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Nutella Declines Personalization Request for Young Girl Named Isis
What’s in a name? Quite a bit, it seems!
A woman from Australia is understandably upset after her attempt to order a personalized Nutella jar for her five-year-old niece was denied due to the child’s name: Isis. Yes, that’s right—like the notorious militant group that has sadly become synonymous with terror.
According to various sources, the girl’s aunt visited a department store in New South Wales to buy a customized jar as part of Nutella’s “Make Me Yours” campaign, which allows fans to create their own labels. When she entered “Isis,” the computer flagged it as inappropriate, prompting the store manager to advise her to contact Nutella’s parent company, Ferrero. To her dismay, Ferrero’s Chief Executive, Craig Johnson, upheld the rejection of the name.
In an official statement, the company explained: “Like all campaigns, there needs to be consistency in the way terms and conditions are applied. Unfortunately, this has meant there have been occasions where a label has not been approved on the basis that it could have been misinterpreted by the broader community or viewed as inappropriate.” This strict approach likely stems from previous issues during the campaign when the website allowed for some rather… unconventional label creations.
However, this situation is distinctly different. The girl’s mother, Sarah Park, clarified to the Sydney Herald that she chose the name Isis not because of the militant group but after the ancient Egyptian goddess of motherhood and fertility. While it makes sense for a computer system to flag the name, it seems rather silly for a human to agree with that decision.
The Social Security Administration reports that the name Isis has been in the top 1,000 baby names since 1994, reaching a peak in 2005, with over 10,000 people in the U.S. sharing that name. It’s not unreasonable to think that people in other countries have similarly embraced the name Isis. This little girl is certainly not alone!
When naming our children, we can never predict how meanings might evolve over time. A sweet name can unintentionally become associated with negative connotations. It feels unjust for this little girl to face exclusion or discrimination due to an unfortunate coincidence. She is in no way linked to the militant group, and it’s clear to anyone who takes a moment to consider. So, let’s hope someone at Nutella can find a way to get this kid her personalized jars already!
If you’re interested in more information on home insemination, check out our other posts, such as those discussing the terms and conditions of various kits. For further reading on at-home insemination techniques, visit Make a Mom as they provide excellent resources. And if you’re exploring fertility treatments, UCSF’s IVF page is a great place to start.
In summary, the refusal of Nutella to personalize a jar for a little girl named Isis highlights the complexities of naming in a world filled with associations. While technology can misinterpret names, we must strive for understanding and compassion in our decisions.