> > International news / Italian protesters beef about hamburgers / Rory Carroll > in Rome > > Riot police were mobilised on Monday to protect McDonald's restaurants as > thousands of demonstrators in 20 Italian cities declared war on the > fast-food chain. > > In Milan marchers flung raw meat through police lines, splattering > restaurant windows with blood. But most of the protests around the country > were more peaceful, with crowds in Rome, Naples, Palermo and Turin chanting: > "Better a day of tortellini than 100 days of hamburgers." > > Organisers of the protests have said they will intensify their campaign, > predicting that Italy will over take France in the strength of its > opposition to the chain. > > The government promised to draw up a charter of principles for multinational > companies. The charter, to be agreed with trade unions, was intended to > defuse hostility by acting as a "civic defender", said the industry > minister, Enrico Letta. But, he added, "it would be a mistake to create a > climate of tension. McDonald's is one of the few foreign companies bringing > investment to our country." > > A coalition of leftwing radicals, family-run bars and trade unions hopes to > reverse, or at least slow down, McDonald's planned opening of 200 outlets in > the next two years. It says the chain is destroying con sumer choice, > exploiting staff and selling unhealthy food. > > McDonald's says that it is employing 15,000 young people and has become > hugely popular with families since opening its first restaurant in Rome 15 > years ago. > > The countrywide protests were bolstered by controversy over the chain's > treatment of staff. Last week 20 employees in Florence walked out in protest > at an "intimidating" work climate. > > The chain, which has 272 restaurants in Italy, suffered another blow when > trade unions mobilised to defend five employees reprimanded for eating > chocolate chips. > > The Turin-based Slow Food move ment, which champions traditional cooking and > eating, joined the protests. Its spokesman, Silvio Barbero, told the > Corriere della Sera newspaper: "It forces consumers to taste the same > hamburger in Tokyo, New York, Helsinki and Palermo. A McDonald's hamburger > doesn't evoke regional tastes or sensations, and its gastronomic origin is > impossible to define." > > Ghettoised for years with a combined market share of 5%, McDonald's and > Burger King resolved to bring Italy up to the European average of 25%. Food > purists said Italians would never succumb, but they were wrong, with pasta > salads and pizza slices boosting the chains' popularity. > > The Guardian Weekly 19-10-2000, page 2 >> > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > To subscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
