A grocery store in the mid-Atlantic region is apologizing for using the term “super spread” as a joke in a Thanksgiving ad.
The latest edition of Giant Food’s magazine featured an ad that read: “Hosting? Plan a super spread.” The text appears below an image of various foods, including a fruit tray, a cheese board, a shrimp platter, and a dessert option. The magazine attempted to make a joke out of the term “super spread,” which has been used to describe events where the coronavirus spreads to multiple people because people are not social-distancing, wearing masks, or abiding by Covid-19 regulations while attending the events.
While the magazine may have thought it would bring people laughter, they are now apologizing for its seemingly controversial message.
“We apologize for our advertisement in Savory, which used the language Super Spread to describe an abundance of food. While, in hindsight, the choice of words was a poor one, Giant had no intentions of insensitivity. We continue to encourage people to practice safe social distancing practices for celebrating the holidays in line with CDC recommendations. 2020 has been exceptionally challenging for so many reasons, and this year the holidays will be celebrated very differently, but we hope that food can still be a source of joy and comfort and that the ad reflects that spirit,” reads the statement.
The magazine operates in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and the District of Columbia. The savory also featured an advertisement for Campbell’s with a green casserole recipe that said, “Slay the Spread this season,” according to USA Today.
As the nation continues to grapple with the ongoing pandemic, there are now 11.4 million Covid-19 cases in the States. More than 248,000 people have died so far from the virus.