Whole Foods is often taken to task for some of the outrageously overpriced and occasionally even ridiculous products it offers. In its latest shame-worthy venture, the grocery chain has come under fire for selling individually packaged unpeeled oranges for $5.99/LB.
A tweet which brought attention to the packaged unpeeled oranges reads, “If only nature would find a way to cover these oranges so we didn’t need to waste so much plastic on them.” and has been retweeted and favorited nearly 100,000 times since it was posted on March 3rd.
While this blatantly wasteful product from a company with an image built on sustainability and ethical living is ironic, and has garnered Whole Foods criticism, the sheer price of these unpeeled plastic-boxed oranges would be enough to cause outrage. Twitter has been ruthlessly taking them to task over this wasteful and highly over priced product over the past week.
If only nature would find a way to cover these oranges so we didn’t need to waste so much plastic on them. pic.twitter.com/00YECaHB4D
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) March 3, 2016
As one incredulous Twitter user pointed out, one has to wonder what the next logical step for Whole Foods would be. Half-eaten oranges? Either way, the online ridicule got Whole Foods to fold.
@awlilnatty Definitely our mistake. These have been pulled. We hear you, and we will leave them in their natural packaging: the peel.
— Whole Foods Market (@WholeFoods) March 3, 2016
NanaBooBoo
March 7, 2016 at 12:15 pm
It is too bad the people who objected to this didn’t think of those who have severe arthritis or any similar problem that would make peeling an orange difficult. Must be nice to be able to do so.
Simon Peters
March 7, 2016 at 12:59 pm
These are in fact PEELED oranges – unpeeled means with the skin on…
Simon Peters
March 7, 2016 at 1:00 pm
NanaBooHoo – too PC by half!
itsjim
March 7, 2016 at 3:10 pm
Bring it to me, Ill peel it for you NanaBooBoo.