Whole Foods Draws Controversy Over Ramadan Promotion

TIME ^ | Aug. 11, 2011 | Zachary Cohen

[george76]

Whole Foods landed in some hot water this week after advertising food for Ramadan, then seemingly backing off, then returning to their original stance.

The grocery chain, known for being socially conscious, started promoting frozen food from Saffron Road that is halal (meaning it follows Muslim dietary laws and restrictions) in commemoration of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month.

...

Things only got worse from there when an internal email that was obtained by the Houston Press said that they should continue to promote halal but not necessarily celebrate Ramadan in an effort to prevent any more criticism from the far right.

"It is probably best that we don't specifically call out or 'promote' Ramadan," the email read.

[Talisker]

...in an effort to prevent any more criticism from the far right.

LOL, it's always "far right" with liberals. Or "extreme right." Or extreme far right." Never just "conservative". And especially never "someone disagrees with me for reason they wanted to express but I screamed insults at them and ran away before they could get a word in edgewise."

LOL!

[SERKIT]

Were they trying to sell Halal ham shank?

[cherry]

If Whole foods has special Christmas and Easter foods for Christians, and advertises it as “Christmas” or “Easter” and if they also do similar for Jews, and other religions, I guess I have no problem with what they did....

[HiTech RedNeck]

Well, with Christmas dumbed down to a “season’s greetings,” it would be condign to dumb down Ramadan to a “traditional halal evening feast.” I’d sooner have all faiths’ holidays mentioned by their original names than to have these stupid PC euphemisms ruling everywhere.

[imjimbo]

Whole Foods markets are generally populated with foul-smelling hippies that lean to the Left, and not just the help-!!

[peggybac]

KC finally got 2 Trader Joe’s and, from what I understand, they’re kicking Whole Paycheck’s a**.

[There You Go Again]

If you own a business.....it is called marketing...I am sure they do (or should) sell Christmas cookies too....etc.

[napscoordinator]

Now watch because of this, stores won't be allowed to announce Thanksgiving, Christmas or anything else. Why do people have to get in a personal business’ life. I am not for this Ramadan thingee, but the problem is that if you complain about one thing it usually trickles down.

[NikkiB]

Whole Foods near me does promotions for all the different holidays. They also carry a number of Israeli products. And, the CEO happens to be a strong believer in free market economics.

I actually have a few Saffron Road meals in my freezer for when I’m feeling lazy. They have a number of good flavours if you’re into that type of food.

[napscoordinator]

Thank You! Seriously it is insane for these people to complain because the Muslims will just turn around in November and claim “No Thanksgiving” advertisements. Why are people so STUPID????????????? What is the big deal about a sign that says, “Happy Ramadan”? I don’t shop there but if Safeway or Giant had that in a section of the grocery store, I could care less. I go there to shop and buy goods.

[Dallas59]

It's not so much Ramadingdong as is Whole Foods sponsors Palestinian/HAMAS terrorism...

"Don’t be surprised if you hear the words, “Ramadan Mubarak” (a blessed Ramadan), at a Whole Foods near you. The company is bragging that it is the first national supermarket chain to have a Ramadan marketing campaign, complete with social media. And the folks at HAMAS financier and unindicted co-conspirator, CAIR Action Network, are have allahgasms about it. I’m not surprised by this development. As longtime readers know, I haven’t set foot in Whole Paycheck a/k/a Whole Foods since I discovered (and reported to you) that the company was not only selling–but pimping and promoting–”Canaan Fair Trade” and “Palestinian Fair Trade” Olive Oil, olive oil that funds Palestinian Islamic terrorism and its supporters, including, among other things, scholarships at HAMAS terrorism universities.

Debbie Schlussel

[PGR88]

Try to be PC, and it will always come back to bite you. You will always run afoul of someone, because its all nonsense anyway.

[tlb]

>>> LOL, it’s always “far right” with liberals. Or “extreme right.” Or extreme far right.” Never just “conservative”.

No that’s probably correct. “Conservatives” would know that business is business. A business exists to serve the customer’s desires and take their money. If the store has the same sort of promotions for Christian and Jewish holidays, conservatives would appreciate it’s just more of the same and not an ideological endorsement of terrorism by Whole Foods.

[NCjim]

I’ll take haraam food for $20, please.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks george76.

advertising food for Ramadan, then seemingly backing off, then returning to their original stance

[NowApproachingMidnight]

Trader Joes is 1000x better than WF.

[TheThirdRuffian]

Free bomb belt with every halal purchase!

Nailbombs for the kids.

Maps of local Jewish temples!