Gypsy sauce banned: it will become Hungarian-style paprika sauce
In Germany, no more gypsy sauce will soon be sold, but rather ‘Hungarian-style paprika sauce’. The producer Knorr has decided to change the name of the sauce because the word ‘gypsy’ is discriminatory.
The name ‘gypsy sauce’ had already been criticised in Germany for some time. In 2013, Roma and Sinti, who are referred to as gypsies, said that they found the name offensive. Knorr has decided to change the name because the name gypsy sauce can be interpreted negatively, the company said. The label will soon read: ‘Paprikasauce Ungarische Art’.
Gypsy as a slur
In the German press, Romani Rose responded on behalf of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma. He considers the words ‘gypsy sauce’ and ‘gypsy schnitzel’ fairly harmless, but does point to growing discrimination against Roma and Sinti. The fact that the word ‘gypsy’ is used as a slur in football stadiums is one example of this.
And what about white custard?
In the Netherlands, gypsy sauce is still readily available. It is not made by Knorr here, but by Remia. Meanwhile, social media is awash with reactions, naturally about white custard and Russian salad. Is that comparable? Dutch linguist and language scientist Marc van Oostendorp already wrote about it in 2013: ‘Gypsy is a slur for a group that, during a significant part of the hundred years that this German sauce manufacturer marketed its product, was systematically exterminated.’
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Photo: swr.de
