Image of Lord Jagannath on KitKat wrapper has sparked uproar online, Nestle India apologises

Team Udayavani, Jan 21, 2022, 10:34 AM IST

After featuring images of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra on the wrapper of KitKat chocolate, Nestle India received backlash online.

The images of Lord Jagannath, Subhadra, and Balabhadra on the KitKat wrappers enraged netizens because most people throw them in trash cans, drains, and on roads after eating the chocolate, demeaning them.

A Twitter user posted a picture of the latest KitKat wrapper and wrote, “Please remove the Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Mata Subhadra photos in your @kitkat chocolate cover. When people are finished eating the chocolate they will throw the cover on road, drain, dustbin, etc . So, please remove the photos.”

Please remove the Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Mata Subhadra Photos In Your @kitkat Chocolate Cover . When People Are Finished The Chocolate They Are Through The Cover On Road, Drain, Dustbin, Etc . So Please Remove The Photos . @Nestle @NestleIndiaCare #Odisha #JayJagannath pic.twitter.com/9vFy0trazw

— Biswadeep Pradhan (@Biswadeep_bcjd) January 17, 2022

Nestle kindly remove pics of our God's from your wrapper KitKat…
Till that time we Indians stand united in terms of not consuming any of your products..

Kindly learn from your mistakes and don't repeat such acts again.

— Jitendra Kukreja (@JitendraKukre15) January 19, 2022

Nestle India issued an apology after social media anger, claiming that the corporation had not intended to offend religious feelings. Nestle India introduced the package last year, and it was quickly recalled.

Kitkat travel break packs are meant to celebrate beautiful local destinations & last year we wanted to celebrate the culture of Odisha with designs on packs representing 'Pattachitra’, an art form uniquely identifiable by its vivid imagery. (1/3)

— We Care At Nestlé (@NestleIndiaCare) January 19, 2022

Nestle India, in a tweet, said, “Hi! Kitkat travel break packs are meant to celebrate beautiful local destinations. Last year we wanted to celebrate the culture of Odisha with designs on packs representing ‘Pattachitra’, an art form uniquely identifiable by its vivid imagery.”

The visual was inspired by the government tourism website.We wanted to encourage people to know about the art & its artisans. Our past campaigns have also shown that consumers like to collect & keep such beautiful designs.(2/3)

— We Care At Nestlé (@NestleIndiaCare) January 17, 2022

We do understand the sensitivity of the matter and regret if we have inadvertently hurt people's sentiments. As an pre-emptive action, we had undertaken withdrawal of these packs from the market last year. We thank you for your understanding and support.(3/3)

— We Care At Nestlé (@NestleIndiaCare) January 17, 2022

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