Posted on 07/20/2020 9:33:40 AM PDT by Red Badger
MARINA DEL REY (CBSLA) — Trader Joe’s says it is taking action after a Change.org petition called for it to change “racist” packaging.
According to the petition, which has been signed by more than 1,800 people at last check, “the grocery chain labels some of its ethnic foods with modifications of ‘Joe’ that belies a narrative of exoticism that perpetuates harmful stereotypes.”
“For example, ‘Trader Ming’s’ is used to brand the chain’s Chinese food, ‘Arabian Joe’ brands Middle Eastern foods, ‘Trader José’ brands Mexican foods, ‘Trader Giotto’s’ is for Italian food, and ‘Trader Joe San’ brands their Japanese cuisine,” the petition continues.
California high school senior Briones Bridell started the petition, also saying that “The Trader Joe’s branding is racist because it exoticizes other cultures – it presents ‘Joe’ as the default ‘normal’ and the other characters falling outside of it.”
A Trader Joe’s location in Marina del Rey has already appeared to phase out some of the branding the petition pointed to.
The grocery chain released a statement in response to the petition, saying it has been actively making changes.
“While this approach to product naming may have been rooted in a lighthearted attempt at inclusiveness, we recognize that it may now have the opposite effect — one that is contrary to the welcoming, rewarding customer experience we strive to create every day,” company spokesperson Kenya Friend-Daniel said.
The grocery chain is one of several companies that have recently come under fire for branding that critics say promote stereotyping.
Last month, Quaker Oaks said it would retire the Aunt Jemima name and character. The maker of Uncle Ben’s rice said it would update the brand’s character as well, and Eskimo Pie’s leadership team also agreed to change the name.
Trader Joe’s first opened in 1967 in Pasadena and now has more than 500 store locations across the country. The chain’s founder and namesake Joe Coulombe died in February at his Pasadena home.
Oh, No!
[[Change.org]]
I accuse Change.org of having a racist name- they expect minorities to change- it’s right there in the name- proof that they are racist
Whimsical packaging gets canceled.
What will they want next? Change the name of the store to Trader Jamal?
What “harmful stereotypes” do these names convey? That people in various countries have different names and different words to refer to the same things? That certain foods are associated with different cultures?
so now we know that California high school students really have nothing to do. And that trader Joe’s started phasing out some of the names. Why some? Does the Italian name still exist? because we have real lives and don’t care? Well now I care and I’m going to follow up on it.
And no before reading this I couldn’t possibly conceive being offended by having a different name for Italian foods.
But if Asians and Mexicans and God knows who else are offended then I will be too
Trader Joe’s is a privately held company. I wonder if that might make them more courageous when facing the woke Mafia.
Name everything “Trader Neutral”
Trader Neutral Beans, Trader Neutral Cake Mix, Trader Neutral Beer
Mahatma Rice must change its name, and icon.
Arm & Hammer Baking Soda must now use a ‘multicultural’ arm.
KFC must get rid of the Colonel.
This will never stop.....................
There will be no end to these idiotic demands once the haters have a win, and they have had already quite a few. Big business, politicians such as Nikki Haley and others, and the media have been cheering them on. And it’s bound to snowball.
Make
Orwell
Fiction
Again
If Trader Joe’s told the cancel club cult to pound sand I might actually shop in their overpriced stores
Some people wake up every morning and say, “Now what will I be offended by today?”.........................
Lefties have no sense of humor.
At all.
You cannot appease a bully. It only emboldens them to want more.
The only way to stop a bully is to beat the crap out of them...................
If they cave in to this blackmail they deserve to lose their business.
Arm & Hammer Baking Soda must change its logo to Arm, Hammer & Sickle to please these people.
Caving in to a HS Senior SMDH.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.