UAE | General

Shoppers split over move to pull Danish products

Shoppers in Dubai are split over the Union Cooperative Society's decision to withdraw all Danish products from its shelves.

  • By Kevin Scott, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:41 March 18, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • A sign at the Safa Union Cooperative Society advises customers that products from Denmark will not be available in the supermarket.
  • Image Credit: Megan Hirons/Gulf News

Dubai: Shoppers in Dubai are split over the Union Cooperative Society's decision to withdraw all Danish products from its shelves.

The move, introduced last week, is linked to the recent republication of cartoons depicting Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) by several Danish newspapers.

A senior manager at the Cooperative's Al Safa Park branch confirmed all Puck and Dano products, including milk, cream, butter and cheese, had been withdrawn and said there were no plans to introduce fresh stocks.

Officials from Spinneys and Carrefour declined to comment on whether they would follow suit. But Gulf News visited the stores and found them to be selling Danish products.

Boycott decision

Mohan Lakhiani, a spokesperson for Choithram's, said: "At this stage we have not considered the discontinuing or product recall of any Danish goods as we have not received any complaints from customers.

"None of the authorities has requested a boycott but we may review our position at a later stage if any development occurs."

Gulf News found shoppers at the Cooperative had mixed views on the development.

Adelfried Saidely, 52, from Iraq said: "I am against the ban simply for the reason that I think it is an exaggerated reaction to an issue that has already been given more prominence than it deserves. The Danish newspapers are simply adding fuel to the fire and trying to gain maximum publicity for their respective organisations."

Roberto Daos, 37, from the Philippines thinks it is unfair to punish Danish companies for the actions of their counterparts in the media.

Jamal Aboobaker, 59, from India, said: "The Danish newspapers should not have reprinted the cartoons and they should issue an apology. However, banning Danish products will not resolve anything and the issue will keep arising unless there is an apology. It is a matter of feelings and sentiments and unless a solution is reached everyone will lose out."

Andy Langdell, 31, from Britain said it was a petty move by the Cooperative. "The cartoons have obviously struck a massive chord in this part of the world but I believe in freedom of expression and agree with the Danish newspapers. Nobody is going to applaud the supermarkets decision [to ban Danish products] and it will not achieve anything," he said.

But Nizar Ahmad, 36, from Pakistan said: "I fully support the supermarket's decision; I've not been buying Danish products for a while now anyway. I feel people should respect each other's religion."

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