Auckland food truck changes 'racist' chocolate smoothie name

  • 23/01/2018
A Ponsonby food truck's chocolate smoothie was controversially named 'Ghetto Girl'.
A Ponsonby food truck's chocolate smoothie was controversially named 'Ghetto Girl'. Photo credit: Blitzd/Instagram

An Auckland food truck has changed the name of one of its smoothies after being accused of racism.

Blitzd, a smoothie business that recently opened in Ponsonby Central, offers a drink that consists of raw cacao, peanut butter, banana and chocolate.

The smoothie was originally called "Ghetto Girl" - and people weren't happy.

One Twitter user posted photos of the food truck in which the controversial name could be seen on a sign, adding the caption "disturbing".

Others criticised Blitzd for their use of the word "ghetto" to describe a brown drink.

"Ghetto" is generally regarded as a pejorative term meaning low-class or "trashy", and has a long history of being used to describe people of colour.

In response to the backlash, Blitzd deleted Instagram photos that included the name "Ghetto Girl" and issued an apology for any offence caused.

The smoothie's name has been changed to the more innocuous "Go Girl".

Newshub.