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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Anita McSorley & Levi Winchester

Dunnes, Lidl, Tesco, Aldi and more Irish supermarkets urged to change name of chicken kiev to 'Kyiv'

Supermarket shoppers across Ireland are calling on the major grocers to change the name of their chicken kievs to ‘Kyiv’ in solidarity with Ukraine.

It comes after Sainsbury's in the UK changed the name of the its frozen poultry product, as well as removing all Russian-sourced items from its shelves.

The retailer bowed to pressure on social media after the public called for them to make a stand with the people of Ukraine.

Now, supermarkets in Ireland - including Dunnes Stores, Lidl and Aldi - are being prompted to do the same.

Shoppers on social media are urging the change, with one person directly Tweeting the Irish accounts of the shops: "War has been waged against Ukraine. Many of us buy 'Chicken Kiev'; Kiev (Key-ev) is the Russian version in English.

"Let's ask our supermarkets and butchers to use the Ukrainian Kyiv (Keev) & support Ukrainian cousins. A sticker on product?

"It will do nothing more than raise awareness of the situation, however it is worth asking."

Another added: "Chicken Kyiv - it needs to happen. Every time we use the other spelling it is an insult to all those who have died so heroically.

"Bit of a bother to get the packaging changed, but you know, people in Kyiv have had the odd bad afternoon as well. How about it lads?"

A third said: “Is it time that Chicken Kiev is renamed Chicken Kyiv? How about it @sainsburys @asda @Tesco @waitrose @Morrisons? #ukraine #chickenkyiv.”

Our sister site, The Mirror, has contacted Tesco, Asda and Morrisons, as well as Aldi and Lidl to see if they are considering the name change.

They report that Waitrose and Marks and Spencer have responded to say they have no plans to alter their chicken kievs.

The exact origins of the name "chicken kiev" are often disputed - with some people saying it was invented in the Continental Hotel in central Kyiv in the early 20th century.

Other theories claim it was made in a French restaurant and brought over to Russia in the 1840s, while some say it was the work of English food journalist and writer Isabella Beeton, known more commonly just as Mrs Beeton.

There have been calls for the chicken kiev to be renamed as chicken kyiv as "Kiev" is the Soviet-era name given to the capital city.

Shoppers want supermarkets to change the name of their kievs (Tesco)

"Kyiv" is derived from the Ukrainian language name, with many media organisations now using this pronunciation ever since the Ukraine war broke out last week.

More than one million people have already fled Ukraine since the conflict began, while thousands of civilians are believed to have been killed.

Russian forces have so far taken control of Kherson in the south, the first major city to fall, while the capital Kyiv remains in government control.

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