Presence

Menachem Lubinsky, editor of Kosher Today, wrote an essay in the latest Kosher Today email entitled "Why a Kosher McDonald's in the U.S. May Not be a Good Idea!"

With the number of glatt kosher Subway branches continuing to grow, there is a growing feeling by some in the kosher food industry that McDonald's may not be far behind. I have heard from reliable sources that to date, the mega fast food chain has resisted overtures by entrepreneurs to franchise a kosher McDonald's. The only glatt kosher McDonald's exists in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Many leading rabbis have voiced concern over the prospect of having both kosher and non-kosher branches of McDonald's. They are already concerned about the possible confusion of kosher and non-kosher stores for such brands as Crispy Crème, Baskin-Robbins, and Dunkin Donuts. Several rabbis have written me about stores that sell both kosher and non kosher products. One rabbi cited an ice cream store where only two of 9 toppings are kosher.

In discussing the potential for McDonald's in the glatt kosher market, I received an earful from many different sources. Here is some of what I heard: It is apparent that the big name brands may not exactly appreciate the nuances of the glatt kosher market beyond the kashrus. One example is that customers generally are not enamored by limited menus with specific numbers to identify the menu. They prefer extensive menus where they can mix and match what they wish to eat. To obtain a proper hechsher, the stores would have to be closed on Shabbat and open on Motzoei Shabbos and make accommodations for Jewish holidays as well. Finally, there already are good stores in most of the Jewish neighborhoods and there may not be enough business to go around.

A few of the points are highly debatable and after having a Big Mac in Buenos Aires, I am part of the cheering squad hoping that there would be a glatt kosher McDonald's in the U.S. one day. But keeping in mind what I heard from kosher and rabbinic sources, I am not so sure anymore.