An Inclusive Litany

8/14/98

In Ventura, California, devout Hindu Mulkesh K. Rai is suing a Taco Bell for serving him a beef burrito rather than a bean burrito, thus violating his religious principles. Rai says the incident caused him emotional distress, loss of wages, medical and psychiatric expenses, and the need to travel to England and India to perform religious purification ceremonies, including bathing in the Ganges River. Taco Bell had offered to exchange the beef burrito for a bean one, but would not refund Rai's money.

And vegetarian Patrick Fish filed a $30 million lawsuit against the Wendy's restaurant chain after discovering a veggie pita he ordered from a Utica, New York, franchise contained gelatin, which is made from animal tissue. Lige Weill, president of the Vegetarians Awareness Network, has announced that the Washington-based group is considering filing a class action lawsuit on behalf of all similarly duped vegetarians.