SuperValu takes Israeli carrots off its shelves

SuperValu’s removal of Israeli carrots has provoked a row over anti-Semitism.

The supermarket chain confirmed it ordered all stores to take Israeli carrots off their shelves — but denied it is imposing a formal boycott on goods from the country.

The Israeli embassy in Dublin responded to the move by making reference to a statement from Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in which he alleges that anti-Israeli boycotts are the new face of anti-Semitism.

Despite SuperValu claiming it is not enforcing a ban on Israeli goods, an email instruction was sent to all 232 stores in the chain last Friday saying the Chantenay variety must not be sold.

The company said it was not taking a stance on the Gaza conflict.

“SuperValu is not involved in a boycott of Israeli produce and ultimately consumers will make their own purchasing decisions.

“We understand that this is an emotive issue. However, we have a policy of not taking a position on international affairs.”

SuperValu, which is part of the Musgrave Group, said the company wanted to be 100% clear that there was no ban on the sourcing and sale of products from Israel.

“We prioritise supply from the UK and Europe when Irish product is not available. Very occasionally we source some products from Palestine and Israel when we cannot get sufficient supply from our main markets,” a statement said.

“We currently have sufficient stock from our usual supply market, with no goods ordered from Palestine and Israel at this time.”

The supermarket chain was one of more than 20 retailers written to by trade union Mandate seeking a boycott of Israeli goods and produce.

The union famously stood by a group of Dunnes Stores workers in 1984 after they went on strike in support of Mary Manning, who was sacked after refusing to handle produce from apartheid South Africa.

Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil senator Averil Power issued a tweet calling on Aldi, Lidl, Dunnes Stores, and Tesco to boycott of Israeli goods.

@Aldi_Ireland @lidl_ireland @Dunnes_Stores @tesco Please join @SuperValuIRL in boycotting Israeli goods over Gaza. http://t.co/y3JZYasMB9

— Averil Power (@averilpower) August 5, 2014

Responding to the carrot removal, the Israeli embassy referenced a comment from Mr Harper on boycotts of Israeli goods, which stated: “It is the face of the new anti-Semitism. It targets Jewish people by targeting Israel, and attempts to make the old bigotry acceptable.”

However, the embassy said it was not branding SuperValu anti-Semitic.

The row came as Amnesty International Ireland’s executive director, Colm O’Gorman, said he accepted Government assurances that armaments were not exported to Israel, but urged the Coalition to consider the end result of other “dual use” products sold to the country, such as computer components and technology systems when granting licences.