Lidl bashed in France for covering Israeli products with fake origins
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The Schwarz Group, owner of the Lidl stores, says that the alleged mislabeling is a mere "display error, due to the fact that we regularly have avocados and pomegranates from different sources on the shelves."
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People walk into a Lidl supermarket in Chambourcy, 30 km west of Paris, Thursday, June 16, 2011. (AP)
According to local media reports, Lidl supermarkets in France are under fire for trying to disguise products from "Israel" by labeling products such as Israeli avocados and pomegranates as being of African or Spanish origin.
Users posted photos on X featuring the products with both the original labels and those added by the store, naming it "a scandal at Lidl."
"The item is supposed to come from Morocco according to its label, but after examining it, it turns out that the real origin is Israel," one user stated.
"Same thing [happened to me] this morning at the Lidl in Vallauris – avocados from Morocco on the store label, and on the avocado, an Israeli label… I think there are plenty of stores doing this to sell their stocks," another user said on X.
Similar incidents have also reportedly been witnessed in Auchan and Carrefour stores.
❌🎯 Vu à Lidl France ALDI France et Grand Frais#BoycottIsreal #FreePalestine pic.twitter.com/3nIFekRcwz
— UFCM (@UFCM_) November 8, 2023
je suis trop choquée le @lidlfrance d’empalot Toulouse ils mentent eux aussi sur la provenance de leurs avocats en disant que ça vient du Maroc ou de Chili, alors que ça vient « d’Israel » c’est une honte de mentir comme ça!! #boycott #israel #lidl pic.twitter.com/fbGAiaNC8T
— مريم (@mymyhmd) November 13, 2023
This comes amid a rise in the boycott of Israeli goods, with some people believing that the boycott prompted stores to deliberately commit this act of misrepresenting products of Israeli origin so consumers would keep purchasing and benefitting them.
Fraud 'by mistake'
In response, Schwarz Group, owner of the Lidl stores, said that the alleged mislabeling was a mere "display error, due to the fact that we regularly have avocados and pomegranates from different sources on the shelves."
The company's press service declared, "In view of the recent events in the Middle East, we are dismayed by what is happening [in our stores] and are observing the situation with great concern. Schwarz Group companies reject all forms of violence. Our thoughts are with the victims of the conflict".
News outlet Actu Strasbourg said France’s Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) is aware of the incidents and is currently investigating.
"These incidents were the subject of a small number of reports to our services, spread over several months. These, like any consumer report, are taken into account by DGCCRF investigators".
Read next: South Africa pursues call to boycott 'Israel'
This comes amid an ongoing campaign trending on social media to boycott major brands that have taken a pro-"Israel" stance or supported the IOF.
"I don't think that me boycotting these brands would affect them."
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 30, 2023
Think again.#PalestineGenocide #GazaUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/rGkj8vVwKt
