On 30th January, the Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet in Bangalore (southern India) was ransacked by up to 100 irate farmers, demanding that the fast food chain leave India. The farmers belonging to the Karnataka Rajya Ryotha Sangha (an association of 10 million farmers in the state of Karnataka) are concerned that the fast food chains will deplete the country's livestock and adversely affect agriculture and the environment. They are also concerned about the unhealthiness of the food sold, and the adverse effect the arrival of the fast food chains will have on the culture of India.
This store (the first KFC outlet in India, which started operating last year) was forced to close temporarily by the local authorities for selling products with amounts of the flavour enhancer monosodium glutomate (MSG) above the permitted level.
There is strong popular opposition to multinationals in India and it is possible that their advance may be halted there.
See also a campaign report in the Ecologist - Kentucky Fried Protests in India
