A Chicken Chain’s Corporate Ethos Is Questioned by Gay Rights Advocates

[XanaDUer]

Nicknamed “Jesus chicken” by jaded secular fans and embraced by Evangelical Christians, Chick-fil-A is among only a handful of large American companies with conservative religion built into its corporate ethos. But recently its ethos has run smack into the gay rights movement. A Pennsylvania outlet’s sponsorship of a February marriage seminar by one of that state’s most outspoken groups against homosexuality lit up gay blogs around the country. Students at some universities have also begun trying to get the chain removed from campuses.

“If you’re eating Chick-fil-A, you’re eating anti-gay,” one headline read. The issue spread into Christian media circles, too.

MORE - http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/30/us/30chick.html?src=twrhp

[hlthe2b]

1. GLBT- phobic and about as ecologically unaware as they come...

Last I saw, they were still using STYROFOAM cups. Geebus.

[XanaDUer]

2. CFA was big-time popular at my last place of employment

I won't eat there.

[okieinpain]

11. funny, drinking from a styro cup right now. n/t.

[hlthe2b]

12. ...

Occasional use by consumers is one thing, but to have a major fast food outlet refuse to stop using styrofoam, when there are so many safe, economical, and logical alternatives is another... Not sure if you were asking what the problem was with styrofoam, but just in case... Some info below. I sure as heck wouldn't heat up anything in styrofoam, btw and drinking hot liquids from them daily for long periods of time would seem a bit risky as well...


* The biggest environmental health concern associated with polystyrene is the danger associated with Styrene, the basic building block of polystyrene. Styrene is used extensively in the manufacture of plastics, rubber, and resins. About 90,000 workers, including those who make boats, tubs and showers, are potentially exposed to styrene. Acute health effects are generally irritation of the skin, eyes, and upper respiratory tract, and gastrointestinal effects. Chronic exposure affects the central nervous system showing symptoms such as depression, headache, fatigue, and weakness, and can cause minor effects on kidney function and blood. Styrene is classified as a possible human carcinogen by the EPA and by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). A voluntary compliance program has been adopted by industries using styrene. The US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration unsuccessfully (a federal court overturned the ruling in 1992) tried to limit the amount of worker exposure to styrene to 50 parts per million (ppm). According to the Styrene Information and Research Center (SIRC), they still encourage their member companies to comply with the 50 ppm exposure limit. This program would reduce styrene exposures to a 50 ppm TWA with a 100 ppm (15 minute) ceiling.
-OSHA (US Dept of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration)
* A 1986 EPA report on solid waste named the polystyrene manufacturing process as the 5th largest creator of hazardous waste.· The National Bureau of Standards Center for Fire Research identified 57 chemical byproducts released during the combustion of polystyrene foam. The process of making polystyrene pollutes the air and creates large amounts of liquid and solid waste.
* Toxic chemicals leach out of these products into the food that they contain (especially when heated in a microwave). These chemicals threaten human health and reproductive systems.
* These products are made with petroleum, a non-sustainable and heavily polluting resource.
* The use of hydrocarbons in polystyrene foam manufacture releases the hydrocarbons into the air at ground level; there, combined with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight, they form tropospheric ozone -- a serious air pollutant at ground level. According to the EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) more than 100 million Americans currently live in areas that fail to meet air quality standards for ozone. California, the Texas Gulf Coast, the Chicago-Milwaukee area, and the Northeastern U.S. all have "serious ozone air quality problems," according to EPA. Ozone is definitely a dangerous pollutant. The EPA says: "Healthy individuals who are exercising while ozone levels are at or only slightly above the standard can experience reduced functioning of the lungs, leading to chest pain, coughing, wheezing, and pulmonary congestion. In animal studies, long-term exposure to high levels of ozone has produced permanent structural damage to animal lungs while both short and long term exposure has been found to decrease the animal's capability to fight infection." In other words, prolonged exposure to atmospheric ozone above legal limits might be expected to damage the immune system.
* By volume, the amount of space used up in landfills by all plastics is between 25 and 30 percent. -"Polystyrene Fact Sheet," Foundation for Advancements in Science and Education, Los Angeles, California.
* Polystyrene foam is often dumped into the environment as litter. This material is notorious for breaking up into pieces that choke animals and clog their digestive systems.
* Many cities and counties have outlawed polystyrene foam (i.e. Taiwan, Portland, OR, and Orange County, CA).

[yella_dawg]

3. Has their product improved dramatically in the last couple of decades?

'Cuz last time I tried (~20 years ago) their food sucked. I'm shocked to find they're still in business.

[Statistical]

4. Compared to what?

I mean it is competing against Burger King, McDonalds, an Taco "fake beef" Bell.

[yella_dawg]

5. Yeah.

I see your point.

[hlthe2b]

6. Someone christened it "Toxic Bell"... yesterday

I think I'll keep that. ;)

[Renew Deal]

9. I tried it last time I was in SC and it was pretty good.

I got a chicken sandwich. The crazy thing was that the drive through guy's mom lived in the next town over from me on LI!

[Mimosa]

14. Sorry to disappoint you but their chicken is the best of all fast food chicken

I'm part of the GLBT community and I feel the family owned business has a right to use their money for various causes however they wish. The cathy family foundation has educated many at risk youth, provided foster homes and sent hundreds of kids to colleges. They've provided job training and management opportunities in the business.

Having lived in GA I'm aware of the good this company does. Gay issues aren't my only concern. I doubt Chik Fil A foundations focus on that.

Their food quality is the best in the fast food business, although I rarely eat fast food. But love the iced tea and chicken or sausage biscuits.

[AngryAmish]

16. Ever try Pollo Campanero?

I can't compare nevr been to Chik fi A

[Mimosa]

17. Don't have one here

El Pollo Loco is a few miles away. It's good marinated on bone chicken. Great black beans too.

Chik Fil A is a 2 blocks from me. ;)

[AngryAmish]

18. If Pollo Loco is a 5, Pollo Campenero is about a 9

Fried and rotisserie chicken. And plantains. I love plantains.

[niyad]

7. have not eaten there in years, precisely because of their xianity.

don't you just love how the xians feel free to protest and boycott, and then get upset when the same tactics are used on them?

[XanaDUer]

8. They do

everyone is entitled to their opinion, the Xtians, I mean.

[Renew Deal]

10. There's none of these near NYC

as far as I know. I would have visited if there were. I guess that's also why I didn't know they were fundy nuts.

[fishwax]

13. I think there's one at NYU

I think they're primarily in mall and campus dining food courts ...

[Renew Deal]

15. That's true

But you need to be a student to get to it.