Chelley Martinka, a Rhode Island mom... noticed that Cains, a
popular pickle brand in New England made by Minnesota’s own M.A.
Gedney Co., had an offering called “midgets.” It’s a term that’s
offensive to people born with dwarfism, as well as their
families. And Martinka’s daughter, now 10 months old, had been
diagnosed with the condition soon after birth.My dictionary
shows midget as having been derived from midge (a tiny insect),
in common use since the early 19th century. From Wikipedia:
Martinka’s daughter Adelaide, has achondroplasia, the most
common form of dwarfism, which is caused by a genetic mutation.
For those who have it, their preferred name is “little
people.”.. Chaska-based Gedney has used the midget appellation
in a version of its Del Monte brand of pickles, as well as in
one item under the Gedney brand. But with its namesake brand — a
big seller in local supermarkets — Gedney uses “Babies” and
“Mini-Munchers” to describe most of its small pickles... The
United States Department of Agriculture