KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 — The little-known origins of fast food outlet Texas Chicken prompted one customer here to complain over its “Church’s” brand dipping sauce that he claimed was not suitable for Muslim consumption.
In a question directed to the fried chicken chain on Facebook, the man attached a photograph of dipping sauces with the Texas Chicken label removed to show the original foil underneath bearing the word “Church’s”.
“Dear TCM ... Please do explain your dipping sauce brand at Malaysia franchises ... Most of ur customer is a Muslim ... AND Muslim didn’t not eat food from church brands — feeling worried,” the man wrote.
It is unclear what the man meant by “church brands”, but he was likely claiming that Muslims may not eat food from churches.
There is no such prohibition in Islam.
Texas Chicken Malaysia responded to explain that “Church’s Chicken” was the chain’s name in the US, and not related to Christianity.
“Please be informed that the brand Texas Chicken was founded in San Antonio, Texas USA by our founder by the name of George W. Church Sr — Church being his surname and the name of the brand Church’s Chicken.
“Hence the word ‘church’ here is not used in a religious context nor does it have any affiliation with a church or gereja,” the Malaysian firm said.
It further explained that some of its sauces were imported from the US, in which case these will carry the Church’s Chicken branding.
The exchange took place on Facebook on June 1 and appears to have been removed.
Growing religious conservatism in Malaysia has given rise to more such incidents, with regular “halal” scares taking place before — more often than not — turning out to be hoaxes.
Recent incidents run the gamut from alleged pig DNA in chocolates to complaints over a picture of the Hindu temple at the iconic Batu Caves being too close to the “halal” logo.
