Grocery store chain Trader Joe’s announced that it will not be removing popular international food labels despite being attacked as “racist” over the packaging.
“A few weeks ago, an online petition was launched calling on us to ‘remove racist packaging from [our] products,’” the company said. “Following were inaccurate reports that the petition prompted us to take action. We want to be clear: we disagree that any of these labels are racist. We do not make decisions based on petitions. We make decisions based on what customers purchase, as well as the feedback we receive from our customers and Crew Members. If we feel there is need for change, we do not hesitate to take action.”
The post on the Trader Joe’s website refers to previous reports that an online petition gaining over 4,000 signatures had caused them to remove international packaging such as “Trader Jose” and “Trader Ming” while defending the practice against racism claims.
The company, founded in Pasadena, California, in 1967, went on to explain that the “buying team” started using the phrases years ago as a term of endearment and respect for other cultures.
“Recently we have heard from many customers reaffirming that these name variations are largely viewed in exactly the way they were intended — as an attempt to have fun with our product marketing,” the post continued. “We continue our ongoing evaluation, and those products that resonate with our customers and sell well will remain on our shelves.”
It had been reported earlier this month that Trader Joe’s was joining companies and brands such as Land O’Lakes, Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben’s, and several others in removing packaging or language that has been deemed racist following the civil unrest in the wake of the death of George Floyd on May 25.
