The Hindu Business Line : ... and no chicken hearts in Chennai, Bangalore

OVER the weekend, it was business as usual for two popular `chicken restaurants' in Chennai. Mr Vinod Manikkath, General Manager of the Marrybrown chain of restaurants, says he hasn't felt the impact at shop level yet, but has had to field queries from customers about where their chicken comes from, and whether it's safe to consume.

"Let's face it, there will be an impact, it's quite natural," he says. However, it's too early to gauge the magnitude - only by the end of the week will we get an idea, he says.

He guesses that people will probably not venture out to restaurants as often for a while now, and if they visit restaurants, may stick to vegetarian food till the commotion dies down. It was the same when the tsunami struck; many stopped eating fish for a while, he points out.

Marrybrown sources its chicken from Suguna Poultry Group's processing unit in Udumalpet in Tamil Nadu. "Our cooking procedure and temperatures give no room for concern. We fry the chicken at 175 degrees centigrade," he adds.

Asked whether the management was doing anything proactive to reassure its customers, Mr Manikkath said it was still assessing the situation. "If we give too much information, it might psyche the customers," he says, adding that the staff has been given instructions on how to deal with the situation.

Mr R. Shankar, Restaurant Manager at the Nungambakkam branch of ChicKing, says the bird flu scare may begin manifesting itself this evening. However, none of the customers have asked any questions about where the chicken are coming from or have expressed any concern, he says.

ChicKing, which uses Real Good chicken processed by Godrej Agrovet, says there is no cause for worry as the brand is supplied from various units in the country and not from Maharashtra alone. "We follow international standards as we have outlets abroad too," he says.

A senior manager of a hotel chain in Chennai said that most supplies came from down Namakkal down south, and poultry farmers had taken precautions.

Meanwhile, in Bangalore, the feasting continues. Consumers at KFC outlets in Bangalore, were seen gobbling heapfuls of golden fried chicken nuggets. Are they oblivious to the screaming headlines or simply trusting the MNC fast food chain? "No, we are not chicken-hearted," says Mr Gaurav, an 18-year-old college student. "I don't think reputed restaurant chains will serve infected chicken," said another consumer.

Employees at the restaurants were seen assuring a couple of consumers who were verifying the precautions taken by the American fast food chain. "We get it from reputed hatcheries in Pune and cook the chicken above 177 degrees centigrade, which is the recommended temperature," they said.