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Gedney drops use of 'midget' in pickles line as RI mom complains

Posted: February 19, 2013 - 12:41pm

CRANSTON, R.I. (AP) — A Cranston mother of a daughter with dwarfism has persuaded a Minnesota food company to drop the word "midget" from a line of pickles.

The Providence Journal reports (http://bit.ly/qYXi8C ) that Chelley Martinka, who says she has craved pickles, said she was incensed when she saw jars of what Cains brand calls kosher dill midgets at a supermarket.

The mother of 10-month-old Adelaide, who has dwarfism, thought she would smash the jars. Instead, she took pictures and blogged.

Gedney Foods in Chaska, Minn., which produces pickles and food lines by Del Monte and Cains, says it will change its labels and stop using the word "midget."

The company did not return calls from the newspaper. It confirmed its decision, but said it does not want media attention or recognition for doing what's right.

___

Information from: The Providence Journal, http://www.providencejournal.com

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

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Stars13
112
Points
Stars13 02/19/13 - 03:12 pm
16
4

midget pickles

Are you fricken serious? The name midget pickles was here long before your daughter was a gleem in anyone's eyes. Oh God have you contacted the company that makes 'midget' tootsie rolls? It's just like the indians not wanting any teams called braves! Fricken move on! So if someone's child is born with elephantitis, should we kill all the elephants? Get a grip! Seriously...focus on loving your child.

Stars13
112
Points
Stars13 02/19/13 - 03:17 pm
6
1

midget pickles

only meant to post that comment once. sorry

fishhead
5344
Points
fishhead 02/19/13 - 04:03 pm
8
3

When did midget become a

When did midget become a derogatory term?

sadiemarriedlady
23494
Points
sadiemarriedlady 02/19/13 - 04:27 pm
8
5

I sure hope she feels better.

Yes, we must watch out for the midget tootsie rolls.
I think Gedney caved a bit too soon on this one but,
who knows what the cost of the forthcoming lawsuit
would be. Anyone care to email them about taking away
the midget name? No, I thought not. That's why these
cases get settled .

Maybe the tootsie roll fight will move us.

Fair n Balanced
40535
Points
Fair n Balanced 02/19/13 - 05:22 pm
8
9

When did midget become a derogatory term?

Probably when they got the right to vote , welfare or another government paid lifestyle and joined the Democrat Party.

natorade
2075
Points
natorade 02/19/13 - 06:03 pm
9
2

Stars:

"It's just like the indians not wanting any teams called braves!"

I wouldn't go quite as far as to compare these two topics. In my opinion, it's apples to oranges.

I don't think the word 'midget' has always been offensive, but as we've seen with other words, about every 10 years there is a new, politically correct version of the word. They might mean the exact same thing, but for whatever reason the old word becomes the offensive one. It's dumb and I don't get it.
I'm sure the pickle company was using the term "Midget Pickles" long before the term was deemed offensive and I think they caved in a bit early. We can all think of others examples of words that fall into this category.

As for the derogatory team names, I fall on the other side of that debate, and we can pick another time and place for that.

jeb37
111
Points
jeb37 02/19/13 - 06:13 pm
6
3

Gedney midget pickles

As usual, some people want to rewrite the dictionary. Midget means "small" person or thing. Aren't pickles things?
What is termed bullying today is the same behavior that was called "teasing" in the past. The experience of this prepares you for the the real world which isn't alway kind. You just have to consider the source and move on. Let's whine our way through life.

hein1ric
2351
Points
hein1ric 02/19/13 - 07:55 pm
10
4

OK-no more dark chocolate? No

OK-no more dark chocolate? No more red or yellow roses, polish pickles or sausage, oriental food, eskimo patties, redman chew, canadian bacon or Ho Hos? Get real-what else??????

Poorman
505
Points
Poorman 02/19/13 - 08:06 pm
8
3

Dwarf pickles?

Dwarf pickles?

motleylarry
3600
Points
motleylarry 02/19/13 - 08:35 pm
8
5

How about size challenged

How about size challenged pickles? Like the size of the brains in our pc society?

NanLee60
14751
Points
NanLee60 02/19/13 - 08:43 pm
6
5

because

Because I am "vertically challenged" I don't want to see anything labeled short or shorty. We could go on and on and on...

Fair n Balanced
40535
Points
Fair n Balanced 02/19/13 - 09:33 pm
5
7

Dills murdered while

very young. A councilor's phone number on every jar.
Or "Minor consumption cukes that got pickled at a young and tender age."

muehlbau
19618
Points
muehlbau 02/19/13 - 11:13 pm
5
4

I've never understood...

...how the term midget came to be known as a derogatory term. It was originally a medical term to describe a person who was under 4' 10" but who was otherwise normally proportioned. Dwarfs were never properly been described as midgets.

Stop Making That Noise
1129
Points
Stop Making That Noise 02/20/13 - 07:23 am
16
1

It's not the size

It's not the size of the pickle that matters as much as how you use it.

Even a size challenged pickle can be very satisfying!

SMTN
Aitken

NanLee60
14751
Points
NanLee60 02/20/13 - 07:50 am
11
2

SMTN

LOL, now that was good :) :) :)

sadiemarriedlady
23494
Points
sadiemarriedlady 02/20/13 - 09:16 am
7
3

ditto smtn

In my opinion, that is the best thing you have written here.

I think that is humor that we can all enjoy.

Thank you.

OldFarmBoy
36429
Points
OldFarmBoy 02/20/13 - 09:50 am
5
4

I wonder what I

Will be labeled because I have strongly disliked pickles all my life?? In the trash they go.

dean1961
1043
Points
dean1961 02/20/13 - 09:58 am
8
3

OFB

The ACLU will probably come after you. There is no room in our society for pickle haters! :)

OldFarmBoy
36429
Points
OldFarmBoy 02/20/13 - 10:25 am
5
2

LOL Dean

You are probably right.

cyclerod48
2196
Points
cyclerod48 02/20/13 - 10:32 am
9
2

midget pickles

I will now add Gedney pickles to my list of things not to buy for not having the cajones to stand up to this idiot women.

rogerwilco
817
Points
rogerwilco 02/20/13 - 12:09 pm
4
2

SPS , short pickle syndrome.

SPS , short pickle syndrome. :D

hein1ric
2351
Points
hein1ric 02/20/13 - 09:00 pm
4
0

OFB

Tell me you like cucumbers tho. Pickles are just cucumbers that had their life shortened.

OldFarmBoy
36429
Points
OldFarmBoy 02/21/13 - 09:02 am
2
0

Hein

Absolutely not!! Ish I like to drive my ATV through those patches.

lendad
5731
Points
lendad 02/21/13 - 09:26 am
3
0

Boycott Nisswa ...

... they just held a "little" Miss Nisswa competition !! SHAME !!

lendad
5731
Points
lendad 02/21/13 - 09:33 am
1
0

I want John ward ...

... to author a bill creating a "save the Gedney midgets" license plate.

http://brainerddispatch.com/news/2013-02-19/special-cause-license-plates...

motleylarry
3600
Points
motleylarry 02/21/13 - 11:03 am
3
0

Amazing how the rest of

Amazing how the rest of society has to cow tow to a very few. Just like the kids who are peanut intolerant, that control the other 99 per cent. I would think that the very few could learn to adapt to the world.

1866Umidget
1
Points
1866Umidget 02/22/13 - 10:07 pm
0
0

sweet midget pickles renamed "little people" pickles

dwarfs and little people are upset and rightly so. in the interest of political correctness, Classic Pickles has renamed their sweet midget gherkin pickles to be "Little People Pickles."

press release here: classicpickles

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