Expats query source of ‘South African’ dates on sale at UK supermarket
South African expats have reached out to the SAPeople website regarding dates currently on sale at supermarket chain Aldi UK.
South African expats have reached out to the SAPeople website regarding dates currently on sale at supermarket chain Aldi UK.
The supermarket has come under fire for reportedly mislabelling the country of origin on packages of Medjool dates sold to Muslim consumers during the holy month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.
The fast is often broken by eating dates.
Dates allegedly being sourced from Israel
This year’s Ramadan commenced on the evening of Sunday, 10 March and concludes on Tuesday, 9 April.
Despite allegedly being sourced from Israel, the dates in question have reportedly been misrepresented as South African products on their packaging, according to South African expats.
This apparently misleading information has provoked a backlash from Muslim consumers who have elected to boycott Israeli products due to the ongoing atrocities and genocide in Gaza.
The above Instagram reel shows that the dates, which are on sale for £3.49 (R81.89), have ‘produce of South Africa’ on the packaging, but a scan of the barcode seemingly indicates its source to be Israel.
The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has challenged Aldi UK to come clean about the origin of their Medjool dates.
Awaiting comment
The SAPeople website has established that 90% of all Medjool dates in South Africa are grown in the desert climate at Klein Pella along the Orange River near the border with Namibia.
Klein Pella is the largest date farm in the southern hemisphere. It lies 115km east of Springbok, off the N7 in the Northern Cape province.
The dates are harvested from February until June and are packed at Klein Pella for both the local and the international market.
The SAPeople website has reached out to Aldi UK for comment. This article will be updated should comment be received.
In the interim, the SAPeople website will conduct further investigation into the matter.