Netherlands supermarket Albert Heijn has been accused of 'despising' the Dutch language, as evidenced by the English writing on its Euroshopper products, according to the Stichting Taalverdediging, an independent organisation that promotes the Dutch language.
The organisation is taking particular umbrage at the large English font on the Euroshopper packaging, with the Dutch translation featured in a smaller font underneath. It lists a number of these products on its website: "Prawn crackers (= kroepoek), Dutch spice cookies (= speculaas), Mixed sprinkles (= hagelslag), Apple sauce (= appelmoes), Big Battenbergs (= mergpijpen), rusk (= beschuit), scourers (= schuursponsjes), puff pastry biscuits (= krakelingen)"
Earlier this year, Stichting Taalverdediging awarded Albert Heijn its annual award for organisations that consciously or unconsciously ignore the Dutch language. However the Euroshopper brand, distributed by AMS, is a Europe-wide value brand, and the product features as such all European languages - English only slightly larger than the others.
Albert Heijn are yet to comment, according to the local press. (21 Sept)© 2010 - ESM: European Supermarket Magazine