Walmart And Target Drop Mario Batali's Pasta Sauces And Products

Mario Batali has stepped back from his restaurant empire and left ABC's The Chew after being accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women. Now his face will be leaving the grocery store, too, because Walmart and Target have both taken Batali's books and sauces off their shelves.

According to Business Insider, Walmart and Target both say they will no longer be working with Batali.

"The recent sexual misconduct allegations against Mario Batali are unacceptable," Walmart said in a statement. "We're ending our relationship with Batali and will discontinue our business with his brand."

Batali recently issued an apology for what he called his "past behavior," but his apology did not seem very well-received, at least in part because he ended it with a recipe for pizza dough cinnamon rolls.

Summer Garden Food, the company that produces Batali's sauces, posted a statement on its website saying the company would be transitioning its products "away from the Batali brand." In the meantime, however, the company says Batali has agreed to forgo any profits from the sales of the sauces, and that the money he would have received will instead go to charity.

"We understand that people may feel reluctant to continue buying products that bear Mario Batali's name," Summer Garden Food said in a statement on its website. "At the same time, a lot of people at our company have worked very hard to make an excellent product. We hope customers who love those products will keep this announcement in mind as they shop. Profits made as a result of their purchases will be going to a good cause."

Mario Batali's products have also been removed from the shelves at Eataly, the Italian food market co-owned by Batali and business partner Joe Bastianich. Eater reports that the shelf space previously dedicated to Batali has been filled with Lidia Bastianich's products instead. Lidia Bastianich is a chef and author who has had a very interesting life, here are five things you didn't know about the Italian food icon.