A line of cars wrapped around the building and extended into the parking lot is a typical scene at the Tempe In-N-Out Burger drive-thru. A double cheeseburger with the special sauce. Animal style French fries. A strawberry shake. These are the items most often associated with the regionally-famous restaurant. But how many customers have noticed the Bible scriptures printed on the bottom of their cup? The biblical verses referenced on the bottom of food and drink wrappers opens up a whole new Christian perspective to this fast food restaurant.
The sharp-eyed customer will discover the book, chapter and verse numbers of five verses from the Bible in small print on the bottom of burger wrappers, beverage cups, milkshake cups and antenna toppers.
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding," reads the bottom of a milkshake cup, taken from Proverbs 3:5 in the Bible.
The Bible verses printed on In-N-Out's packaging also includes: Revelation 3:20, John 3:16, Nahum 1:7 and John 14:6.
Carl Van Fleet, vice president of planning and development at In-N-Out Burger, said the scripture references have been on their packaging for over 20 years. Fleet said this practice began while Rich Snyder, son of the founders of In-N-Out Burger, was president of the company.
"Rich added the scripture references as an expression of his faith," Fleet said. "They are small because he wanted to express his faith without imposing it on others."
Fleet added that Snyder's family, who still owns the restaurants, decided to keep the scriptures after his death in 1993.
According to the In-N-Out Web site, Harry and Esther Snyder founded the restaurant in 1948 in Baldwin Park, Calif. Fleet said that from the beginning, the Snyder family had strong Christian values.
In-N-Out customer and ASU business junior Lindsey Hilmer, said she thought it was strange to print religious scriptures on burger wrappers.
"Someone told me about it, but I never really notice them on my own because they're so small and hidden," Hilmer said. "I don't necessarily think it's bad because I don't think many people know about it, but I can see how some people who are not Christian might think it is inappropriate."
Aaron Carter, a Chandler resident and biology freshman at Chandler-Gilbert Community College, was leaving In-N-Out Burger and disagreed with Hilmer.
"I think it's great that a big business like [In-N-Out] can express their personal views and still be successful," Carter said. "Even if I weren't Christian, I wouldn't mind it because it's expressing your freedom of speech. And it's not like the scriptures are in block letters on the front of the wrappers, they're discreet and don't do any harm."
Hilmer added that the scriptures might make them lose some customers who didn't agree with the restaurant's views.
"It is definitely not a good business decision because it could have more negative effects than positive ones," Hilmer said.
Fleet said since the scriptures were added so long ago that In-N-Out Burger does not have any statistical information on how the decision to print the verses has affected their business.
Reach the reporter at: sklloyd@asu.edu.