Did I Say Hold the Bacon? Subway Bans Pork from Nearly 200 Stores in the U.K. Due to Muslim Outcry

Subway is a business doing what businesses do: looking out for its customers’ interests in neighborhoods around England.

But it’s how Subway is doing it that’s more than a bit ironic, given how tolerance is supposed to be a two-way street.

The Daily Mail reports that Subway is holding the pork for customers in 185 shops around England, due to Muslims’ complaints about non-halal menus:

The sandwich chain said ‘following a strong demand from our Muslim customers’, 185 outlets in the UK and Ireland have introduced the meat, which is prepared under strict Islamic rules.

In Arabic the word halal means ‘permitted’ or ‘lawful’ and defines anything that is allowed or lawful according to the Qur’an.

It is often used to indicate food – particularly meat – has been prepared in accordance with Muslim principles and techniques.

That gives a whole new meaning to customer demand. So where’s the beef?

There’s this principle of choice and tolerance for other cultures that gets in the way. Jewish people don’t eat pork and you don’t see them going all Kosher on Subway shops around the U.S..

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In addition to Subway shops being told by corporate to hang up signs saying “All meats are halal” compliant, there’s this factoid about halal meats:

Many animal charities condemn halal slaughter as being cruel to animals.

Traditionally, in halal abattoirs the throats of the animals are cut while they are fully conscious – an act many campaigners say is inhumane and needlessly cruel.