A photo posted by a Vancouver resident of a pre-cut avocado wrapped in plastic and cardboard has caused an internet uproar. Christine Kizik posted the photo of a $3.99 pre-cut avocado on the Facebook page of Canadian grocer Sobeys Inc., saying she was “surprised and disappointed.”
This is the latest event to cause online outrage when it comes to excessive food packaging, pitting consumer convenience against environmental concerns.
Earlier this month, the Twitterverse exploded over an image of a peeled orange in a plastic container sold at Whole Foods.
In 2012, online outcry led a grocery store in Austria to apologize and remove pre-peeled, plastic-wrapped bananas from shelves.
Avocados, oranges and bananas already grow their own protective peel. Online users expressed anger at what they said is unnecessary and wasteful plastic packaging.
“Avocado’s (sic) have their own perfect, compostable, wrapping. Adding packaging to an avocado is strange to say the least,” wrote Kizik . She said the photo was taken at a Sobeys in Thornhill, Ont., by a friend, but it was her comment that prompted so much attention. The post has been shared hundreds of times and received more than 100 comments.
Sobeys responded, posting on Facebook: “Thanks for sharing this with us Christine. This product was developed for people who might be new to using avocados and for a little more convenience. It eliminates the guess work when it comes to ripeness and any challenges if you are not familiar with peeling and seeding a fresh avocado. The packaging is there to keep the fresh wholesome appearance and quality of the avocado without it browning prior to consumption.”
The response garnered a flurry of angry social media posts.
Comments ranged from criticizing the store for selling the product, to failing to educate consumers on how to cut an avocado, to criticizing buyers for being lazy.
A handful of users have pointed out that foods such as the pre-cut avocado and pre-peeled orange make preparing food easier for people who may have limited mobility.
But it appears those customers are not the intended market for the Whole Foods orange, since the retailer later tweeted a photo of peeled oranges stored in mason jars, which have twist-off lids, with the label “is this more a-peeling?”
Ing Wong-Ward, associate director of the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto, said the cost of pre-peeled foods would be more of a hindrance than physical access for those with mobility issues and who qualify for government benefits.
Whole Foods promised to pull the oranges from store shelves. Sobeys told the Star on Tuesday 15 March that the avocado was part of a pilot program in select Ontario stores.
“This product, like all others we introduce, will be reviewed and re-evaluated to determine whether it will become part of our regular offering,” Leung said.
