American fast food restaurant chain Burger King is on the spot following its latest statement on chicken and beef products served in the Kenyan market.
In a statement, the Miami-headquartered company says it will continue to sell chicken and beef laced with antibiotics in Kenya.
This is despite pledging to adopt a policy of sourcing food products that are free from antibiotics for the United States and Canadian markets.
“These Restaurants Brands International commitments relate exclusively to the markets of the US and Canada. Kenya is not concerned,” says Samuel Coulon, communications officer at Servair which has a franchise agreement to operate Burger King Stores in Kenya.
The announcement has angered Kenyans who have taken to social media to call for a boycott of Burger King food.
Overuse of antibiotics in livestock can cause resistant bacteria to spread, placing meat consumers at risk of developing life-threatening infections.
Burger King currently has four outlets in Nairobi located at The Hub Mall in Karen, Thika Road Mall, Nextgen Mall along Mombasa Road, and Two Rivers Mall.
Here are some reactions from Kenyans online;
@Ciiru notes: “WHY would we allow this brand in Kenya ??@BurgerKing do you have no shame? Not good enough for the US & Canada so let’s give #Kenya the antibiotics in chicken & let them deal with the catastrophic effects?”
“Kenyans pls take note and make your call on Burger King Kenya. Kings of double-dealing,” Crime Watch Nairobi says.
“#BoycottBurgerKing … simple and clear … or ingest antibiotics from their chicken and develop irreversible resistance to all medication. Inform your loved ones to avoid @BurgerKing ,” Consumer Federation of Kenya (COFEK) advises.