London cafe slammed for ‘deeply offensive’ items after selling ‘Nutzy’ smoothie with a swastika on the bottle
Nut-based drink accused of showing 'disrespect for the millions murdered during the Holocaust'
A CAFE has been slammed for selling a “Nutzy” smoothie with a swastika on the bottle.
A woman who lost family in the Holocaust asked the manager to remove it but he refused. She said: “I left the shop almost in tears.”
Nin Com Soup shop inside Old Street Tube station in North London flogs the 300ml nuts-based drink for £3.95.
Karen Pollock MBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said: “This ‘branding’ attached to this soft drink is offensive - it demonstrates at best, a lack of sensitivity and at worst, complete disrespect for the millions murdered during the Holocaust.”
The shop’s manager he declined to comment when approached but our reporter was referred instead to barista John Jordan, who he said designed the smoothie. He refused to apologise.
He said: “The Swastika was originally a Hindu symbol and ‘Nutzy’ is something that has lots of layers.
“I certainly have sympathy - but I don’t make any apology. It is something that was misunderstood.
“‘Of course, 'Nutzy' has a play on 'Nazi', but it can also be for 'nuts' or 'courageous'. It depends how it is interpreted.”
Later the drink had been removed from the shelves in the shop.
Labour MP and chair of the all-party group against anti-Semitism, John Mann, hit out.
He said: “We fought a long war to stop the Swastika flying in Britain and it needs quickly removing from the shelves of this cafe.
“I suggest environmental health officers do a spot check on the hygiene of the cafe to see if there are any other nasties lurking.”
The Campaign Against Anti-Semitism Enforcement Director, Stephen Silverman, said: “It beggars belief that this shop created a Nazi-branded drink by unwitting coincidence.
“It was unavoidable that this would be immensely offensive to Jewish people and anyone who lost members of their family to Nazi brutality.”
Board of Deputies of British Jews Vice-President Marie van der Zyl described it as a "provocative exercise".
He added: “To offer this drink which features a Nazi swastika on the bottle is unbelievable ignorant and offensive and certainly leaves a nasty taste in the mouth.
“The owners should withdraw it immediately and apologise to those they have upset by this provocative exercise.”
Lib Dem Equality spokeswoman Lorely Burt said: “This is nasty, crass and deeply offensive. At a time when hate crime is on the rise, this is particularly distasteful."