Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighborhood is known across the United States as a calm and serene place, and in recent years has even been ranked one of the 10 best places to live in, but the New York Post says a recent war over kosher hummus has been rocking the neighborhood’s tranquility.

The Royal Supermarket chain, owned by Zaid Sarsor, had joined a growing list of Park Slope groceries which are refusing to sell one of New York’s veteran chickpea spread brands – Sonny and Joe’s.

As opposed to the recent boycott on Sabra Hummus, Sarsor is not protesting the Israeli-Arab conflict but rather a work dispute involving Sonny and Joe’s manufacturer Flaum�s Appetizing.

The boycott was initiated by several of the neighborhood’s grocery owners after learning that Flaum�s owes $260,000 in back wages to former employees.

Sarsor, who has switched Sonny and Joe�s with Israeli-made Sabra Hummus, say Royal will carry Sonny and Joe�s again when the company settled with its workers.

�If the owner does the right thing, which he should have done by now, we�ll bring it back,� he said.

Park Slope Green member Joseph Sanchez, who according to the NY Post is spearheading the campaign, said he would make do with other appetizers in the meantime.

�I enjoy any spreads and snacks that are made by companies that treat workers with dignity and respect,� he told the newspaper. �The strong support from Park Slope retailers shows that this neighborhood won�t condone the selling of sweatshop products.�

The chickpea spread is one of scores of kosher food products made at Flaum�s Appetizing�s Scholes Street factory since 1918.

Flaum�s owner, Moshe Grudhut, lost a court battle about two years ago and was ordered to pay his former workers $260,000 in back wages. According to a company official, however, the management is still negotiating with the workers.

(Source: Ynet)