Right-wing groups are boycotting Toblerone for a ridiculous—and hateful—reason
The past year has seen several high-profile right-wing boycotts. In May, some called for a boycott of Netflix after the streaming service signed a contract with Barack and Michelle Obama. And in November, conservatives burned their Nike gear when activist and former football player Colin Kaepernick became the new face of the brand. The latest target of right-wing ire is none other than the chocolate brand Toblerone, which some groups are boycotting because of its recent halal certification (much like a kosher certification for Jewish people, a halal certification simply means the bars are okay to eat should one follow Muslim dietary restrictions).
According to USA Today, the iconic Swiss candy bar actually received its halal designation in April, but outrage over the news only recently began to take hold. The papernotes that a December social media post from the German far-right group Alternative for Germany brought attention to the change, calling it a sign of “Islamization.” Since then, the Islamophobic #BoycottToblerone hashtag has spread on social media. But those opposed to the boycott have pointed out that many common foods are inherently halal. Toblerone reportedly didn’t even need to adjust its recipe to earn the official designation.
Loving this: Toblerone's halal certification outrages far right – and they've called for a boycott. Need to remind them: fruit, veg, pulses, beans, bread, eggs, milk, juices, fish, spices, salt, sugar & water are halal by default. Let your boycott begin! https://t.co/85Kbvr2B7l
— Moazzam Begg (@Moazzam_Begg) December 20, 2018
https://twitter.com/udfredirect/status/1077317189529726977
So childish. BTW #Toblerone is kosher too.
— Steve Whittier (@stevecdub) December 25, 2018
All chocolate no matter who it is made by when free of alcohol and pork byproducts is Halal ( permissible / allowed ) In fact the fruit and veggies you eat daily are also Halal Toblerone have not changed the recipe to make their products Halal. They simply are Halal. pic.twitter.com/tEIFIkb2yX
— MIchael-James (@Michael_JamesB) December 22, 2018
Water is also halal. Hoping they boycott that too. https://t.co/ZOakS4k3Xv
— Jeremy McLellan (@JeremyMcLellan) December 20, 2018
Others saw the boycott as the perfect reason to buy Toblerone.
off to buy a Toblerone in honour of it becoming officially halal to flex on these far-right bigots 💅
— Aleesha Khaliq (@a_leesha1) December 22, 2018
Kosher is ok, but Halal is not? Dear Alt Right, at least be equal opportunity haters. Toblerone is now my favorite chocolate just to spite the right. #SpiteTheAltRight https://t.co/BwofsBYtYZ
— Lee Weissman (@JihadiJew) December 21, 2018
Please ship your unopened Toblerone to my PO Box https://t.co/TA59HDVMTD
— Namira Islam Anani (@namirari) December 20, 2018
Mondelēz International, the company that owns Toblerone, told USA Today in an email that the halal certification was simply meant as an act of inclusion.
"Our ambition is to make products everyone can enjoy," the company's statement read. "That is why it is important to us to respond to the different preferences and food requirements of our broad range of consumers worldwide."
As far as we’re concerned, this hateful far-right boycott just leaves more delicious Swiss chocolates for the rest of us.
