The mother of a girl afflicted with dwarfism has convinced a national pickle company to stop using the word “midget’’ in describing its miniature pickles.
Gedney Foods said it will change the name of its “Cain’s Kosher Dill Midgets,’’ following a campaign by Chelley Martinka of Cranston, R.I.
Martinka, whose 10-month-old daughter Addie will grow up unusually small because of dwarfism, said she was “appalled and hurt’’ when she saw the name “midget’’ on the jar, according to a report by
CranstonPatch.com.
The Little People of America, which fights for the rights of dwarfs, has called the word offensive.
"I know that as times change it is hard for a company to keep up," Martinka wrote to Gedney. "But for the equality of all children I hope you consider renaming this product for 2013.
The company agreed and said it will begin using new labels after its current inventory is sold.
“[It’s] simply doing the right thing,’’ the company said in a statement.
On her blog, Martinka wrote: “We did it . . . We hope to remove the m-word from more products in the next year.’’
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