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Subscribe to RSSPARIS -- Disability groups in France are calling for a boycott of some Babybel cheese following accusations that a promotional summer toy insults the mentally ill.
Toy inkpads featuring the term "mentally ill holidays," were included as free gifts throughout July in bags of Mini Babybel, the round cheese with the iconic red wax coating.
The expression: "des vacances de malade mental," Babybel says, was intended as a fun wordplay on a common French term to mean "extraordinary."
'Discriminatory values'
But Babybel later admitted the slogan was not properly thought out.
"It was a short marketing campaign and as a result there was an error in validating the slogan. We admit it was very clumsy," Babybel Director General Etienne Lecomte said Thursday.
On Monday, France's leading association for the mentally handicapped, Unapei, called for a nationwide boycott of the cheese packs. It said the slogan sends "discriminatory values" to children.
The boycott initially covered all cheese products made by the Bel Group, the cheese conglomerate that also produces "The Laughing Cow" cheese.
More stories about France on NBCNews.com
But Babybell apologized Wednesday, prompting disability groups to limit their boycott only to the packs containing the toys with the toy inkpads.
Babybel said it has stopped their production and is trying to take the remaining packets off shelves.
"Yes, Babybel has apologized, and it's sincere. But the damage might already have been done," said Unapei President Christel Prado.
"Kids go back to school soon, and they'll get asked about their holidays. Kids pick up things easily. Our fear is that they'll repeat: 'We had mentally ill holidays.'"
Insulted
Ludovic Gregoire, whose six-year-old son suffers from a form of autism, was one of many who wrote messages on Babybel's Facebook wall protesting the slogan.
Complete international coverage on NBCNews.com
"It's just hurtful, when I read it. They call it humor. But if there was more education, negative campaigns like this wouldn't happen. In France, we are so behind other countries," Gregoire said. "'Malade mentale' is a common expression, but French people need to know how it actually feels. It's offensive."
Babybel management has agreed to talk about ways to fight discrimination in a meeting with disability groups scheduled for September.
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Leave a Comment:
Of course they were offended. They are mentally ill.
I see the French still produce the best Whine in the Whorld...
The French weren't offended at killing 100,000 blacks in Libya, with America's help, just to get oil contracts. LIGHT, SWEET CRUDE. Dead babies don't compare to insulting crazy people.
That cheese is mmmmmgood... definitely not boycotting...
I have two mental illnesses (major depression and panic disorder with agoraphobic tendencies), and I'd do everything short of killing someone to get rid of them. I'd love a mental illness holiday!
Megidolaon
Obama will take care of you. Your appointment at the Dr. Kevorkian free clinic has been set for 8/10/2012 at 9:45 AM. Please arrive at least 5 minutes prior to your appointment to fill out the one page Obama Care Insurance form. All services are provided free by the Tax Payers of America. Have a great day!
If you go to Dr. Kevorkian, and you don't die, can you sue him for malpractice?
Mr.PheaNiques - unfortunately, you are only partially right. I'm afraid that the USA holds thetitle of the best "Whiner in the Whorld". If this had happened here, people would be suing for damages, and there would be juries stupid enough to award millions, as in the hot coffee case.
Get a grip, people. There is always someone who will be offended at anything and everything. Get over it!!! That's life. This politically correct B.S. has gotten entirely out of hand.
Feisty, I see you have a different name. Does that mean Newsvine finally figured out what a hateful bitch you are, and banned your old account?
@ Denver Bill 2,
I am certain if that was the case the good Dr. would do everything to make the procedure a success. Including but not limited to a few hand grenades. You know, just to be sure.
I think the French need to go back to the airport apparantly the last time they flew they checked their sense of humor before the flight and when they arrived it was lost.
Feisty disappeared...and so did her cronies........MSN must have fired the bunch of them, or they were caught in the crossfire in the Chicago shootings....
"I think the French need to go back to the airport apparantly the last time they flew they checked their sense of humor before the flight and when they arrived it was lost."
What? You mean to tell me the French were offended by something somewhere after something happened? I have never heard of the French doing that before. This article is clearly a mistake. The reporter obviously had eaten some "mentally-ill" cheese
There's always somebody getting butthurt about something and always somebody willing to write "news" about it.
Have you had your laugh today?
Apparently, the French haven't...
A silly little story that NBC News thinks is more important than other subjects they might address... like the recession we're still in...
Clearly, somebody needs to be reminded of the definition of an economic recession.
I guess it's easy to shoot the messenger when they don't give you the news you feel is 'important' enough. It's certainly easier than endeavoring to understand to words you choose, or clicking on another article, or going to another news site entirely.
This is so true even though I think it's a silly story. It's like when people get mad about research on something like hair loss because we haven't found a cure for AIDS or cancer.
Yeah, Sally. I guess if the news ain't anti-Obama it ain't worth printing, eh? Let's see, a story on household debt getting under control, jobless claims dropping unexpectedly, mortgage rates rising... Nope, nothing here on financial concerns.
Oh, how ridiculous. Clearly, the French are almost as bad as Americans when it comes to whining about anything and everything!
Agreed. What is it with the perpetual outrage? Seems like someone is pissed off about something at all times. it just makes me tune out - meh!.
don't the french have more important things to do like fix all the reverse gears in their military vehicles,and teach their troops how to (advance)......sorry just could not pass that one up!!!
don't the french have more important things to do like fix all the reverse gears in their military vehicles,and teach their troops how to (advance)......sorry just could not pass that one up!!!
jm: are you planning a boycott of whiny news stories ?
dirp, HA! Yep, I'm outraged!
i will sighn the petition ha!
like the french don't have more important things to worry about....
Me thinks they dost protest too much.....must be a characteristic of the mentally defective.....their whole country is heading into the toilet and this is what they are worried about?....get over it...
To be fair, probably 5 people are worried about it and a journalist needed a story.
I understand sales of French wines and cheeses are declining....just saying.
How stupid is this ?? @!$%#s
Wow! 9 posts starting out which are in agreement concerning the inanity of this story? Let's make it an even 10.
..yawn...
Wow. We are fighting wars in about 5 countries and killing people in about 20, and this passes for world news. How is Libya doing after we killed 100,000 people there? What is happening in Sudan? Yemen? Nigeria? Mali?? Niger??Ethnic cleansing,Famine, Genocide are ravaging Africa and we get a PC story about a little round block of Cheese. I'm waiting for the daily NBC gay, cry me a river story.
Mucous attacks city.......phlegm at 11.
Wow, Fiesty, had they known your preferences, i'm sure they would have not run this human interest story. Please forgive everyone for not anticipating your wants and needs. Nice picture, by the way. If that's really you, I no longer need to wonder at your bitterness.
LOL
I thought we only airstrike killed 1,108 civilians and wounded 4,500 ( wikipedia)???? . with total death toll at 30,000, and yes probably three times as many injured.
As Marie Antoinette said of the French " let them eat cake..." right before they introduced her to Mr. Guillotine!
Ummm, actually it was *Doctor* Guillotine. Not to worry, nothing to lose your head over. I understand he was a real cut up and had a sharp wit. (No, I'm not being the fact police, just taking an opportunity to have some fun.)
Oh, for crying out loud! You can't do, say, think, write or feel anything anymore without offending someone. I had no idea so many people were so damn sensitive. GET A LIFE IF YOU ARE BORED!!!!
I wonder what wonderful things could get accomplished if people didn't find it necessary to harass each other with names and labels.
Humans, as a species, are pretty dumb...that's why they can't think of anything better to do than to insult others with names.
I support Babybel. We, in America, have a similar saying: "mental health day." It's good to take a mental health day from work. Clear your mind, rejuvenate your spirit.
I'm surprised that a lot of posters think this is a silly matter. Language is important, it can affect attitudes and opinions. I always cringe at the American English usage of "dumb" meaning "stupid", which has to be offensive to people with speech impediments.
I find the Western need to classify everyone as something to be rather offensive...it also makes me question human "intelligence" as a whole. What is the point of pinning a label like "retard," "autistic," "stupid," "smart," "genius," etc. on someone...most people eventually find what they like to do and are capable of doing. It is not like a "retard" is going to want to become a nuclear scientist and blow up the world!
Well, that was a dumb comment. :)
dirp....not really, think about it for a second.
Oh no we can't have "mentally ill" be bandied about in popular culture! It might start to lose its stigma!!
Cheesus! this is ridiculous.
Sacrebleu!
Well, a cheese boycott should give the toilet paper industry a boost.
no one cares
What damage? Please, just accept the apology gracefully and move on, don't try to hint that any damage occurred when none has, no one cares...simple as that. It's nice to see a company be quick to say "sorry" and work to remove the 'offense'. And I say offense lightly because honestly these people need to grow a thicker skin if this is something they get offended over.
Drain Bramage!!!!
I don't think this was meant to be awe-inspiring, folks. YOU clicked on the link having read an obviously fluff title.
Come on, no one else laughed about a mentally ill holiday? Really?
WAH! WAH! For Pete's sake! What the hell ever happened to having a back bone? People are so sensitive nowadays. What is it, everyone becoming pussified? Uh Oh! I said " pussified ". Did I offend all the cat lovers out there, even though the word is obviously used to denote persons of weak intestinal constitution and not animals of the feline persuasion?
Jeez! If I only had a dime for every time someone call me a name, I wouldn't be here. I'd be retired on some tropical island with naked hoola girls. Oh Crap! I did it again! Now I will probably have everyone whom lives on islands taking offense that I somehow equate them with naked women or the impure thoughts that I associate with those naked women! BooFreakingHoo!!!!!!!
Then again, this an article about insane Frogs, so that explains a lot. They need to worry more about their bathing habits, ( or lack thereof ), than an accidental misapplication of words. Oh! Did I just offend someone again?
wait, the country that bans headscarves for Muslim girls in schools is now crying about cheese discrimination against the mentally impaired? Way to prioritize your battles, there.
This is also the country that dictates what words can or can't be spoken.
No "Big Macs" for you.
Is it any wonder the French are fast becoming the least influential in the EU.
Please silence the crybabies.
I love Mad Cow cheese, no matter who is offended.
Who really cares?
Don't mess with the political correctness police.
They have no sense of humor.