Limited KitKat range of chocolate bars have sparked fury over images of holy Hindu deities.
Nestle is now apologizing and recalling a line of KitKat chocolate bars with images of Hindu deities printed on wrappers. This was after an outcry from Indian social media users. “hurting religious sentiments.”
The offending wrappers were part of the Indian version of the company’s global ‘KitKat travel breaks’ range, which has artwork by local artists printed on the packaging. Wrappers that were designed for use with a microwave oven are not allowed. “celebrate the culture”After using images of Mata Subhadra, Balabhadra, and Lord Jagannath as deities in the Odisha state government, there was a lot of outcry.
A flurry of posts on social media over the last week raised concern that empty wrappers might end up being thrown away. “dustbins, drains, gutters”Oder “unintentionally”The company was spit on in the street. Numerous commenters called for the company’s resignation. “remove the pictures,”With some even callingFor a boycott on Nestle products
Many people do this too. taggedOfficial Twitter handles for Prime Minister NarendraModi and top ministers, along with those of Odisha Chief Secretary Naveen Patnaik are available to “take action” “ban” Kitkat sales. This was tweeted by one person “our gods are not your marketing tool”Others accusedNestle “hurting religious sentiments”And of “playing with devotees’ feelings.”
@NestleIndiaSell @KITKAT in Odisha with Prabhu Jagannath pic on its wrapper to market its product.After consuming the chocolate people throwing these wrappers on road and others are stepping & spitting on it.Our gods are not your marketing tool.A complaint has been registered pic.twitter.com/afhyyPJIMW
— RajeshMohanty🇮🇳🚩 (@rajeshmohanty_) January 16, 2022
Nestle stated in response to the backlash that the company had begun to withdraw the product range from the marketplace. “pre-emptive action”Last year, it clarified its understanding of the “sensitivity of the matter.”According to the company, “regret if we have inadvertently hurt anyone’s sentiment.”
“KitKat travel break packs are meant to celebrate beautiful local destinations and last year we wanted to celebrate the culture of Odisha with designs on packs representing Pattachitra, an art form uniquely identifiable by its vivid imagery,” Nestle’s customer service account tweeted.
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The company had previously apologized for packaging in its limited KitKat travel break range after authorities in the eastern Indian state of Meghalaya objected last year to wrappers that incorrectly depicted another state’s wildlife park and featured a red panda species not found there.
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