KFC Franchisee Loses Right To Advertise Halal Chicken

In Lokhandwala v. KFC Corporation, (ND IL, Jan. 23, 2018), an Illinois federal district court strictly enforced the provisions of a franchise agreement and upheld KFC's policy of barring a franchisee from advertising that it sells Halal chicken. While KFC allowed the marketing of Halal chicken by plaintiff for 14 years, in 2016 or 2017 it revoked consent based on a 2009 company policy prohibiting franchisees from making religious dietary claims.  The policy was based on concerns about varying religious standards and compliance difficulties.  Courthouse News Service reports on the decision.