest aviation catering company in the world) making most of their dishes Halal compliant. Affecting some of the biggest airlines in the world World

 

[whatmeworry]

Can anyone actually say that apart from Turkey Bacon, is there actually any discernible difference in the way that halal food tastes compared to non halal?

KFC went from animal fat to plant oil for frying and a couple of people I know, now swear KFC tastes different. Not sure if the switch was the result of a Halal thing but their are many fans that love their pig bacon in their KFC burgers.

Food scientists and food manufacturers regularly change product recipes and tell us they taste no different. However tell that to drinkers of VB! CUB recently changed the recipe and process after admitting the public were no fools!

 

[whatmeworry]

Here's an article also about Gate Gourmet (the largest aviation catering company in the world) making most of their dishes Halal compliant. Affecting some of the biggest airlines in the world World

Most carriers currently offer halal dishes, but these are more expensive to supply as they need to be prepared, stored and transported separately in order to comply with Islamic dietary laws.

So basically it is a money saving measure whether we like it or not?

 

[bossreggie]

Here's my take on this. I'm neither spiritual or religious. But I understand there are many people out there who are quite religious.

I think Qantas is probably doing the right thing. Why should someone devoutly Muslim have to be in a situation where their meal MAY become tainted by something Non-Halal?

Qantas can't ever win with this decision because Religion is incredibly important to many people....... BUT....... there are others who don't give a toss.

Just like I (as a non religous person) am happy to go Halal when flying via DXB..... I'd also defend someone's right to be able to display a Nativity Scene in a public place.

It's always seemed very sad to me, that religon which in whatever guise it takes, is supposed to be about love, peace tolerance, forgiveness, etc, etc...... so often, ultimately becomes something, which actually brings out intolerance in so many.

I say, pray to anyone you like.

I'm not going to care if my next steak sandwich in F is Halal.

 

[whatmeworry]

I think Qantas is probably doing the right thing. Why should someone devoutly Muslim have to be in a situation where their meal MAY become tainted by something Non-Halal?

Bossreggie, most airlines offer halal, kosher, vegetarian and I think gluten free. At the end of the day I think QF has made this decision solely on profitability.
World

Most carriers currently offer halal dishes, but these are more expensive to supply as they need to be prepared, stored and transported separately in order to comply with Islamic dietary laws.

Care must be taken to ensure kitchen cleaning products contain no alcohol. The large industrial dishwashers used by caterers have to be drained and disinfected after washing equipment from a western airline before they can wash an all-halal airline’s utensils, a process that takes up to four hours.

In a bit of a side topic, cheese to be halal certified cannot use an enzyme that comes from pigs.

 

[bossreggie]

Hey whatmeworry. I will just ask the question directly to Alan Joyce at dinner tomorrow.

I may not get an honest answer, but he was happy to be very chatty on the plane last night.

 

[JohnK]

So many people are from different nationalities and have different beliefs, values and cultures.

So you make a business decision that 100% of the people are going to be restricted to a food preparation that is practiced by <2% of the population?

Australian culture is all about adapting to the existing practices not about expecting everyone to adapt to suit <2% of the population.

The question is not "What is wrong with halal?". The actual question should be "What is wrong with non-halal and why the need for the drastic to change to please 2% of the population?".

Give someone the choice of halal and store it in a little container so that it is not contaminated by anything.
<redacted off-topic comments>

 

[markis10]

So basically it is a money saving measure whether we like it or not?

Off course it's a money saving measure, and its a marketing ploy to get the rest of the world on the plane that may not have the same beliefs we do, bit of a no brainer in my view. Special meals don't work, don't offer a choice to the recipient, at least by making all the meals compliant, the mainstream choices will appeal to most, and if that choice drops to no choice by row 70, it's still able to be eaten by Muslim customers.

Qantas are making themselves more attractive to a new market at no real cost to present flyers, bit of a no brainer!

 

[oz_mark]

Any pork products will not be served on the DXB run, note bacon is a meat style, not always a pork product.

I just looked at a variety of definitions of bacon, and without fail, they included pig, or swine, in the definition. Here is what Food Statndards Australia says of bacon:

Cured, smoked and cooked pork rasher produced from chopped and reformed meat and containing salt, sugar, mineral salts, antioxidant, nitrite and water. Cooked by frying in a non-stick pan without oil or fat.

Note the use of the word pork. Bacon, is, by definition, pork.

 

[RooFlyer]

<redacted off-topic comments>

The situation being put to us is that QF will only serve food prepared according to a particular religion's beliefs. Its not that halal will be offered as an option, or as a pre-flight 'special meal' choice.

 

[UP4014]

I have made the choice to not travel on these flights. I don't like the hook up with Emirites and prefer other aircraft to the 380.

We all have choices, QF included.

Matt