Supermarket shoppers are calling on the major UK grocers to rename their chicken kievs to ‘Kyiv’ in solidarity with Ukraine.
Sainsbury's today announced it had removed all Russian-sourced items from shelves due to the escalating war, including changing the name of the frozen poultry product.
The Big four grocer bowed to pressure on social media, after the public called for them to make a stand with the people of Ukraine.
It followed several food brands and restaurants that had already made the name change this week.
Now Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons are being prompted to do the same.
UK food manufacturer Finnebrogue Artisan tweeted this week that they were renaming their plant-based chicken kiev.
James Chiavarini, owner of the oldest family-run restaurant in London, Il Portico, said the chicken kyiv was back on his menu for the first time in 40 years - with the new name.
The dish has proved incredibly popular with customers, with the restaurateur revealing that it sold out within two hours of its second day of being available to order.
But so far, most supermarkets are remaining tight-lipped on whether they will follow suit and rename their own-brand chicken kievs.
Shoppers on social media are urging the change, with one person saying: “Is it time that Chicken Kiev is renamed Chicken Kyiv? How about it @sainsburys @asda @Tesco @waitrose @Morrisons? #ukraine #chickenkyiv”
Another said: “Kiev is the Russian name for the city. Come on @asda @LidlGB @AldiUK @Tesco @sainsburys @MandSnews @waitrose show your support and change the spelling #ChickenKyiv”
Do you want to see supermarkets change the name of their chicken kievs? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
A third tweeted: “Food manufacturers! Listen up - change the Kiev ( Russian spelling ) to Kyiv ( ulkranian spelling). Chicken Kyiv . Thanks @Tesco @AldiUK @LidlGB @sainsburys @Morrisons @asda #kyiv”
And a fourth said: “Should chicken Kiev now be called chicken Kyiv? #Ukraine @Tesco @asda @AldiUK @sainsburys @IcelandFoods”
The Mirror has contacted Tesco, Asda and Morrisons, as well as Aldi and Lidl to see if they are considering the name change.
Waitrose and Marks and Spencer have responded to reports 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.
"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.
