France’s Fillon Meets With Religious Leaders Over Food Dispute

French Prime Minister Francois Fillon began meetings with Jewish and Muslim leaders today to diffuse a dispute about religious dietary codes that has threatened to dominate France’s presidential elections.

In a direct reference to Kosher and Halal practices of preparing meat, Fillon said in a radio interview March 5 that “religions should reflect on dietary rules that don’t have much to do with the modern state of science, technology and sanitation.”