Burger King’s Israeli branch has agreed to provide meal vouchers worth 480,000 shekels (approximately $128,000) to IDF combat soldiers, including those serving in reserves, as part of a resolution in a class-action case. A total of 8,727 vouchers—each valued at 55 shekels ($14.70)—will be redeemable at the chain’s kosher locations and will be available to both religious and secular service members.
This settlement comes in response to a lawsuit filed in 2022 by a religious customer who alleged he was misled into consuming non-kosher food at Burger King’s Hod Hasharon location. The customer claimed that despite losing its kosher certification over a year earlier, the branch continued to be advertised as kosher through a large sign outside the Azrieli Mall. The sign remained up until legal proceedings were initiated.
According to the lawsuit, the customer visited the location because of the visible kosher sign and ordered a cheeseburger labeled as having kosher-style cheese. After tasting it, he realized it contained real cheese, leading to the discovery that the restaurant no longer held kosher certification.
The plaintiff maintained that, while the restaurant had removed any kosher documentation and signs from inside the premises, the highly visible outdoor signage remained untouched. This, he argued, could easily mislead other observant Jews into unknowingly eating at a non-kosher establishment.
While Burger King rejected the allegations of wrongdoing, it did confirm that the disputed sign was taken down soon after the legal complaint was filed. The chain also asserted that locating additional observant customers who may have been similarly affected would be difficult, given that such individuals usually avoid restaurants without valid kosher supervision.
After updates were made to promotional materials and the signage was finally removed, the court approved the settlement. Judge Rachel Arkobi, who authorized the agreement, stated: “There is no dispute that the sign at the mall presented the branch as kosher, establishing a personal claim for the plaintiff.”
“The more complex question is the group definition, as kosher certification inside the branch had already been removed. The settlement amount appropriately reflects the scope of the group and provides suitable deterrence in cases involving misleading kosher claims,” the judge added.
The food vouchers will remain valid for 12 months and will be issued within 45 days of final court approval. The plaintiff will receive a compensation payment of 9,600 shekels ($2,560), and his legal representatives will be awarded several tens of thousands of shekels in attorney’s fees.
Plaintiff attorneys Amit Ben-Aroya and Shira Blum-Wolff commented on the outcome: “We’re pleased that Burger King took full responsibility, immediately removed the misleading signage and donated meals to IDF combat units — amounting to about a third of the chain’s revenue during the relevant period.”
{Matzav.com Israel}