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France outraged as burger chain launches the ‘Croissan’wich’
France has reacted with online outrage and mirth after fast food chain Burger King launched a new croissant burger dubbed the “Croissan’wich”, which replaces the usual burger bun with a sliced croissant.
The “burger” is a collaboration with Impossible Foods, which makes meat alternatives and already supplies Burger King with a meat-free patty - although this is not currently available in France. The Croissan’wich is vegetarian, and includes a vegetable patty, vegetarian cheese and a layer of egg, inside a sliced croissant.
It is listed on the chain’s breakfast menu and sold for $3.99 (€3.55), but is so far only available in the US.
impossible? we eat that for breakfast. try our new collab with @ImpossibleFoods and get the Impossible™ Croissan’wich delivered for free with any $10+ order on the BK app. pic.twitter.com/7GRAZqY4AL
— Burger King (@BurgerKing) June 15, 2020
This did not stop French users on Twitter from responding with consternation and calls for France to declare war in response to what some jokingly called “cultural appropriation”.
One posted a picture of the famous 1830 Eugène Delacroix painting, Liberty Leading the People, which commemorates the July Revolution of the same year, and has come to be known as a symbol of France and the French Republic.
The Tweet included the phrase from the French anthem, La Marseillaise: “Aux armes, citoyens!” (To your weapons, citizens!).
Another user wrote: “There were crusades for less.”
Y’a eu des croisades pour moins que ça
— Sergiño 🇫🇷 (@CesareBourgia) June 23, 2020
Another responded with a newspaper heading reading: “War is declared”, while another wrote: “June 22, 2020 a date which will live in infamy. The Republic of France was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the United States of America when its fast food chain Burger King decided to attack French culture. We are at war.”
Many others made reference to the guillotine, the infamous instrument used during the French Revolution.
GUILLOTINE GUILLOTINE !!!
— R (@foxtrotwhiskey_) June 25, 2020
GUILLOTINONS CETTE ABOMINATION 🇨🇵 pic.twitter.com/rQrgd81v9S
One user even tagged French President Emmanuel Macron, saying: “We must go NOW!”, with a video of a nuclear explosion, and others said: “France has the atomic bomb. Just sayin’.”
Another wrote, satirically: “The US ambassador has been summoned to the Élysée tomorrow. The situation is tense.”
Another said: “Hey, Burger King, we killed our king, maybe it’s your turn now?”
@EmmanuelMacron il faut y aller NOW! 😱☢️☢️ pic.twitter.com/7rYBeHbNVe
— Sam (@Sam47222178) June 23, 2020
But one user delivered perhaps the most devastating blow, simply summarising: “Honestly? It looks disgusting.”
The traditional croissant is still the most-loved pastry in France. An Ifop survey from April 2019 showed that it was the most-eaten, ahead of the pain au chocolat (chocolatine), and was eaten by three-quarters of people in France.
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