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Controversy

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[[:Image:Lebanese hummus can.JPG|right|thumb|180px|Lebanese-produced hummus in a can, sold in Sweden]] In October 2008 the Association of Lebanese Industrialists[1] petitioned the Lebanese ministry of Economy to request protected status from the European Commission for hummus as a uniquely Lebanese food, similar to the Protected Geographical Status rights held over regional food items by various European Union countries.[1][2][3] Fadi Abboud, president of the Lebanese Industrialists Association, stated that "Israelis have usurped several Lebanese and oriental products".[2] However food critics such as Janna Gur and Shooky Galili have respectfully disagreed. Gur felt that Israel's success in international branding of Arab foods drew Abboud's disapproval, while Galili believed that hummus belongs to people who love it.[4][5]

When interviewed by the BBC, Israeli food editor Gil Hovav observed that hummus, like many other completely Arabic dishes, is very popular with Jews and Israelis. Hovav recounted that the cuisine was so popular that even during the intifada years, many Jews would go into the Muslim quarter to partake in some of their favorite Arab foods.[6]

  1. ^ Karam, Zeina, "Hummus war looms between Lebanon and Israel", Associated Press, 7 October 2008, retrieved 10 December 2008.
  2. ^ Carolynne Wheeler (11 Oct 2008), "Hummus food fight between Lebanon and Israel", The Daily Telegraph
  3. ^ "Whose hummus is it anyway?", The Times of South Africa, Nov 09, 2008 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ Gur, Janna (cited as 'Jana'), Santa Fe New Mexican, "Hummus History: Tales of a Wandering Chickpea", 21 October 2008, retrieved 11 December 2008
  5. ^ Lebanon aims for Guinness records as part of bid to lay claim to hummus, tabouleh
  6. ^ BBC Cooking in the Danger Zone: Israel and Palestinian Territories, pp. 5-6