Protestants must plead “not guilty” to a special relationship with fast food, says Stoy Proctor, an associate director of the health ministries department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church worldwide.  Proctor’s comments come in response to claims by Roman Catholic theologian Father Massimo Salani that fast food reflects anti-Catholic, Protestant values.  Salani’s words, appearing November 9 in “Avvenire,” the daily newspaper of Italian bishops, have drawn responses from religious leaders—and fast food manufacturers—around the world.

“I certainly can’t dispute that burgers, fries, soft drinks, and candies are not the best choices for a healthy diet,” says Proctor. “Although I haven’t studied the issue deeply, it seems unusual to assert that Protestantism is related, in a special way, with fast food.”

According to newspaper reports, Salani said that people buy fast food “in search of the quickest possible meal.  The aim is to bolt down food and satisfy hunger as quickly as possible in order to devote themselves to other things.”  Thus, he suggested, fast food caters to Protestants, reflecting their “rejection of communal values” and their emphasis on an individual relationship with God.  Fast food and eating quickly, said Salani, also conformed to the Protestant work ethic.

Calling Salani’s claims “creative,” Proctor says that the development of the fast food industry is a by-product of the fast-paced nature of modern society, rather than the result of the philosophy of a particular religious movement. 

Proctor adds, however, that in making a connection between religion and food, “Father Salani raises an interesting point that the Adventist Church has emphasized for the past 150 years.”

“As Adventists, we have long taught that Christians have a responsibility to honor God, the creator of life, by being good stewards of their health,” says Proctor.  Good nutrition, regular rest and exercise, and abstinence from alcohol, tobacco and other harmful drugs enhances an individual’s quality of life, he says, “allowing them to better serve their family, their community, and their God.”

The Adventist Church, a Protestant denomination with more than 11 million members worldwide, has promoted healthy eating since the mid-1800s, advocating a balanced vegetarian diet that is free from alcohol, caffeine, and destructive drugs. 

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