Aunt Jemima name, image to be dropped by Quaker Oats

Quaker Oats announced Wednesday it’s changing the name of Aunt Jemima syrup and pancake mix.

“We recognize Aunt Jemima’s origins are based on a racial stereotype,” Quaker vice president and chief marketing officer Kristin Kroepfl said in a statement. “As we work to make progress toward racial equality through several initiatives, we also must take a hard look at our portfolio of brands and ensure they reflect our values and meet our consumers’ expectations.”

The 130-year-old brand first appeared in 1890 with a black woman dressed as a minstrel character. According to the brand’s website, the character was “first brought to life by Nancy Green, a storyteller, cook and missionary worker.”

Over the years, the brand had tried to soften the racial overtones. It wasn’t until 1989 that character’s kerchief was removed.

“We acknowledge the brand has not progressed enough to appropriately reflect the confidence, warmth and dignity that we would like it to stand for today,” Kroepfl said. “We will continue the conversation by gathering diverse perspectives from both our organization and the Black community to further evolve the brand and make it one everyone can be proud to have in their pantry.”

Quaker, a subsidiary of PepsiCo, said the only way to be “appropriate and respectful” and “make progress toward racial equality” would be to remove the image and name.

There was no word on what the new name or logo would be.

PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta announced the company has set “more than $400 million set of initiatives over five years to lift up Black communities and increase Black representation at PepsiCo. These initiatives comprise a holistic effort for PepsiCo to walk the talk of a leading corporation and help address the need for systemic change.”

We’re committed to doing our part to help dismantle the systemic racial barriers that block social + economic progress for Black people in this country. Today we’re announcing a $400M+ initiative focused on 3 pillars: people, business, and communities: https://t.co/5gn9uFXiYw pic.twitter.com/unQOK49fxH

— PepsiCo (@PepsiCo) June 16, 2020

In response, Mars Inc., the company that owns Uncle Ben’s rice, announced Wednesday it was also considering a name, logo change.

“As a global brand, we know we have a responsibility to take a stand in helping to put an end to racial bias and injustices,” the company said in a statement on its website. “As we listen to the voices of consumers, especially in the Black community, and to the voices of our Associates worldwide, we recognize that now is the right time to evolve the Uncle Ben’s brand, including its visual brand identity, which we will do.

“Racism has no place in society. We stand in solidarity with the Black community, our Associates and our partners in the fight for social justice.”

A number of other food brands based on racial stereotypes — Cream of Wheat breakfast porridge (B&G Foods), Chiquita banana (Cutrale, Safra) and Eskimo Pies (Nestle) — might possibly come under similar pressure to change their brandings.