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Asia Minute: Pretzel Dog Stirs Controversy in Malaysia

Joy / Flickr
Joy / Flickr

The history of the hot dog goes back to the 1870’s and Brooklyn’s Coney Island. They remain popular in Hawai‘i—Honolulu alone has at least four different restaurants specializing in hot dogs. But this week, hot dogs have sparked an international incident in Malaysia. HPR’s Bill Dorman has details in today’s Asia Minute.

The starting point of this story is an understanding of “Halal food.”  For Muslims, this means food that is allowed under Islamic law….which has a number of dietary restrictions.  There’s usually a religious regulatory body that makes specific decisions on certain food establishments in each country.  In Malaysia, that’s the Islamic Development Department….which had a problem with an American company: Auntie Anne’s Pretzels…and this week refused to certify the franchise operation as Halal.

The issue wasn’t the pretzels; it was the popular “Pretzel Dog.”  The Islamic Development Department suggested the name be changed to the “Pretzel Sausage”…because the dog is considered an unclean animal.

In Malaysia, that suggestion sparked an outraged reaction—online and elsewhere….even stretching to official circles.  The Minister of Tourism and Culture called the ruling “stupid and backward”…adding that “even in Malay, it’s called hot dog. I’m a Muslim and I’m not offended.”  Critics say the ruling undercuts Malaysia’s image as a moderate and tolerant Islamic country.

The Halal food industry is huge---the Dubai Chamber of Commerce says Halal consumer purchases represent nearly 17% of the global food and beverage market.  As for the pretzel dog….a spokesman for Auntie Anne’s says there’s no problem in changing the name—and called it a “minor issue.”

Bill Dorman has been the news director at Hawaiʻi Public Radio since 2011.
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