'Discriminatory' food names should be banned, says Austria

[Jazzy]

Gourmands in Austria have called for discriminatory names for food, such as n-----bread and whore's pasta to be banned on the grounds that they are offensive.



They say it is no longer acceptable to include Zigeunerschnitzel (gipsy schnitzel) or Mohr im Hemd (Moor-in-a-shirt, a chocolate and cream confection) on menus in the Alpine country.



Negerbrot (n-----bread), a type of black bread, was particularly derogatory and should be consigned to history.



The association of Austrian restaurateurs said that while many of the appellations had a long heritage, they were now unacceptable.



It is not just German names that they want to ditch – the association also objects to spaghetti alla puttanesca, literally whore's spaghetti, so named for its rich, spicy taste – chilli is added to the recipe of tomatoes, olives, capers and anchovies.



The dish, which is often found in Italian restaurants around the world, became popular in the 1960s, according to the Italian Pasta Makers Union.



Our job is all about welcoming people and for this reason we should offer a good example, the association told the Tiroler Tageszeitung newspaper.



It suggested that gipsy schnitzel should be renamed cutlet with pepper sauce, n----- bread should be scrapped in favour of very dark bread and Moor-in-a-shirt should be called simply and rather prosaically chocolate dessert with cream.



The proposal was welcomed by Sos Mitmensch, a group that campaigns for integration and equality in Austria.



Discrimination is no laughing matter, even when it happens unwittingly or because of tradition, said Alexander Pollak, a spokesman.



Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/new...food-names-should-be-banned-says-Austria.html



Question: Do you agree these names are discriminatory and should be banned?

 

[Fatal Dawn]

Here I can see why some people want the names changed. Some of those names seem blatantly offensive. And just so people are wondering Neger does not mean the color black, it actually refers to the offensive term.



Aside from that, the first rule of business is that the customers are always right. How will your business survive if you refuse to change the things that are upsetting customers?

 

[Fatal Dawn]

Before you start name calling, realize that people take things differently. Words are just words until they have been used against you. Until you have been called a n-ger you don't know how that word truly sounds to some people. Gypsy and whore do not have the best connotations behind them either.



A personal opinion is different than a business one. If you are running a business you can't afford to be offensive. You're supposed to exercise common sense to offend as little people as possible. And if you are tired of people whining about it, don't put yourself in that situation in the first place.

 

[Jazzy]

Harald Ultsch, the president of a Tyrolean gastronomy association, said the proposed ban took political correctness too far. These are traditional dishes, he said.

I agree with this quote. These are not NEW names that have just been invented for these food dishes. They are traditional dishes and if the name offends you, then don't order these items or go elsewhere to eat.

 

[Bluezone777]

Words are only as powerful as you make them. If people stop letting words have so much power over them then they wouldn't be bothered so much by it and it would turn make the use of the word go down as its power is stripped away. As long as you keep giving these offensive words power over you is ensuring that people continue to speak them.



People confuse not caring about the use of racist/sexist/etc. words as weakness but I see you not reacting to them as a sign of strength to be honest. A strength that so few seem to have anymore and it has made us weak as a result of it.

 

[Evil Eye]

I'm gonna agree with Smooth.

We also had something like that happen to a food... They changed the name, everyone still refers to it by its old name, nothing's changed except the box. Oh and maybe the people who were complaining are satisfied.