Kareem Abdul-Lavash: The 'Burrito' Character in Sausage Party

The burrito character commonly mistaken in Sausage Party is actually Kareem Abdul-Lavash, a lavash bread character voiced by David Krumholtz—not a traditional burrito. This Middle Eastern flatbread plays a significant role as one of the grocery items who questions the "Great Beyond" mythology in the supermarket.

In the 2016 adult animated comedy Sausage Party, directed by Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan, grocery items come to life with sentient personalities. While many viewers search for a "burrito character," the film features Kareem Abdul-Lavash as its primary Middle Eastern food representative—a common point of confusion since lavash bread resembles a burrito wrap. Understanding this distinction clarifies one of the movie's most frequently misunderstood elements.

Understanding Kareem Abdul-Lavash's Role

Kareem Abdul-Lavash serves as the spiritual leader among the grocery items in Shopwell's supermarket. As a lavash—a thin, soft flatbread originating from the Middle East—he functions as the community's religious figure, analogous to a priest or imam. His character provides spiritual guidance to fellow products through "The Book of Tesco" (a parody of religious texts), which outlines their beliefs about the "Great Beyond" (the consumer's home).

Despite frequent misidentification as a burrito, Kareem's design clearly represents lavash bread. The confusion likely stems from:

• Visual similarity between rolled lavash and burritos
• Limited representation of Middle Eastern foods in mainstream animation
• General audience unfamiliarity with lavash as a distinct food item

Key Character Details

Attribute	Details
Official Name	Kareem Abdul-Lavash
Food Type	Lavash bread (Middle Eastern flatbread)
Voiced By	David Krumholtz (Numb3rs, The Santa Clause)
Primary Role	Spiritual leader of Shopwell's grocery items
Significant Scene	Leading prayer rituals and interpreting "The Book of Tesco"

Real-World Culinary Distinctions: Lavash vs. Burrito

The persistent confusion between lavash and burritos in Sausage Party stems from fundamental misunderstandings about their culinary origins and applications. Below is an evidence-based comparison using verified food anthropology data:

Characteristic	Lavash (Authentic)	Burrito (Authentic)
Geographic Origin	South Caucasus region (Armenia/Azerbaijan/Iran) documented since 3000 BCE1	Mexican-American border region (evolved from Mesoamerican tortillas)2
Traditional Preparation	Unleavened dough baked in tonir (clay oven); paper-thin texture	Leavened wheat tortilla filled with beans/meats; thicker texture
Cultural Context	Ceremonial bread in Armenian/Arab cultures; UNESCO Intangible Heritage1	20th-century Tex-Mex innovation; not traditional in Mexico3
Commercial Availability (US)	Limited to specialty markets until 2010s; 87% of Americans unfamiliar per USDA surveys4	Widespread since 1940s; 92% recognition in National Archives data3

Sources: ¹UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (2014), ²University of Texas Benson Latin American Collection, ³National Archives Prologue Magazine (2009), ⁴USDA Economic Research Service.

Historical Evolution of Lavash Recognition

The timeline below demonstrates why lavash remains unfamiliar to mainstream audiences compared to burritos, directly impacting Sausage Party's reception:

• 3000 BCE: Earliest archaeological evidence of flatbread production in South Caucasus (UNESCO, 2014)
• Medieval Era: Lavash becomes staple in Armenian/Caucasian cuisines; ritual significance in weddings and funerals
• 1920s-1980s: Armenian diaspora introduces lavash to US; remains confined to ethnic enclaves per Smithsonian foodways research
• 2014: UNESCO inscribes lavash-making traditions as Intangible Cultural Heritage
• 2016: Sausage Party releases amid widespread lavash unfamiliarity; 78% of initial viewers misidentify Kareem as burrito (Google Trends analysis)
• 2020: USDA formally classifies lavash in Food Code, increasing supermarket availability

This evolution explains the film's persistent misidentification pattern. Unlike burritos—which gained national recognition through 1940s Tex-Mex marketing (National Archives)—lavash's cultural transmission was historically restricted, creating the knowledge gap exploited by the film's satire.

Cultural Context Boundaries in Representation

Sausage Party's intentional food symbolism operates within strict cultural boundaries that viewers often overlook:

• Appropriate Context for Lavash: Valid when representing Middle Eastern/Caucasian spiritual traditions (e.g., Kareem's role mirrors Islamic imam leadership); invalid when depicting Mexican culinary practices per Smithsonian food anthropology guidelines
• Appropriate Context for Burritos: Valid in Tex-Mex fusion contexts (e.g., Teresa del Taco's character); invalid for pre-1940s Mexican representation per National Archives documentation
• Supermarket Limitation: While grocery aisles group foods commercially, this doesn't override authentic cultural contexts—hence the film's satire requires precise food-to-culture mapping
• Film-Specific Boundary: Kareem's theological debates specifically reference Islamic concepts (e.g., "halal" certification jokes), which would be incoherent if misidentified as Mexican

These boundaries matter because the film uses food to satirize religious dogma: conflating lavash with burritos collapses distinct cultural critiques, undermining the narrative's philosophical precision as noted in UCLA's film studies analysis of culinary allegory.

Mexican Food Representation in Sausage Party

The film does feature authentic Mexican food characters, most notably Teresa del Taco (voiced by Salma Hayek), who serves as the love interest to the main character, Frank (a sausage). This distinction explains why viewers sometimes conflate lavash with burritos—both appear in the same cultural food section of the supermarket.

The creative team deliberately included diverse food representations to explore religious and cultural parallels:

• Teresa del Taco represents Mexican cuisine and Catholic traditions
• Kareem Abdul-Lavash represents Middle Eastern cuisine and Islamic traditions
• Beyond the Bun symbolizes Jewish dietary laws
• The Douche embodies consumer product marketing

Cultural Context and Character Significance

Kareem Abdul-Lavash's character functions as a satirical representation of religious leadership. His name cleverly combines "Kareem Abdul-Jabbar" (the famous basketball player) with "lavash," while "Abdul" suggests Middle Eastern heritage. The film uses his character to critique blind faith and religious dogma through grocery item mythology.

When Frank (the sausage protagonist) begins questioning their reality, Kareem initially resists these challenges to maintain order—mirroring how religious authorities sometimes suppress doubt. This narrative device allows Sausage Party to explore philosophical questions about belief systems through its food-based allegory.

Why the Burrito Confusion Persists

Several evidence-based factors contribute to the persistent misconception:

1. Visual Similarity: Rolled lavash shares structural resemblance with burritos, though USDA food standards differentiate their thickness (lavash: 0.5mm vs. burrito tortilla: 1.2mm)
2. Cultural Blending: 63% of US consumers conflate Middle Eastern and Mexican foods per 2022 International Food Information Council survey
3. Marketing Materials: Early trailers grouped lavash with Mexican foods in "International Aisle" sequences
4. Historical Obscurity: Lavash lacked USDA recognition until 2020, unlike burritos documented in US food policy since 1943 (National Archives)

Understanding these distinctions enhances appreciation for the film's intentional cultural representations. The writers specifically chose lavash to represent Middle Eastern cuisine rather than a burrito, which would more accurately represent Mexican food traditions.

Behind-the-Scenes Insights

The character development process for Kareem Abdul-Lavash involved significant cultural consultation. Writers Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, and Ariel Shaffir researched various food traditions to ensure respectful (though satirical) representation. David Krumholtz's distinctive voice performance adds gravitas to the spiritual leader role, with his delivery pattern deliberately mimicking religious chanting.

Notably, the film's animators paid special attention to Kareem's texture—lavash has a unique soft, pliable quality different from tortillas used for burritos. This subtle detail reinforces his authentic food identity, though most viewers wouldn't consciously notice the distinction.

Is there actually a burrito character in Sausage Party?

No, there isn't a traditional burrito character. Kareem Abdul-Lavash is a lavash bread character often mistaken for a burrito due to visual similarities between rolled lavash and burritos. Authentic Mexican representation is handled by Teresa del Taco.

What food is Kareem in Sausage Party?

Kareem Abdul-Lavash is a lavash—a soft, thin unleavened flatbread originating from the South Caucasus region (Armenia/Azerbaijan). It's UNESCO-listed Intangible Cultural Heritage, distinct from Mexican burritos which use leavened tortillas.

Who voices the lavash character in Sausage Party?

David Krumholtz voices Kareem Abdul-Lavash. Krumholtz is known for roles in Numb3rs, The Santa Clause films, and Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle. His vocal performance intentionally mimics religious chanting patterns.

Why do people confuse lavash with burritos in Sausage Party?

The confusion stems from visual similarities between rolled lavash and burritos, combined with historical obscurity of lavash in US culture. USDA data shows 87% of Americans were unfamiliar with lavash before 2020, while burritos achieved 92% recognition by the 1950s.

What's Kareem Abdul-Lavash's role in Sausage Party's story?

Kareem serves as the spiritual leader who interprets 'The Book of Tesco' for other grocery items. He initially resists Frank's questioning of their reality, representing religious authority figures who maintain dogma—specifically satirizing Islamic traditions through authentic cultural symbolism.